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Information about NZeTA

Some visitors and transit passengers can travel to New Zealand without a visa if they get an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before they travel.

Overview

Overview

Length of stay

Valid for many visits and up to 2 years.

With this visa you can

  • Travel to New Zealand without first applying for a visa — if you are travelling on a passport from a visa waiver country, a cruise ship passenger or a permanent resident of Australia.
  • Pass through Auckland International Airport as a transit passenger on the way to or from Australia.
  • Pass through Auckland International Airport as a transit passenger on the way to another country — if you are from a visa waiver or transit visa waiver country.
  • Get someone to help you with your NZeTA request — you will need to tell them about your criminal conviction history and whether you are seeking medical treatment in New Zealand.

Visa waiver countries and territories
Transit visa waiver countries
Arriving by cruise ship
Transit passengers
NZeTA information in other languages

Things to note

  • If you are from a visa waiver country you must hold an NZeTA before you travel.
  • Allow up to 72 hours for processing, but it could take as little as 10 minutes.
  • An NZeTA request costs NZD $9 on our free app, or NZD $12 if completed online.
  • You pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) at the same time as your NZeTA. This costs NZD $35.
  • Once you have requested an NZeTA you can check its status.

Paying the IVL
Travellers who do not need an NZeTA
Check your NZeTA status

NZeTA mobile apps

NZeTA app — Apple Store
NZeTA android app — Google Play

Criteria

Meeting the criteria

The criteria and evidence below will provide you with the information you need to meet the requirements.

Use the filters to display country specific tips, under evidence, to assist you with your application

Show all evidence Hide all evidence

Identity

You must provide proof of your identity

EvidenceHide

We use your passport details to check your identity.

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave New Zealand.

Health

You must be in good health

EvidenceHide

You must be of good health. When you request your NZeTA you will be asked whether you are coming to New Zealand for medical consultation or treatment. 

If you want to come for medical consultation or treatment, you’ll need to apply for a ‘Medical Treatment Visitor Visa’ before travelling to New Zealand.

Character

You must be of good character

EvidenceHide

When you request your NZeTA, you will be asked some questions about your character.

You will not meet our good character requirements if any of the following apply:

  • you have a criminal conviction
  • you have been deported, removed or excluded from another country
  • we have reason to believe you may be a risk to New Zealand's security, public order or public interest.

Good character

If we have reason to believe you are not of good character, you will not receive a NZeTA.

People who may be considered a risk to New Zealand’s security, public order or public interest, include those who are registered sex offenders or associated with a gang.

If we have reason to believe you’re not of good character, we can stop you from travelling to New Zealand at check-in, or refuse you entry permission when you get here.

If you aren’t sure you’ll meet our requirements for good character, you should apply for a visa before coming to New Zealand.

Arriving by cruise ship

You can be any nationality if entering New Zealand as a cruise ship passenger

EvidenceHide

We use your passport to check your citizenship when you request your NZeTA.

 

Arriving by plane

You must be a citizen of a visa waiver country if entering New Zealand by plane

EvidenceHide

We use your passport to check your citizenship when you request your NZeTA.

 

In transit through Auckland International Airport

You must be a citizen of a visa waiver country or transit visa waiver country if passing through Auckland International Airport as a transit passenger on your way to another country

EvidenceHide

If you are from any other country, you can get an NZeTA if you are passing through Auckland International Airport as a transit passenger on your way to or from Australia.  

Transit passengers must remain in the transit area at Auckland International Airport.

We use your passport to check your citizenship when you request your NZeTA.

Visa waiver countries and territories

Transit visa waiver country

Funds

You must have enough money to live on while you’re in New Zealand

EvidenceHide

You must have at least NZ $1,000 for each month of your stay, or if you’ve already paid for your accommodation, NZ $400 for each month of your stay.

You may be asked for evidence you’ll have access to your funds when you check-in or arrive in New Zealand.

If you are pregnant, there are additional requirements.

Paying for maternity care

You can’t meet the funds requirement for visa waiver travel by arranging a sponsor. If you want to arrange sponsorship, you have to apply for a visa before you travel to New Zealand.

Onward travel

You must have a ticket out of New Zealand

EvidenceHide

When you check-in, you’ll be asked to present your travel ticket out of New Zealand to a country you have the right to enter.

Your departure date must be within 3 months of your arrival, or if you’re from the United Kingdom, within 6 months.

If after you leave New Zealand you’ll be travelling to a country that also has an onward travel requirement, we may ask to see that ticket too.

Your tickets must be paid for before your travel.

If you’ll be leaving on a private craft or cruise ship, we'll accept a letter from the craft owner or a cruise itinerary as proof of your travel arrangements.

If your only reason for coming to New Zealand is to renew a visa for another country, we recommend that you apply for a visa before travelling.

Time in New Zealand

You can only visit New Zealand for up to 6 months in any 12-month period.

EvidenceHide

We’ll check our records to see how much time you’ve spent in New Zealand.

If you don’t meet this requirement, you can’t travel visa waiver, but you can apply for a visitor visa to return to New Zealand.

Bring family

Your family must meet the same visa waiver requirements

EvidenceHide

To travel visa waiver, your family must:

  • be in good health
  • be of good character
  • be bona fide applicants
  • be citizens of a visa waiver country
  • have enough money to live on while in New Zealand
  • have a ticket out of New Zealand to a country they have the right to enter.

Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in NZ

Evidence that you are a genuine visitor

If family members don’t meet the requirements to travel visa waiver they should apply for a visa before visiting New Zealand.

Process

Process

The information below will help you understand the process so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.

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Fees & receiving centre

Fees & receiving centre

The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for this visa, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.

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Conditions

Conditions

These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa.

Information updated on 2020/12/21 15:31:40.040046 GMT+13