Identity
You must provide proof of your identity
We use your passport details to check your identity.
Tips
Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave New Zealand.
New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
Some people can use an NZeTA to travel to New Zealand without applying for a visa first. This depends on your passport and if you are visiting or only transiting.
Valid for
2 years for travellers
Cost
From
NZD $17
Processing time
Allow
72 hours
With an NZeTA you can
- Travel to New Zealand or transit Auckland International Airport without first applying for a visa.
- Visit up to 3 months, or 6 months for UK citizens.
Things to note
- If you are already in New Zealand and want to stay longer, you must apply for a visa not an NZeTA.
- If you have a valid New Zealand visa, you do not need an NZeTA.
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Who is it for
Check if you need an NZeTA or a visa before travelling to New Zealand.
Most travellers need either an NZeTA or a visa to travel to New Zealand. This depends on the passport you are travelling on, and if you will be a visitor or a transit passenger.
Check if you need an NZeTA or a visa
You can use your NZeTA to travel to New Zealand multiple times while it is valid. An NZeTA is valid for 2 years for travellers, or 5 years for crew members.
Warning
You may not be allowed to visit or transit New Zealand if you do not meet the good character requirements. If you are not sure you will meet the requirements — for example you have a criminal conviction — you should apply for a visa and have one before you travel. Check the character requirements under 'What you need to apply'.
Visiting New Zealand
'Visiting' means you are entering and staying in New Zealand as a visitor.
If you are passing through a New Zealand airport — other than Auckland International Airport — on your way to another country, you will be a visitor because you have to enter New Zealand.
If you already have a current New Zealand visa, you do not need an NZeTA.
Alert
If you give the wrong information in your NZeTA request, we may give you an NZeTA that only lets you transit through Auckland International Airport as a transit passenger — you cannot visit New Zealand as a transit passenger.
Arriving on a cruise ship as a passenger
If you are arriving by sea as a cruise ship passenger, you must have an NZeTA — unless you are on the list of travellers who do not need an NZeTA. You can be any nationality.
Citizen of a visa waiver country
If you are travelling on a passport from a visa waiver country, you must have an NZeTA — unless you are:
- on the list of travellers who do not need an NZeTA, or
- coming for medical treatment or consultation — you will need to apply for a Medical Treatment Visitor Visa, not an NZeTA.
Medical Treatment Visitor Visa
Australian citizen or permanent resident
Australian citizen
If you are travelling on an Australian passport, you do not need a visa or NZeTA before you travel. We will normally give you an Australian Resident Visa when you arrive — but you must meet the character requirements of this visa.
Warning
You may not be allowed to travel to New Zealand if you do not meet the good character requirements. If you are not sure you will meet requirements — for example you have a criminal conviction or have been deported before — you should apply for a visa and have one before you travel.
Australian permanent resident
If you are an Australian permanent resident wanting to visit New Zealand, you must have an NZeTA — unless you are on the list of travellers who do not need an NZeTA.
You also need:
- a current Australian Permanent Resident Visa or Australian Resident Return Visa — these cannot be 'provisional' visas, and
- travel conditions on that visa to let you return to Australia.
Other visitors who need a visa
You must have a valid visa before you travel to New Zealand, if you are:
- not a citizen of a visa waiver country or territory
- not an Australian permanent resident
- not arriving on a cruise ship, and
- not on the list of travellers who do not need an NZeTA.
If you are coming to New Zealand for medical treatment or consultation, you need to apply for a Medical Treatment Visitor Visa, not an NZeTA.
Medical Treatment Visitor Visa
Travellers who do not need an NZeTA
How long you can visit for
When you arrive at the New Zealand border with your NZeTA, we may give you a visa that lets you stay:
- up to 3 months at a time, or
- up to 6 months at a time if travelling on a UK passport.
Note
We usually give Australian permanent residents and citizens an Australian Resident Visa.
Your visa expires when the 3 months or 6 months have passed — or if you leave earlier. When you arrive in New Zealand next time with an NZeTA, we give you a new visitor visa.
You can only be in New Zealand for up to 6 months within any 12-month period. This period is the 12 months counting back from your intended departure date (when you plan on leaving New Zealand).
Example
You are travelling on a passport from Canada. This means you can stay in New Zealand for visits of up to 3 months. You visit for the first time for 3 months, from 1 January 2023 to 31 March 2023. After your visit, you return home.
You decide you want to make a second visit, again for 3 months. You plan to arrive in New Zealand on 1 July 2023, and leave on 30 September 2023 (your intended departure date). This means you will be in New Zealand for a total of 6 months in the period 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023 — this is the 12-month period counting back from your intended departure date.
You can make this visit because you will be in New Zealand for no more than 6 months in that 12-month period. Refer to Figure 1.
After your second visit you return home. You decide you want to visit New Zealand again for the whole month of November 2023.
You cannot make this third visit because you will be in New Zealand for a total of 7 months in the period 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023 — this is the 12-month period counting back from your intended departure date. You can only spend a total of 6 months in New Zealand in any 12-month period. Refer to Figure 2.
Transiting to another country through Auckland International Airport
Some travellers can use an NZeTA to transit Auckland International airport as a transit passenger on their way to another country. You can stay in the transit area for up to 24 hours and cannot visit New Zealand. Auckland International Airport is the only airport in New Zealand where you can be a transit passenger.
Note
If you are passing through a different New Zealand airport on your way to another country, you will be a visitor not a transit passenger. This is because there is no transit area, so you have to enter New Zealand. Refer back to the section on 'Visiting New Zealand'.
Check who needs an NZeTA, a Transit Visa or neither to transit through New Zealand.
Crew member of a cruise ship or commercial airline
You need to get a Crew ETA through your employer if you are a crew member of a:
- cruise ship — this includes if you are flying in to join the ship in New Zealand, or
- commercial airline.
Crew of planes and cruise ships
Checking your NZeTA status
After you request an NZeTA you can check its status or update your details.
How to request a change to your NZeTA
Note
We usually process NZeTA requests within 72 hours — many are processed faster, but some may take longer. To avoid delays, you should request an NZeTA well before you travel.
What you need to apply
The criteria and evidence below will provide you with the information you need to meet the requirements of an NZeTA.
View All Evidence
Health
You must be in good health
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.
Tips
If you want to come for medical consultation or treatment, you need to apply for a ‘Medical Treatment Visitor Visa’ before travelling to New Zealand.
Character
You must be of good character
When you request your NZeTA, you will be asked some questions about your character.
You may 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.
If you are visiting New Zealand, you must meet all the requirements to get a visa and entry permission.
You must not be a person described in sections 15 and 16 of the Immigration Act 2009:
Section 16 Certain other persons not eligible for visa or entry permission – New Zealand Legislation
Australian citizens and permanent residents who are visiting New Zealand must meet the character requirements of the Australian Resident Visa.
Australian Resident Visa
Other visitors must meet the character requirements for temporary visas.
Good character for temporary visas
Tips
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 are 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 are not sure you will 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
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
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
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.
Funds
You must have enough money to live on while you’re in New Zealand
You must have at least NZD$1,000 for each month of your stay, or if you have already paid for your accommodation, NZD$400 for each month of your stay.
You may be asked for evidence you will have access to your funds when you check-in or arrive in New Zealand.
Tips
If you are pregnant, there are additional requirements.
You cannot 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
When you check-in, you will 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 are from the United Kingdom, within 6 months.
If after you leave New Zealand you will be travelling to a country that also has an onward travel requirement, we may ask to see that ticket too.
Tips
Your tickets must be paid for before your travel.
If you will be leaving on a private craft or cruise ship, we will 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.
We will check our records to see how much time you have spent in New Zealand.
Tips
If you do not meet this requirement, you must apply for a visitor visa and have it before you travel to New Zealand.
Relationship with family
Your family must meet the same requirements to travel to New Zealand with an NZeTA.
To travel to New Zealand with an NZeTA, your family must:
- be in good health
- be of good character
- be bona fide applicants
- be citizens of a visa waiver country – except if arriving by cruise ship
- 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
Tips
If family members do not meet the requirements to travel visa waiver they should apply for a visa before visiting New Zealand.
Process and costs
Find out the process, timeframes and costs of requesting an NZeTA, based on your passport and if you are visiting or transiting. Visitors must pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL).
Notes
We cannot display any process or costs information until you have provided your personal details. Enter your details in the panel above to view information relevant to your situation.
Enter personal detailsWhen you arrive
You need to apply for entry permission and meet the conditions of the visa we give you.
Entry permission
All travellers visiting New Zealand must complete a traveller declaration before arriving.
As part of the declaration, you apply for a visa and entry permission. We check your identity and other information to make a decision.
You can complete the traveller declaration online up to 24 hours before your trip to New Zealand starts. Find out how to submit your declaration on the New Zealand Traveller Declaration website.
New Zealand Traveller Declaration
Note
If you are a transit passenger at Auckland International Airport, you do not have to complete a traveller declaration. This is because you cannot leave the transit area to visit New Zealand.
Visa conditions
If we decide you meet the requirements, we give you a visa.
Australian permanent residents may get an Australian Resident Visa.
If you are a citizen of a visa waiver country, we may give you a Visa Waiver Visitor Visa to stay up to 3 months — or 6 months for UK citizens.
For other travellers with an NZeTA and arriving by plane, we may give you a Visitor Visa to stay up to 3 months — or 6 months for UK citizens.
If you are arriving by cruise ship you will be deemed to hold a visitor visa.
Stay longer
If you are in New Zealand now and want to stay longer, you need to get another visa.
Extend your visit
If you are in New Zealand now and want to stay longer than the conditions of your visa, you must apply for another visa and have it before your current visa expires.
Find the visa that is best for you.
Staying after your visa expires
You can be deported if you stay in New Zealand after your visa expires. If you are deported you risk not being able to return to New Zealand in the future.
Request an NZeTA
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