Transiting through New Zealand to another country

Check the criteria for a transit passenger, and if you need a transit visa or an NZeTA to pass through New Zealand to another country.

Warning

You must make sure you can pass through New Zealand and enter another country on your journey. If you cannot do this, you may not be allowed to board the plane.

Transit passengers

You are a transit passenger if you are passing through Auckland International Airport on your way to another country, and:

for the whole time you stay in the transit area at Auckland Airport, on board the plane you came to New Zealand on, or in the custody of New Zealand Police, and
stay for less than 24 hours.

You will usually need a Transit Visa or an NZeTA that lets you transit — you cannot enter New Zealand.

Note

You are not a transit passenger if you are passing through a New Zealand airport that is not Auckland International Airport. This is because there is no transit area at other airports.

You will usually need a Visitor Visa or NZeTA that lets you enter New Zealand.

Check if you need an NZeTA or visa

Travellers who do not need a visa or NZeTA

You do not need a visa or NZeTA to pass through any New Zealand airport, if you:

are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
are travelling on an Australian passport, or
are on the list of travellers who do not need an NZeTA.

Travellers who do not need an NZeTA

Note

If you already have a valid New Zealand visa, you do not need an NZeTA.

Australian citizens still need to meet our character requirements. You will need to declare any convictions where you were sentenced to prison for 12 months or more.
Good character for temporary visas

Transit passengers who need a Transit Visa or NZeTA

Australian permanent residents

You need an NZeTA to transit through Auckland International Airport — unless you are on the list of travellers who do not need an NZeTA

You must provide evidence at check-in that you have:

a current Australian Permanent Resident Visa or Australian Resident Return Visa in the passport you are travelling on — these cannot be 'provisional' visas, and
travel conditions on that visa to let you return to Australia.

Travellers who do not need an NZeTA

Travelling to Australia

You need an NZeTA to transit through Auckland International Airport to Australia — unless you are on the list of travellers who do not need an NZeTA.

To transit through Auckland International Airport to Australia with an NZeTA, you:

can be any nationality, and
must have a current visa from the government of Australia to enter Australia.

Travellers who do not need an NZeTA

Example

You are travelling on a passport from Canada. You intend to visit Chile, then spend time in Australia.

Your flight from Chile to Australia will pass through Auckland International Airport, where you will be a transit passenger. You are not on the list of travellers who do not need an NZeTA.

You must have:

an NZeTA that lets you transit through Auckland International Airport, and
a current visa from the government of Australia that lets you enter Australia.

Travelling from Australia

You need an NZeTA to transit through Auckland International Airport if you are:

travelling from Australia — you can be any nationality, and includes people who began their journey outside Australia, and
not on the list of travellers who do not need an NZeTA.

Travellers who do not need an NZeTA

Example

You are travelling on a passport from China. You intend to visit Malaysia, then Australia, before visiting Samoa.

Your flight from Australia to Samoa will pass through Auckland International Airport, where you will be a transit passenger. You are not on the list of travellers who do not need an NZeTA.

This means you must have an NZeTA that lets your transit through Auckland International Airport.

Citizens of a visa waiver or transit visa waiver country

You need an NZeTA to transit through Auckland International Airport if you are travelling on a passport from a visa waiver country or transit visa waiver country — unless you are on the list of travellers who do not need an NZeTA.

Travellers who do not need an NZeTA

Visa waiver countries and territories

Transit visa waiver countries

Other transit passengers need a Transit Visa

You need a Transit Visa if you cannot apply for an NZeTA.

This means you must have a Transit Visa before you arrive, if you:

are not a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
do not have a valid New Zealand visa
are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident
are not travelling on a passport from a transit visa waiver country, or a visa waiver country
are not travelling to or from Australia, and
are not on the list of travellers who do not need an NZeTA.

Travellers who do not need an NZeTA

Visa waiver countries and territories

Transit visa waiver countries

TipS

As a transit passenger you cannot collect your bags at Auckland International Airport. When you check in for your flight to New Zealand, ask the airline to transfer your bags to your connecting flight. If they cannot do this, go to the International Transit Desk when you arrive in New Zealand to get your bags transferred.

There is no accommodation in the transit area. If you need accommodation while you wait for your flight, you must get a Visitor Visa to enter New Zealand.
Visitor Visa

Apply for an NZeTA

Find out how to apply for an NZeTA.

Information about NZeTA

Apply for a Transit Visa

Find out how to apply for a Transit Visa.

Transit Visa

Note

If you are applying for a Transit Visa from Samoa or Tonga, you will need to post your application. Immigration New Zealand physical offices in Tonga and Samoa remain closed.