Information about NZeTA

New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority

You must get an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) if you are travelling without a visa on a passport from a visa waiver country, or travelling as a permanent resident of Australia.

Valid for

2 or 5 years

Cost
From
NZD $17
Processing time
Allow
72 hours
With an NZeTA 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.
    Visa Waiver countries and territories
    Arriving by cruise ship
  • 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.

Transit visa waiver countries 
Transit passengers

Things to note
  • You must get an NZeTA if you do not have a valid visa and you are either travelling on a passport from a visa waiver country or travelling as a permanent resident of Australia.
  • You do not need an NZeTA if you have a valid New Zealand visa, or are an Australian citizen travelling with an Australian passport.
    Travellers who do not need an NZeTA
  • If you are already in New Zealand and want to extend your stay, you must apply for a visa, not an NZeTA.
  • An NZeTA is valid for 2 years for travellers, and 5 years for crew members. You can use your NZeTA for multiple visits while it is valid. 
  • An NZeTA request costs NZD $23, or NZD $17 on our free app.
  • After you request an NZeTA you can check its status.
    Check your NZeTA status

Download our app on to your iOS or Android device

Note

Most NZeTA requests are processed within 72 hours. Many requests are processed more quickly but some may take longer. To avoid delays, we encourage you to request an NZeTA well in advance of your travel.

Evidence to provide

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

View All Evidence

Identity

You must provide proof of your identity

We use your passport details to check your identity.

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

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
  1. 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

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

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

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

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.

Visa waiver countries and territories

Transit visa waiver country

Funds

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

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.

Tips
  1. If you are pregnant, there are additional requirements.

    Paying for maternity care

  2. 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

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.

Tips
  1. Your tickets must be paid for before your travel.

  2. 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.

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

Tips
  1. 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.

Partner and dependent children

Your family must meet the same visa waiver requirements

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

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

Process and costs

The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in requesting an NZeTA, so you can plan ahead and submit a complete request.

Notes

We cannot display any process or costs information until you have provided your country details. Enter your country details in the panel above to view information relevant to your situation.

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Conditions

When you arrive in New Zealand with your NZeTA, these are the conditions that you must meet once we give you a visa.

You must meet the conditions of the visa we give you when you arrive in New Zealand at the border.

Visa Waiver Visitor Visa

Visitor Visa