Transit Visa

If you are transiting through New Zealand you must apply for a Transit Visa, unless you are travelling to Australia, from a visa waiver country or from a transit visa waiver country.

Length of stay
Up to

24 hours

Cost
From
NZD $235
Processing time
80% within
1 week
With this visa you can
  • Pass through Auckland International airport as a transit passenger – you will need to stay in the airport’s transit area at all times.
  • Include your partner, and dependent children aged 19 and under, in your visa application.
Things to note
  • You can only transit New Zealand through Auckland International Airport.
  • If you are from a visa waiver country or transit visa waiver country you may be able to apply for an NZeTA instead of a Transit Visa.
    Information about NZeTA
  • Fiji was added to the list of Transit Visa waiver countries on 4 September 2024.

Visa waiver countries and territories
Transit visa waiver countries
Transit passengers

Applications now online

Applications for Transit Visas are now available online. Applying online is faster and easier than applying on paper, and allows you to track the progress of your application.

What you need to apply

Check if you are eligible to apply for this visa and what supporting documents and information you need to provide.

View All Evidence

You may not need to apply for a Transit Visa if you are travelling on a passport from:

  • a visa waiver country
  • a transit visa waiver country
  • any other country and you are passing through New Zealand on your way to or from Australia.

Transit visa waiver and visa waiver travellers

If you want to transit through New Zealand you can apply for an NZeTA instead of a Transit Visa if you meet our good character requirements, and are from:

  • a visa waiver country, or
  • a transit visa waiver country.

Transit visa waiver countries

Visa waiver countries and territories

New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)

If you do not meet our good character requirements you must apply for a Transit Visa to transit through New Zealand.

Good character for temporary visas

 Traveling to or from Australia

If you are not from a visa waiver country or a transit visa waiver country, and are passing through New Zealand to or from Australia as a transit passenger you can also apply for an NZeTA instead of a Transit Visa. If you are travelling to Australia you also must have a valid Australian visa.

Other travellers

If you are not from a visa waiver country, a transit visa waiver country or not travelling to or from Australia, you must apply for a Transit Visa to transit through New Zealand.

We use your passport details to check your identity.

If you apply online, you must upload a high-quality scan of your passport when you apply.

Providing your passport for online applications

If you apply on paper you must send us your original passport.

Tips

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

If you have a criminal conviction or are a security risk to New Zealand we may not be able to grant you a Transit Visa.

Good character for transit visas

 

You must provide:

  • evidence of your travel arrangements, which must include an itinerary that confirms your arrival and departure times from New Zealand
  • a statement explaining the reasons for travelling to your destination country.

Any family members you include in your application must:

  • provide proof of their identity
  • be of good character
  • intend to travel to New Zealand only as transit passengers 
  • have tickets to leave New Zealand.

Good character for transit visas

Tips

A family can include yourself, your partner, and dependent children 19 and under.

Process and costs

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.

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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How to submit

Payment methods and receiving centre details if applicable.

Notes

We cannot display any receiving centre or payment method 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

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

Onward travel

You must have a travel ticket to leave New Zealand to a country you have a right to enter.

Transit area

You must stay in the transit area of Auckland International Airport for the whole time you are in New Zealand and for not more than 24 hours.

Notes

You cannot apply for entry permission or any kind of visa while in transit.

Transit travel

You can pass through New Zealand as a transit passenger up until the date specified in your transit visa.  

Notes

You cannot spend more than 24 hours at a time in New Zealand while in transit. You could be prevented from travelling or refused entry permission if your transit is more than 24 hours.