Visa Waiver Visitor Visa
If you are from a visa waiver country you may be able to travel to New Zealand without a visa, but you must have a New Zealand Travel Authority (NZeTA) unless exempt. If given entry permission, we give you a Visa Waiver Visitor Visa when you arrive.
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Length of Stay
Up to
3 months, or 6 months for UK citizens
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Cost
From
NZD $0
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Processing time
Visa granted at
New Zealand border
To apply you must:
- be travelling on a passport from a
- have enough money to pay your living expenses
- show you intend to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay
- not plan to work in New Zealand, unless you work remotely for a business overseas
- meet the other requirements of this visa.
This visa lets you:
- travel to New Zealand without applying for a visa first
- holiday in New Zealand
- visit family and friends in New Zealand
- study for up to 3 months
- bring your partner and dependent children if they meet the requirements.
You must have a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before you travel to New Zealand.
New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
If you plan to arrive in New Zealand by cruise ship and do not have a visa, there are separate requirements, including that you must have an NZeTA.
Before you travel to New Zealand
Australian citizens and permanent residents get an Australian Resident Visa at the border.
An Australian permanent resident visa holder must still have an NZeTA before they travel.
NOTE You can enter New Zealand if you are a visa waiver traveller and hold an NZeTA (unless you are exempt).
How long you can stay
You can stay for up to 3 months.
If you are from the United Kingdom, you can stay for up to 6 months.
What you pay
You do not need to pay a fee when we give a Visa Waiver Visitor Visa on arrival in New Zealand.
You must pay a fee for your NZeTA and also for an
There is no refund of the NZeTA fee if we do not give you a visa at the border.
Who can apply
To get this visa when you arrive in New Zealand, you must:
- have an NZeTA before you travel to New Zealand, unless you are exempt
- be travelling on a passport from a
- be in good health
- be of good character
- have a genuine reason for coming to New Zealand
- have enough money to pay your expenses
- show you can leave New Zealand at the end of your stay.
Note
If you are applying from Australia and your only reason for coming to New Zealand is to renew a visa for another country, you should apply for a visa before travelling.
Citizenship
You must be travelling on a passport from a visa waiver country or territory.
Your passport is used to check whether you are a citizen from a visa waiver country or territory — at check-in for your trip and when you arrive in New Zealand.
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
- British National (Overseas).
You can only travel visa waiver if you are travelling on a citizen passport. You cannot travel visa waiver on a non-citizen or alien passport.
You can only travel visa waiver if you are a resident and travel on one of the following passports:
You can only travel visa waiver if you are a resident and travel on a Macao Special Administrative Region passport.
You can only travel visa waiver, if you have the right to live in Portugal permanently.
You can only travel visa waiver, if you are a permanent resident of Taiwan and travel on a Taiwan passport. We will use the personal identity number on your Taiwan passport to confirm your permanent residence.
USA nationals can also travel visa waiver.
Authority to travel
You must have an NZeTA before you travel to New Zealand.
You must travel on the passport you used to request your NZeTA. Show that passport when you check in for your trip so your airline can check that you have an NZeTA.
They may also ask to see your ticket for travel out of New Zealand at the end of your visit.
Health
You must be in good health.
When you complete your New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) form to apply for permission to enter the country, you will be asked if you are coming to New Zealand for a medical consultation or treatment.
Note
If you want to come for a 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.
You will not meet our good character requirements if:
- you have a criminal conviction
- you have been deported, removed or excluded from another country, or
- we have reason to believe you may be a risk to New Zealand's security, public order or public interest.
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
Note
If you are not sure you will meet our requirements for good character, you should apply for a visa before coming to New Zealand.
Genuine intentions
You must be a genuine visitor to New Zealand and intend to leave at the end of your visit.
You will be asked about the purpose of your trip in the NZTD.
We also consider any other information we have about your circumstances and reasons for travelling to New Zealand.
You cannot get this visa if you intend to work in New Zealand.
Alert
If you have not complied with the conditions of your visa on any previous visit to New Zealand, you can be stopped from travelling to New Zealand or refused entry permission when you get here.
Enough money to live on
You must have enough money to live on while you are in New Zealand.
You must have at least NZD $1,000 per month, or NZD $400 per month if you have already paid for your accommodation.
You may be asked for evidence when you check-in or arrive in New Zealand.
Evidence can include:
- proof of accommodation pre-payment, like hotel pre-paid vouchers or receipts
- bank statements or credit card statements
- bank drafts or traveller's cheques.
Paying for health care
You will need to pay for any health care or medical assistance you may need in New Zealand.
We recommend you have full medical insurance for your stay.
If you are pregnant, there are additional requirements.
Note
Some people may be eligible for public health care.
Who can get public health care
You cannot have a sponsor to pay for your expenses while travelling on a visa waiver in New Zealand. If you want to have
Leaving New Zealand
You must be able to show that you plan to leave the country at the end of your stay.
You will need to provide your ticket for travel out of New Zealand at the end of your stay to a
If you will be travelling on to a country that also has an onward travel requirement, you may be asked to show the ticket out of that country too.
Your departure date must be within 3 months of your arrival, or within 6 months if you are from the United Kingdom.
Note
Your onward 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.
Maximum 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. If you have already spent 6 months in New Zealand in a 12-month period, then you must apply for a visitor visa before you travel to New Zealand.
Bringing family
Your partner and dependent children must apply for their own NZeTA and meet the same requirements to travel to New Zealand with an NZeTA.
They must:
- be citizens of a visa waiver country
- be in good health
- have good characters
- have genuine reasons for coming to New Zealand
- have enough money to pay their expenses
- show they intend to leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.
Note
If family members do not meet these requirements they should apply for a visa before travelling to New Zealand.
Documents you need
When you request an NZeTA
When you request an NZeTA, you will need:
- your passport
- 1 acceptable photo.
When you check in and arrive
When you check in for your flight and arrive in New Zealand, you will need to show:
- your passport
- your NZeTA confirmation email
- a ticket to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay.
You may also be asked for proof that you have enough money to cover your living expenses while you are in New Zealand.
Alert
You may not be allowed to check in to your flight if your passport is close to expiring.
Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand.
How to get a Visa Waiver Visitor Visa
Follow these steps to get a Visa Waiver Visitor Visa when you arrive in New Zealand.
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1
Step 1: Check you meet the requirements
The section 'Who can apply' explains what you need to get this visa when you arrive in New Zealand.
If you are not sure you meet the requirements, apply for a visa before you travel.
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2
Step 2: Request an NZeTA
You must have an NZeTA before you leave for New Zealand.
New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
Note
Allow 72 hours for your NZeTA request to be processed. Many requests will be processed more quickly.
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3
Step 3: Gather your documents
Get documents translated
When you arrive, we recommend you provide:
- certified English translations of any documents that are not in English
- scanned copies of the original documents.
Note
Documents must be translated by someone who meets our requirements for providing English translations.
Organise proof of identity and citizenship
Check you are a citizen of a visa waiver country or territory. If you need a new passport, allow yourself enough time to get it.
Alert
The details in your NZeTA must always match the details in the passport you will be using to travel to New Zealand. If your passport details are not correct you may not be able to board your plane.
Make sure your photos are acceptable for a New Zealand visa or NZeTA.
Organise proof you have enough money to live on
Get recent bank or credit card statements, and proof of any accommodation you have pre-paid for.
Organise proof you can leave New Zealand
This can be a plane ticket, cruise ship itinerary or letter from the craft owner if leaving on a private craft.
Organise proof for your family or group members
Check that everyone has current passports, proof they have enough money to live on, and proof they can leave New Zealand.
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Step 4: Arrive in New Zealand
When you arrive at the border in New Zealand, we ask to see your passport, NZeTA confirmation letter and completed New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD). We may ask to see your ticket for travel out of New Zealand.
Entry permission
You must apply for permission to enter New Zealand before you arrive. You do this by completing an NZTD form — as part of your declaration, you apply for this visa on entry and for entry permission. We check your identity and other information to make a decision.
You can start your digital declaration any time, but the earliest you can submit it is 24 hours before starting your travel to New Zealand.
A paper declaration form is available for travellers who cannot complete it online.
New Zealand Traveller Declaration
New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that you meet their entry requirements.
Alert
You can be refused entry permission if you:
- are not a genuine visitor
- do not meet our health or character requirements
- refuse to let us take your photo, fingerprints or an iris scan
- cannot provide evidence of any onward travel or the money required to leave New Zealand.
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5
Step 5: We give you a visa
If we decide you meet the requirements, we will give you a Visa Waiver Visitor Visa at the border.
While you are in New Zealand
Travel
You will be given single-entry travel conditions — this means if you leave the country, your visa will expire.
Your visa expires:
- 3 months after you arrive in New Zealand (or 6 months after you arrive, if you are from the United Kingdom), or
- when you leave New Zealand, whichever happens first.
Work
You cannot
Study
You may study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.
School-aged children can study for up to 3 months in any calendar year.
Alert
If children are going to be studying for more than 2 weeks, their education provider must be a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 (the Code).