Arriving in New Zealand
When you arrive in New Zealand, you must apply for entry permission and answer questions about biosecurity and customs.
Getting permission to enter New Zealand
When you arrive at the New Zealand border, you must apply for
Immigration officers can ask you to provide evidence to support your application to enter New Zealand. They may ask to see your ticket to leave New Zealand or evidence of how you will support yourself while you are here.
If you have a visa
If we approved your application for a visa, immigration officers at the border will have a record of your visa and any conditions we have placed on it. When they check your visa details, they may ask you to provide evidence that you will meet the conditions of your visa.
Before you travel to New Zealand
Nearly all visas are issued as eVisas.
Getting a visa when you arrive
Some travellers can apply for a visa and entry permission when they arrive in New Zealand. This applies to you if you have an NZeTA and:
- are visiting from a visa waiver country — that is, a country whose passport holders do not need to get a visa before they arrive in New Zealand, or
- hold a current Australian permanent resident visa that allows you to return to Australia from overseas.
Arriving on a cruise ship
If you are a cruise ship passenger and have an NZeTA you will be
Before you travel to New Zealand
An NZeTA is not a visa.
How you apply for entry permission
There are 2 ways to apply — by:
- presenting your documents to an immigration officer, or
- using a eGate or Smartgate — not all passport holders can use this option.
eGate – New Zealand Customs Te Mana Arai o Aotearoa
To apply for entry permission, you need to have your:
- completed New Zealand traveller declaration (NZTD).
- passport or travel document.
You may need to have a travel ticket out of New Zealand to a country you have the right to enter if:
- we asked for that when we approved your visa, or
- you are visiting New Zealand on a passport from a visa waiver country.
If you have been refused entry to New Zealand and you still want to travel to here, contact the Customer Service Centre for advice. You may need to apply for a visa before you travel here again. Together with your airline or other carrier, we can stop you from travelling to New Zealand if you do not meet our entry requirements — for example, if you cannot provide evidence that you can meet the conditions of your visa. When you arrive we check your identity and other information again before we give you
Alert Having a visa does not guarantee that you will be allowed to enter New Zealand. Your airline or other carrier can be fined if they let you board an aircraft or ship after we have let them know that you cannot travel. We can stop you from travelling to New Zealand if: We can stop you travelling to New Zealand or entering the country if you: We can also refuse to let you travel to or enter New Zealand if you cannot show us evidence to support the conditions of your visa. For example, you cannot show us evidence that you: Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in NZ If your circumstances have changed and you can no longer meet the conditions of your visa we can also refuse to let you enter New Zealand. For example, if your work visa is based on a job offer that has since been withdrawn you will not be allowed to travel to New Zealand on that visa. You cannot come to New Zealand if you do not meet our health and character requirements. For example, you can be refused entry if: You could be refused entry to New Zealand if you:
What might stop you from being allowed to enter New Zealand
Together with your airline or other carrier, we can stop you from travelling to New Zealand if you do not meet our entry requirements. For example, if you cannot provide evidence that you can meet the conditions of your visa.
Why we stop you travelling to or entering New Zealand
Your identity and travel documents
Information you provide to us
Meeting the conditions of your visa
Your character and health
Arriving in New Zealand
New Zealand Traveller Declaration
Before you travel to New Zealand you must complete a New Zealand traveller declaration (NZTD). The NZTD asks questions about your travel, including customs, immigration and biosecurity information. It aims to improve the safety and security of New Zealand. Find out how to complete an NZTD on the NZTD website.
Customs and biosecurity
Other border agencies such as the New Zealand Customs Service and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) check that you meet their entry requirements. They can refuse to let you enter New Zealand entry if you do not.
Travel to and from New Zealand – New Zealand Customs Te Mana Arai o Aotearoa