Australian citizens and permanent residents travelling to New Zealand
Australian citizens and permanent residents can normally live, work or study in New Zealand without applying for a visa before coming here.
Australian citizens entering New Zealand
If you are an Australian citizen, you can usually live, work and study in New Zealand without applying for a visa or New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before you come here.
You will normally be given a resident visa ('Australian Resident Visa') when you arrive, but you must:
- have a valid Australian passport, or a foreign passport endorsed with an Australian declaratory visa as evidence of your Australian citizenship, and
- meet the character requirements for an Australian Resident Visa.
Note
Everyone entering New Zealand must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD).
On your arrival — New Zealand Customs Service Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa
You can be refused entry permission as well as residence in New Zealand if you are not of good character. You will be asked about your character in your NZTD.
Anyone applying for a New Zealand visa must meet the character requirements. When you apply, you must tell us about any issues or activities, both current and in your past, that could affect our decision, including whether you have been: If there is an issue, we may: You can request a character waiver or special direction when you apply. If your request is approved, we can give you a visa if your application meets all other requirements. Visas are given by special direction only in rare circumstances. You may need to provide us with police certificates to show your good character. Whether you need to give these certificates depends on how long you plan to stay in New Zealand and the visa you are applying for.
Character requirements for New Zealand visas
To be given a New Zealand visa, you must be of good character. If you have a criminal history, have provided false or misleading information, or could be a risk to New Zealand, we can decline your application.
Being of good character
Providing police certificates
How to get a resident visa on arrival for Australian citizens
If you are travelling on an Australian passport and you want to get a resident visa when you arrive in New Zealand, follow these steps.
- When you complete your NZTD, make sure you answer section 7 correctly — this asks if you 'hold an Australian passport or Permanent Residence Visa'.
- When you arrive, you can go to the e-Gate or SmartGate if you have a passport for these gates. If not, go to the main customs line for passport control and explain to the Customs/Immigration Officer that you are applying for a resident visa.
- If there are no issues, you will be given a resident visa.
If your Australian passport expires in New Zealand
If you are given a resident visa when you enter New Zealand and your Australian passport expires while you are here, you can:
- get a new passport, or
- apply for a Permanent Resident Visa, if you meet the requirements.
Get a new passport
If you are given a resident visa on arrival and your Australian passport expires while you are here, you can continue to stay in New Zealand — but you cannot travel out of New Zealand unless you get a new passport.
If you want to travel and keep your New Zealand resident status, you will need to get
Extending the travel conditions of a resident visa
If you do not get multiple entry travel conditions, your visa will expire when you leave New Zealand.
Apply for a Permanent Resident Visa
Australian citizens can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa after living in New Zealand as a resident for 24 months in a row.
If you want to travel outside New Zealand within the 24 months, you will need to get
Australian permanent residents entering New Zealand
If you are an Australian permanent resident, you will normally need a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before you travel — unless you already have a valid New Zealand visa.
New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
When you arrive in New Zealand, we will normally give you a resident visa ('Australian Resident Visa'). This allows you to enter New Zealand to live, work and study here.
You must:
- have a current Australian Permanent Resident Visa or Australian Resident Return Visa, and
- have travel conditions that let you return to Australia, and
- meet the character requirements for an Australian Resident Visa.
Note
Everyone travelling into New Zealand must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD).
On your arrival — New Zealand Customs Service Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa
You can be refused residence in New Zealand if you are not of good character. You will be required to make a character declaration in your NZeTA and NZTD.
How to get a resident visa on arrival for Australian residents
If you are an Australian permanent resident and you want to get a resident visa when you arrive in New Zealand, follow these steps.
- When you travel, carry a printed copy of your Australian Permanent Resident Visa or Australian Resident Return Visa, in case you need to show it.
- When you complete your NZTD, make sure you answer section 7 correctly — this asks if you 'hold an Australian passport or Permanent Residence Visa'.
- When you arrive, go to the e-Gate or SmartGate if you have a passport for these gates. If not, go to the main customs line and explain to the Customs/Immigration Officer that you are an Australian permanent resident applying for a resident visa.
- If there are no issues, you will be given a resident visa.
Note
This process is especially important if you already have a temporary New Zealand visa to visit, study or work.
If you become an Australian permanent resident after entering New Zealand
If you become an Australian permanent resident after you enter New Zealand, to get a New Zealand resident visa you will need to leave and return to New Zealand on your Australian Permanent Resident Visa (or Australian Resident Return Visa).
Temporary Australian residents entering New Zealand
If you have a temporary resident visa from Australia, you may need a visa before you can visit New Zealand.
Check if you need an NZeTA or visa
If you want to study, work or live in New Zealand, you will need to get an appropriate visa before you travel.
Travel requirements for Australian citizens or permanent residents
Australian citizens or permanent residents who are automatically granted residence visa upon arrival in New Zealand should be aware of the following important travel requirements.
To maintain the validity of your residence visa and make sure you remain eligible for a Permanent Resident Visa, you must apply for a Variation of Travel Conditions (VOTC) before leaving New Zealand. Without this variation, your residence visa will lapse when you leave the country and you may not be eligible for a Permanent Resident Visa when you return.
We strongly recommend that you:
- review the requirements for a VOTC application
- Submit your application well before your planned travel date to avoid complications.
Note
While Australian Citizens and permanent residents are typically granted a New Zealand residence visa upon arrival, it’s important to note that the residence visa expires upon departure from New Zealand. To maintain continuous resident status, especially for qualifying for a Permanent Residence Visa, you must have held a residence visa continuously for at least 24 months. This would mean you need to apply for and be granted a VOTC before leaving New Zealand.