New Zealand NZeTA requirements, eligibility and documents
Understand who needs an NZeTA, the passport and photograph requirements, permitted journeys, transit rules, validity and New Zealand entry conditions.
What is the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)?
The NZeTA is an electronic travel authority that allows eligible travellers to travel to New Zealand without applying for a visa before departure. It is not a visa. Eligible visitors must still obtain entry permission at the border.
Who can request an NZeTA?
It may be available to citizens of a visa-waiver country or territory, eligible cruise or cargo ship passengers, Australian permanent residents, eligible Chinese and Pacific Islands Forum citizens travelling directly from Australia with an eligible Australian visa, and eligible passengers transiting through Auckland International Airport.
Who does not need an NZeTA?
A traveller generally does not need an NZeTA when holding a valid New Zealand visa, travelling on a New Zealand or Australian passport, using a foreign passport with a New Zealand citizen endorsement, or qualifying under specified visiting-force or Antarctic programme exemptions.
Visa waiver countries and territories
Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay and Vatican City. Specific passport, citizenship or permanent-residence conditions apply to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Greece, Hong Kong, Macau, Portugal, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and United States nationals.
Chinese and Pacific Island visitors travelling from Australia
Eligible citizens of China, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu may request an NZeTA when they have entered Australia, fly directly from an Australian airport and hold an eligible Australian visa valid at check-in. Merely transiting through Australia does not qualify.
Eligible Australian visas for the direct-from-Australia route
Current eligible subclasses include 600, 462, 400, 651, 417, 500, 485, 407, 590, 482, 491, 188, 494, 457, 160, 162, 161, 476, 163, 165, 164, 820, 309, 870, 461, 300, 173, 445, 884, 410 and 405.
Australian citizens and permanent residents
Australian citizens travelling on a valid Australian passport normally do not need an NZeTA. Australian permanent residents normally need one unless they hold a valid New Zealand visa, and must hold a current Australian Permanent Resident Visa or Resident Return Visa with suitable travel conditions.
Permitted travel purposes
Eligible visitors may travel for tourism, holidays, visits to family or friends, short-term study, qualifying short-term business visits and qualifying remote work for an overseas employer or client. Local employment is not permitted. Short-term study is generally limited to three months.
Medical treatment
An NZeTA must not be used for travel for medical consultation or treatment. A traveller coming for those purposes needs the appropriate visa before travel.
NZeTA validity
An NZeTA is generally valid for two years for travellers and can be used for multiple journeys while it remains valid, provided the traveller continues to meet the entry requirements. Crew members follow separate Crew ETA rules.
Maximum stay
Eligible visa-waiver visitors may normally stay for up to three months per visit. Eligible United Kingdom passport holders may normally stay for up to six months. A visitor using visa-waiver arrangements may spend no more than six months in New Zealand within any 12-month period.
Cruise ship passengers
Passengers arriving by cruise ship may be eligible even when their nationality does not meet the normal air-travel visa-waiver rules. A passenger who flies to New Zealand before joining a cruise must meet the immigration requirements for arrival by air. Different rules apply to crew.
Crew members
Commercial airline, cruise ship and cargo ship crew generally require a Crew ETA obtained through their employer. It is separate from the standard traveller NZeTA.
Transit through New Zealand
International transit without entering New Zealand is available only through Auckland International Airport. A transit passenger must remain in the international transit area for less than 24 hours, must not enter New Zealand and must meet the requirements for the onward destination. Checked baggage should be transferred to the onward flight.
Transit visa waiver countries and territories
In addition to ordinary visa-waiver travellers, citizens of Bahamas, Bermuda, Bolivia, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Venezuela can generally transit through Auckland using an NZeTA rather than a Transit Visa.
Eligibility requirements
An eligible visitor must meet health and character requirements, have a genuine temporary reason for travel, intend to comply with visitor conditions, have sufficient funds, have arrangements to leave and travel with the passport connected to the NZeTA. Travellers who need sponsorship should obtain an appropriate visa.
Passport requirements
Use the same passport for the NZeTA request and travel. It must remain valid for at least three months after the planned departure from New Zealand, and all personal and passport details must match it exactly.
Documents required
The request needs a valid passport and one acceptable recent photograph. Before travelling, carry the NZeTA confirmation and evidence of onward or return travel. Evidence of sufficient funds may also be requested.
NZeTA photo requirements
Use a recent JPG or JPEG portrait photograph taken within six months, ideally in a 3:4 ratio. It should show the face clearly and centrally, eyes open, neutral expression, plain light background, proper focus and even lighting. Do not use filters, background replacement, AI enhancement or other digital manipulation.
Health requirements
Visitors must meet New Zealand health requirements. A person intending to receive medical consultation or treatment must use the appropriate visa rather than an NZeTA.
Character requirements
Character concerns include criminal convictions, previous deportation, removal or exclusion, and risks to security, public order or the public interest. A person who may not satisfy these requirements should use the appropriate visa route.
Genuine intentions
A visitor must genuinely intend to come for the stated purpose, comply with conditions, remain temporarily and leave when the permitted stay ends. Previous immigration applications and travel history may be considered.
Sufficient funds
Visitors must be able to support themselves. Bank or credit-card statements, prepaid accommodation or other suitable evidence may be requested at check-in or after arrival.
Onward travel requirements
Visitors must be able to leave before the permitted stay ends and enter their next destination. Evidence may include a paid onward ticket, cruise itinerary or confirmation of departure on a private craft.
Family and group applications
Every traveller, including each child, must meet the requirements individually. The online form requires a separate request for each traveller. A child endorsed in a parent passport still needs an NZeTA when required, using that passport information.
NZeTA processing time
Allow up to 72 hours for processing. Many requests may be completed sooner, but additional checks or information can take longer and no particular completion time is guaranteed.
When to apply
Obtain the NZeTA before travel and allow at least 72 hours before departure for processing.
New Zealand Traveller Declaration
Visitors entering New Zealand must complete a Traveller Declaration. It can generally be submitted from 24 hours before an air journey begins or 24 hours before a ship leaves its final overseas port. Passengers remaining in Auckland international transit do not need one.
Documents at check-in and arrival
Carry the passport linked to the NZeTA, NZeTA confirmation and evidence of travel out of New Zealand. Visitors may also be asked for evidence of sufficient funds and, when entering, the completed Traveller Declaration.
Important restrictions
An NZeTA does not normally permit local employment. Qualifying remote work for an overseas employer or client may be permitted. Longer study, local work, permanent residence, medical treatment or a longer stay require the appropriate visa.
Staying longer
An NZeTA cannot extend a stay. A visitor who needs more time must obtain an appropriate New Zealand visa.
Refusal or additional information
More information may be requested. Refusal or prevention from travelling or entering may result from character concerns, false or misleading information, identity problems, an invalid or damaged passport, insufficient onward-travel or support evidence, non-genuine intentions or a material change in circumstances.