Apply for New Zealand eTA Online

Visiting New Zealand

If you plan to visit New Zealand for a short period, you must request an NZeTA before you travel if you:

• travel on a passport from a country on the list of visa waiver countries and territories
• are visiting for up to 3 months — or, if you are a British citizen, up to 6 months.
• Approved NZeTA valid up to 2 years.

Transit Passengers

If you are passing through New Zealand on your way to another country, find out if you need a visa or an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority).

• If you pass through New Zealand on your way to another country and do not plan to stay you are called a transit passenger.
• As a transit passenger you can only travel through Auckland International Airport where you must stay in the transit area of the airport or on board your craft.
• Depending on the passport you travel on you may need to request an New Zealand eTA or apply for a Transit Visa before you travel.
• If you plan to leave the airport and visit New Zealand you may have to apply for a visa before you travel.

Arriving by cruise ship

If you are flying into New Zealand to join your cruise, you must have:

• an New Zealand eTA if you are from a visa waiver country, or
• a visa if you are from a country that requires a visa to visit New Zealand.

NZeTA Authorized Stay and Validity

The New Zealand eTA grants visitors a stay of up to 90 days per visit (or up to 6 months for British citizens).

You can apply for the NZeTA at any time before your departure. Most applications are processed within 72 hours, though some may take up to 3 business days. The NZeTA is valid for 2 years from the date of approval and allows multiple entries into New Zealand.

Passport guidelines for the NZeTA

Applicants must have a valid passport, which must have a minimum validity of three (3) months beyond the expected date of departure. New Zealand eTA holders will be granted a 90-day stay at one of the designated ports of entry in New Zealand.

How does the NZeTA work?

The NZeTA system automatically pre-screens visa-exempt foreign visitors. It checks that applicants meet the eTA New Zealand requirements and are eligible to travel without a visa

The eTA facilitates border crossing, improves security and makes New Zealand even safer for residents and visitors.

Eligible passport holders can get an NZeTA online in 3 steps:

• Fill out the electronic application form
• Pay the processing fee and submit the request
• Receive the approved New Zealand electronic travel authority by email

Tourist, business, and transit with an NZeTA

The New Zealand Travel Authority is for Tourist, Business, and Transit. The maximum length of stay with the eTA is 3 months (6 months for UK citizens).

1. Tourist in New Zealand with an NZeTA

Travellers taking a cruise to New Zealand (regardless of their nationality), and passport holders from one of the 60 New Zealand eTA eligible countries can apply for the New Zealand eTA tourist visa waiver.

Holidays are the most common reason to obtain an NZeTA.

Tourists can visit New Zealand multiple times over the course of 2 years with an eTA. They may spend up to 3 months at a time in the country without a tourist visa.

2. New Zealand eTA for Business Trips

Citizens of a number of countries can travel to New Zealand for business without applying for a Business Visitor Visa for different periods depending on their nationality.

It is mandatory for travellers from visa waiver countries to have an NZeTA in order to visit the country for business purposes.

3. NZeTA for passengers transiting through Auckland Airport

Airline passengers with a layover in New Zealand can apply for an NZeTA for transit if they are:

• A passport holder from a transit visa waiver or visa waiver country
• An Australian permanent residence visa holder
• Travelling directly from New Zealand to Australia, any nationality (current Australian visa required)
• Travelling from Australia even if the journey started outside, any nationality

Transit passengers must remain on the plane they arrived on or in the international transit area at Auckland International Airport (AKL) for no more than 24 hours.

4. New Zealand eTA for cruise ship passengers

Even passport holders who are not from visa-waiver nations can arrive in New Zealand visa-free provided they hold an eTA.

Cruise passengers from visa waiver countries need to apply for an eTA New Zealand for the trip.

Foreigners flying into New Zealand to join a cruise ship need a visa if they do not hold a passport from a visa waiver country.

Benefits of the New Zealand visa waiver eTA

Most visitors are arriving well-prepared, having applied in advance for their New Zealand eTA visa waiver rather than leaving their authorisation to the last minute.

This proves the tourism industry’s initial worry regarding the potential for chaos (large numbers of travellers arriving at check-in without an eTA) unnecessary.

Here are some of the main benefits the eTA for New Zealand has to offer:

• The New Zealand eTA grants holders multiple visits
• The New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority is valid for up to 2 years
• The electronic authorisation facilitates the border arrival process
• The application for the NZeTA visa waiver takes around 5 minutes to complete
• More than 99% of eTA requests are processed automatically
• Increased security within the country for both residents and visitors a like
• The eTA allows New Zealand immigration authorities to pre-screen visa-exempt nationals in order to detect and prevent people who may pose a risk to New Zealand’s security from entering
• The entire application process can be completed online, eliminating the need to visit a New Zealand embassy or consulate
• Immigration New Zealand has stationed staff around the globe to manage any glitches with the eTA

Do you need a visa or eTA to go to New Zealand?

There are many countries whose citizens are not required to apply for a visa to visit New Zealand. Visitors with passports issued by these visa waiver countries can instead get the NZeTA online to enter New Zealand and stay without a visa.

The other exception is Australians, who are automatically granted authorisation to enter New Zealand and even claim residency.

Citizens of all other countries must apply for a New Zealand visa unless they are passengers on a cruise ship or are exempt for any of the other reasons outlined above.

Visa-exempt nationalities may also need a visa to travel to New Zealand for:

• Purposes other than tourism, business, or transit
• Stays of longer than 30 days

Frequently Asked Questions