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Contact UsThe definition of a visa goes as follows: an endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is allowed to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in a country.
For some visitors, this eTA is a type of electronic visa since that's exactly the purpose of this. But then there are different explanations:
It all comes down to how countries want to market things. To some, when you have to fill out an application, pay money, and have to be approved, it's a type of visa. But, unlike a visa, eTA doesn't come with exorbitant fines or long waiting time.
NZeTA allows you to travel to New Zealand without the need for a regular Visa and is limited to certain cases for a maximum stay in New Zealand of 90 days (6 months in case of British citizens).
The eTA – Electronic Travel Authority aims to:
The number of visitors to New Zealand has grown exponentially over the last few years, and the number will only further grow. Given the status quo, most short-term visitors arriving by air or sea do not need to apply for a visa, which supports New Zealand's tourism industry by making it easier to travel.
However, when people don't have to apply for visas, Immigration Agency only learns about them once they are en route to New Zealand. Immigration is unable to screen these travelers in advance for border and immigration risks and has a reduced capability to make entering New Zealand smoother and faster as technology evolves.
The introduction of the Electronic Travel Authority (eTA) intends to address these issues and is part of wider government efforts to make border-crossing as seamless and smooth as possible.
Currently, as travelers visiting New Zealand under the Visa Waiver Program do not apply for a pre-arranged visa, the New Zealand Government only learns of their identity "once they are en route to New Zealand," as per the Immigration New Zealand. "We are unable to screen these travelers in advance for border and immigration risks," the Department explains, adding that "the Electronic Travel Authority aims to deal with these issues and is part of wider government efforts to make border crossing as seamless as possible."
As for the pricier International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), the NZ Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) shares that it "ensures our international visitors contribute to the infrastructure they use and help protect the natural environment they enjoy."
There are several factors to take into consideration when deciding on one system over the other. Some of the most important are the length of stay and the purpose of your visit. Let's take a look at them.
If your stay in New Zealand is longer than 90 days (or more than 180 days for British Citizens), you must request a Visa at the New Zealand Embassy; if it is 90 days or less (or less than 180 days in case of British Citizens), you may apply through NZeTA.
A New Zealand visa will open up a wider variety of possibilities. In the following list, you will see the main travel purposes and the recommended options.
The NZeTA is well suited for short term tourists, from Visa Waiver Countries, arriving by air or sea, which in turn supports New Zealand's tourism industry by making it easier to travel.
Even if you are from a Visa Waiver Country, you have to apply for a visa (Medical Treatment Visitor Visa) to come to New Zealand for medical treatment or consultation. NZeTA does not permit even short term medical treatment or consultation.
If you are visiting New Zealand for short-duration business purposes, you may submit your request through NZeTA. For example, purchase or sale of a house or any other type of property, visits fairs and conventions, signing contracts, whether personal or on behalf of your company. For bigger purposes like investing capital in New Zealand, starting a new business, taking over an existing business or if you are an employee of relocating a business, you need to go for a Business Immigration visa.
If you're traveling to New Zealand for taking an exam or studying a short course (for example, Summer English courses) that is less than three months, you could go for an eTA. You'll need a student visa if you're planning to study here full time and the course is for longer than three months.
If your visit is for transit purposes, meaning you will only visit New Zealand as a means to reach your final destination in another country, you may request your permit through eTA.
If you will be receiving compensation for your work during your stay in New Zealand, it is mandatory that you request a New Zealand Work visa. Travelers who submit their request through eTA may not perform any kind of work activity during their visit.
If you belong to one of the visa waiver countries and are planning a destination wedding in New Zealand, you can do that as long as you have a marriage license, you are not already married, at least 16 years of age, and you are not a close relative to the person you intend to marry. Requests submitted through eTA do not allow you to extend, renew or change the purpose of your trip.
If you travel to New Zealand with the intention of immigrating to the country, your only viable option is a New Zealand Immigration visa. eTA does not allow any type of change to the purpose of your visit and would not allow you to request your residence or getting your citizenship. Please note that NZeTA is applicable only for the citizens of visa waiver countries.
At present, there are a number of nationalities who can travel to New Zealand without a visa for up to 90 days. Citizens from the UK can enter for up to six months, and Australians hold residency status on arrival.
If you're traveling to New Zealand any time after October 1st, 2019, you are going to need either an actual visa or an eTA (if you're from a "visa waiver country"). If you are from a "visa-required country," i.e., if you needed a visa before this date, you still need one.
You must request an NZeTA online before you travel to New Zealand if you are:
You do not need an NZeTA to travel to New Zealand if you:
Australian citizens will be exempt from applying for NZ eTA. Australian permanent residents will need to apply for an eTA but are not required to pay the associated tourist levy i.e. IVL.
Other exemptions from the New Zealand eTA include:
Yes, they do. The process of applying for a New Zealand eTA for babies or young children is the same. Parents and guardians will need to complete the application form on the child's behalf.
Each child traveling must obtain an eTA before departing. Each application is separately processed and cannot be joined with your own. If your child or children are linked to your passport, you still need to submit individual applications. Each child needs an NZ eTA, updated, and valid.
Potential travelers may submit their eTA request and receive travel authorization without specific travel plans if they want to be able to travel at any given moment. Visa Waiver Program travelers are not required to have specific plans to travel to New Zealand before they apply for a travel authorization.
If a traveler's destination address in New Zealand is unknown at the time of completing the application, the traveler should enter the name of the hotel or approximate location they intend to visit. Travelers may update this information when their plans are finalized.
The INZ (Immigration New Zealand) recommends that applications for travel authorization be submitted as early as possible, as soon as — or even before — travel is planned.
Applying for an eTA is a straightforward online process.
Applicants will need a valid passport, a valid debit/credit card (such as a MasterCard, Visa Credit / Debit / Electron card, UK Maestro, or American Express card) and a valid email account where they can get their eTA approval.
The eTA application is then stored and linked to the applicant's passport number. All visa records are stored in a database which facilitates online checking of visa details by visa holders, country's registered organizations, and airline staff.
There is no requirement to physically present yourself or your travel document and get a visa stamp. The application is entirely performed over the internet in just a few clicks and provides advance permission to visit the country.
Much like the ESTA in the USA, or the new European equivalent (ETIAS), these "visas" in everything but name require up to 48-72 hours of processing. If you were landing on the 4th of November, you would want to apply before the 1st of November, to be on the safer side. Most eTAs should be approved within hours, but you won't be able to board the flight before you get approval.
You may be able to request an NZeTA when you check in, but if the authorities cannot process your request in time or if they decline it, then you will not be allowed to board the plane.
The eTA application process is pretty simple and straightforward. The travelers need to be mindful of three prerequisites before applying for an eTA.
Before applying for an electronic Travel Authorization, you are required to possess a valid passport from a visa-waiver country. For instance, if you hold a passport from a visa-waiver country of origin like Ireland, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the USA, you will need to enter your passport number to obtain eTA. All other forms of travel documents (except a valid passport from a visa-waiver country) will be declined.
Applying for an eTA is a pretty simple electronic process. Most applicants usually get their eTA approvals within minutes. Nonetheless, in some cases, eTA approvals may take a few days to process if the visitor is requested to submit supporting documents. You will need to use a valid email account where all eTA-related information will be directly sent to you.
In the online eTA application process, the applicants need to pay an application fee online with their browser once the online form is filled and submitted. They will also pay the IVL fee at the same time, which covers tourism infrastructure for New Zealand. Note, the application fee and IVL is non-refundable. Applicants can pay using a valid prepaid credit card or debit card (such as a MasterCard, Visa Credit / Debit / Electron card, UK Maestro, or American Express card).
Eligible citizens will be able to complete the New Zealand eTA application form by completing all the sections with the required information. Applicants will need to enter a range of information, including:
To avoid complications, applicants will need to carefully enter and revise all the data they enter. Any inaccuracies on the New Zealand eTA form could lead to delays and even eTA denials.
After an applicant has completed the online NZ eTA form and paid the eTA fee and tourist levy using a credit or debit card, the initial application will be complete. The vast majority of New Zealand eTA applications will be quickly processed and approved.
Before you begin your trip to New Zealand, please see that your passport is all ready for the trip as well.
For Australian and New Zealand passport holders, or Australian permanent residents and New Zealand residents, your passport must be valid at least on the date you travel to New Zealand.
For visitors to New Zealand who are non-Australian or non-New Zealand passport holders coming to New Zealand as visitors, students or workers, your passport must be either:
The minimum computer configuration to access the online system and submit your application for New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority is very simple. Any modern computer will meet those requirements. Make sure your computer has updated versions of:
An internet browser that supports 128-bit encryption (all modern browsers have 128-bit encryption or above). Current major browsers are fully supported — for example, Internet Explorer, Chrome, Chromium, Firefox, and Safari. Make sure you are using the latest version and that it is able to accept cookies and has JavaScript enabled.
A Travel Agent can help you complete your NZeTA request online. You will need to supply the following information to your travel agent:
If you have applied for an eTA, or if you have an existing eTA, you can verify your eTA status online by entering your application number or passport number.
Approved eTA applications are valid for a period of two years (for multiple entries), or until the date of passport expiry, whichever date comes first. An approved eTA does not guarantee admission into New Zealand, and the final decision of entry rests on New Zealand Immigration Border Authorities.
This status applies to applications that have been received by New Zealand's Immigration system, but not yet been processed. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to up to 48-72 hours for your application to be approved.
If your eTA application has triggered a manual review, you will likely be notified and requested to provide additional documentation such as scans of your passport or police records. You can expect to receive an email from INZ within 72 hours containing additional instructions.
If your eTA application is declined, then you will not be able to travel to New Zealand using an eTA. However, you may still be eligible to apply for a New Zealand Tourist visa to visit the country.
This means either you entered the wrong information when checking your eTA status, or that you did not actually submit an eTA application. If you recently applied and your status returns 'eTA Not Found,' wait a few hours and check the system again.
Within 72 hours of applying you will receive a confirmation e-mail regarding your New Zealand eTA status by New Zealand's Department of Immigration. Below is some information that may be on your New Zealand eTA:
Please note that once submitted your eTA cannot be updated. Because of this fact, if you have paid the service and processing fees, they cannot be refunded, and you will be required to again pay them in entirety when submitting a new application. It is therefore very important that you thoroughly check all information furnished, the personal information and answers to the questions asked, before finally submitting your eTA application.
Although your eTA is valid for two years following its approval, make sure all the information be accurate at the time of each of your visits. If you find any information inaccurate, the only solution is to complete and submit a new application to INZ.
The New Zealand eTA will be valid for two years from the date of issue, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. To enter New Zealand, you are also required to have a passport which is valid for at least three months beyond your intended date of departure.
Your eTA will also expire earlier if:
New Zealand eTA lasts for a full two years. However, if your passport expires before this time, your eTA will also expire. In order to avoid having to reapply for an eTA before two years has finished, be sure your passport is up to date and valid for at least two years.
Unfortunately, there is no way to receive an extension for your NZeTA. When your eTA expires, you will have to reapply. However, as you experienced during your initial eTA application, the process is fairly quick and easy.
Before you board an airplane to New Zealand, you must ensure that you possess a passport that is valid for at least 3 months beyond the date that you plan on departing from New Zealand.
In addition to a valid passport, you will also need proof that you will be leaving New Zealand — for instance, a return ticket — and proof that you have enough money to meet your expenses in New Zealand.
If you are a citizen of one of the visa-waiver countries, you also need an NZeTA to enter New Zealand if you plan on staying less than three months (or less than six months if you are from the United Kingdom). Australian citizens do not need a visa or an NZeTA to enter New Zealand.
Please note that if you have a criminal past, you could be denied entry into New Zealand.
Once arriving at the first airport or port of entry, all foreign nationals with an approved eTA or valid visa have an immigration and customs inspection to clear. A New Zealand Customs and Border Security Officer will review your case and your documents, and then decide upon your admission into the country.
Having an approved eTA or visa does not guarantee entry into New Zealand. The final decision rests with the immigration officer at the border.
Conditions of an eTA are:
No. eTA is not intended for work purposes. Taking employment while in New Zealand on an eTA is breaching the conditions of an eTA and calls for grave consequences.
New Zealand employers will check if you have the correct visa permitting you to work. Should you wish to work in New Zealand, perhaps on a Working Holiday Visa (up to 12 months, or 23 months if you are from the UK or Canada), seek help from Immigration New Zealand.
You cannot start work until the Immigration Department has approved your application. Working without permission is a criminal offense that carries hefty fines and penalties, and could see your visa revoked.
Yes, citizens of countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program require travel authorization to transit through New Zealand. If you are only planning to transit through New Zealand en route to another country, you should declare that you will be 'in transit' when completing the travel authorization application.
For example, passengers flying from Sydney to Chicago via Auckland would require an NZeTA, as their journey transits New Zealand unless exempted by traveling on a passport from Australia or New Zealand.
However, regardless of which country your travel commenced from — if you hold a passport for one of the following countries/regions, you do not need a Transit Visa if you transit through Auckland and your transit time does not exceed 24 hours from the time of your arrival:
Bahamas, Bermuda, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Federated States of Micronesia, Indonesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa (Western), Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Venezuela.
It is a common practice that before the 90 days granted by an eTA permit are over, foreign nationals whose permit is about to expire travel briefly to Australia to request another travel permit for New Zealand granting them an additional 90 days.
While entry is granted on many occasions, be aware that the immigration officer processing your request may deny your entry to New Zealand. If you need to extend your stay in New Zealand, we recommend you request a New Zealand visa at the New Zealand embassy in the country where you are.
Before you get off the aircraft, you will get a New Zealand Passenger Arrival Card that you must fill out for customs and immigration. The passenger arrival card asks questions about you, the purpose of your visit, and what you are bringing into New Zealand.
Never make false declarations on your passenger arrival card. Generally, avoid bringing in any food, plant, or animal products. You must declare anything over NZD $10,000 in cash. Carry enough money to support yourself during your entire stay in New Zealand.
When you arrive at passport control, you must hand over your passport and the arrival card you filled out.
The immigration officer may ask you a few questions such as how long you will be staying, what the purpose of your visit is, whether you are visiting family or friends, etc. General rules for answering these questions are:
Once you get through passport control, head to collect your baggage. A customs officer and a dog might check your bags for restricted items including food. Once you have collected your luggage, you might be asked to put your bags through x-ray for screening.
A customs officer will collect your arrival card and may inquire about items you have marked on your card. This is for biosecurity reasons. New Zealand is extremely strict about biosecurity — make sure your shoes and camping gear are clean and free of mud.
U.S. citizens with Global Entry membership traveling to New Zealand may use a dedicated lane arriving at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch International Airports. The lanes will streamline border processing for U.S. Global Entry members.
Lanes are marked with signs that say "U.S. Global Entry." To be eligible, U.S. Global Entry members simply present their Global Entry card, their U.S. passport, and arrival documentation. U.S. Global Entry members will still be subject to standard customs, immigration, and biosecurity processes on arrival in New Zealand.
You are screened when you check in and when you arrive in NZ. If you do not have valid documents and a genuine reason for traveling to New Zealand, Immigration can refuse to let you travel. Take care of the following points before you travel:
If you are not using the same passport that your eTA is linked to, you must re-apply for a new eTA before you travel.
When you arrive in New Zealand, you apply for entry permission. This process is usually quick, but immigration officers may ask you some extra questions before granting you entry permission.
There are 2 ways to apply: by presenting your documents to an immigration officer, or by using a Smartgate or eGate — this uses biometrics to match the picture on your e-Passport and is applicable to individuals 12 years or older having an e-passport from eligible countries including New Zealand, Australia, UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, and Singapore.
To apply for entry permission, you need to have your completed arrival card, passport, eTA, and travel ticket of your onward journey out of New Zealand.
Before you board your flight or ship to New Zealand, Immigration New Zealand checks their records to make sure you are allowed to travel to the country. There are 2 types of information INZ collects:
In addition to checking your passport and eTA, INZ also checks that you are a bona fide traveler and have a genuine reason for visiting New Zealand. You must answer all questions asked by immigration officers honestly, or you may not be allowed to enter the country.
This privacy statement applies to the collection and security of personal data and other information collected on the INZ (Immigration New Zealand) website and how it is utilized.
When you apply for an eTA, INZ collects some mandatory information from you to determine your identity and whether you are eligible to apply for an eTA. The collection of your personal information is approved by the Immigration Act 2009 and the Immigration Regulations under this Act. If you do not furnish the required information, your eTA application may not be accepted.
INZ will never divulge your personal information to any third party in a form that will identify you except where you have agreed to such disclosure, or where such disclosure is permitted by the Privacy Act 1993 or by law. Please note that INZ is lawfully authorized to share data with other government agencies under applicable law.
You have the right to find out from INZ whether they hold personal information about you, access that information, and request corrections if applicable. If you wish to check personal information held about you, contact your local Visa Application Center (VAC) or INZ office.
As per the law, New Zealand can deny you entry if you are disqualified under sections 15 and 26 of the Immigration Act 2009. You will not be granted a visa, an eTA or entry permission, if you have been in the following scenarios:
No, once your New Zealand eTA application is rejected, you can not appeal for reconsideration of your previous application, as the New Zealand immigration doesn't allow an appeal.
Under section 186 of the Immigration Act of 2009, there is no right of appeal or reconsideration against a decision on a temporary entry class visa application made outside of New Zealand. If you have new information that has not been considered by INZ, you can submit a further application. This would be considered on its merits and would need to show that you meet all relevant New Zealand government immigration instructions.
© 2026 NZeTA - New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority. All Rights Reserved.