New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)

A New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) is required for people traveling to New Zealand without a visa, who have a passport from a visa waiver country. An NZeTA allows visitors to New Zealand to stay in the country for up to three months (or up to six months if you are a British citizen).

An NZeTA can be used for:

• Tourism purposes.
• Business purposes (not including earning an income).
• Transit (through Auckland International Airport).

An NZeTA allows you to travel to New Zealand without obtaining a visa if:

• You are traveling on a passport from a visa-waiver county.
• You are a permanent Australian resident.
• You are a passenger on a cruise ship.
• You are transiting through Auckland International Airport on the way to or from Australia.
• You are transiting through Auckland International Airport on the way to another country (if you are traveling on a passport from a visa waiver country or a transit visa waiver country).

A NZeTA can be used for multiple visits in a two-year period, as long as your total stay does not exceed 90 days.

NZeTAs were introduced in October 2019 and were immediately made mandatory for individuals from visa-waiver countries. It was introduced as a way of strengthening New Zealand’s border security and bringing New Zealand’s border controls in line with international best practices.

People traveling on passports from visa-waiver countries can apply for an NZeTA if they are traveling to New Zealand for three months or less.

NZeTA eligible countries include:

Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honk Kong (residents with HKSAR or British National-Overseas passport only), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy. Japan. Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau (with Macau Special Administrative Region passport), Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal (individuals with the right to live permanently in Portugal), Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Region, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (permanent residents only), United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vatican City

If you are transiting through Auckland International Airport on your way to another country, you may be able to apply for a NZeTA instead of a visa. To qualify, you will need to hold a passport from a transit visa waiver country.

Transit visa waiver countries include:

Bahamas, Bermuda, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Indonesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Venezuela,

Passport holders from other countries who are visiting New Zealand will need to apply for a New Zealand Tourist visa instead of a NZeTA. If you are traveling to New Zealand for medical treatment or a medical consultation, you must apply for a visa rather than an NZeTA – even if you hold a passport from a visa waiver country.

You do not need an NZeTA if:

• You are a citizen of New Zealand or Australia.
• You currently hold a valid visa for New Zealand (e.g., a visitor visa).
• You are a member of or are associated with a scientific program or expedition that falls under the Contracting Party to the Antarctic Treaty.
• You are a member of a visiting force (e.g., the armed forces or navy) and are visiting New Zealand as part of your duties.

• A valid passport
  You will need to submit a scan of your passport as part of your application. You can upload a scan of your passport to your NZeTA online application or to the NZeTA mobile app. You must ensure your passport is valid for at least three or six months (depending on the passport issuing country). Your passport must also have two blank pages for official use.
• A payment method
  You will need a valid credit or debit card (Visa or Mastercard) to pay the application fee. Payment will be made at the time of application.
• An email address
  Upon approval, your NZeTA will be sent to your email address. You may also receive an email if there are any issues with your application or if there are any reasons why your application will be delayed.
• A valid photograph
  You will need to provide a valid photograph of your face that meets the NZeTA requirements. If the photograph does not meet the application requirements, the application process will be paused, and a new photograph will be requested. The photo you submit should be less than six months old and should be clearly identifiable as you. When submitting your photo, ensure it is:
  • Taken in portrait mode.
  • Evenly lit with minimal shadows.
  • In color.
  • Representative of your natural skin tone.
  • An original photo.
  • Taken 1.5 meters from your face.
  • In focus.
  • Taken against a plain, light-colored background.

  Your photo should also:

  • Not contain red eye.
  • Feature plain clothing patterns only.
  • Have open eyes and a closed mouth (do not smile or frown).
  • Feature a neutral expression.
  • Clearly show your face.

  If you are submitting your photo via the mobile app, your photo must be:

  • Less than 10 MB.
  • Submitted as a JPG or JPEG file.

  If you are submitting your photo via an online application on the website, your photo must be:

  • Between 500 KB and 3 MB.
  • Between 900 x 1200 pixels and 2250 x 3000 pixels.
  • A JPG or JPEG file.
• Proof of onward travel
  You are required to show proof of onward travel, either when you apply for the NZeTA or when you enter New Zealand. This could be proof of a return flight or proof of travel to another destination.
• Proof of sufficient funds
  You may be required to show proof of sufficient funds to cover your entire visit to New Zealand. Sufficient funds are a minimum of NZD $1,000 per month or NZD $400 if you have already paid for accommodation. You can provide evidence of these funds via bank statements, credit card statements, or travelers’ cheques.

A NZeTA visa allows you to enter New Zealand for up to three months (or six months if you are a British citizen). The NZeTA is valid for up to two years for people traveling to New Zealand and five years for crew members (e.g., airline staff).

During this time period, you can enter and leave New Zealand multiple times, as long as your total time in New Zealand does not exceed ninety days (or six months for British citizens).

When entering New Zealand, you will need to present:

• A valid passport with at least three months validity beyond your intended departure date.
• Proof that you have paid the IVL fee.
• A completed Passenger Arrival Card.

It is also recommended that you bring a printed copy of your NZeTA visa, although this is not a requirement.

Your passport will be linked directly to your NZeTA meaning if you possess more than one passport, you must ensure you enter and leave New Zealand using the passport you submitted as part of your NZeTA application.

When you arrive in New Zealand, the immigration officer will request information that you fit the criteria for visa-free entry to the country. This includes showing proof of onward travel and proof that you have sufficient funds to support you during your stay in New Zealand.