New Zealand introduced its pre-travel authorization system in 2019 called the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, or simply the NZeTA.
It is similar to a visa exemption but holding an NZeTA is mandatory before traveling. Only visa waiver countries are eligible for the NZeTA. All applications are online through a dedicated app or the NZeTA website.
Quick summary:
If you haven’t already, read the New Zealand Visa Guide to familiarize yourself with New Zealand visa requirements, various visa types for tourists, eligibility and border formalities.
The NZeTA is valid for 2 years.
If your passport expires before that, you can easily change the details in the NZeTA app.
On every entry, the NZeTA allows you to stay for up to 3 months. This duration is 6 months if you’re traveling on a UK passport.
You can only be in New Zealand for up to 6 months within any 12-month rolling period.
There is no limit to the number of entries you can make using the NZeTA.
You can enter New Zealand through any international port of entry.
Given the long validity of the NZeTA, you can apply when you make plans to travel to New Zealand.
The New Zealand Immigration lists the processing time for the NZeTA as 72 hours although in reality most are granted within 5 minutes.
You cannot extend the NZeTA.
If you are in New Zealand and want to stay longer, you must apply for another visa, not another NZeTA.
Only the following 60 nationalities are eligible for the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA):
If you are Australian, you do not need the NZeTA as you will receive an Australian Resident Visa when you arrive in New Zealand.
The only document you need to apply for the NZeTA is your passport.
You also need a debit/credit card to pay and an email address to receive the confirmation.
Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you plan to leave New Zealand.
If applying for NZeTA on the website, you can upload a digital photo or you can take one using your laptop’s camera.
If you upload a digital photo, it must be:
If you use the mobile app you can only take a photo using your mobile phone camera.
The NZeTA costs:
Additionally, everybody coming to New Zealand on an NZeTA must also pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) of 35 NZD.
It’s automatically added to the final price, bringing the total to 52 NZD or 58 NZD respectively.
Allow up to 72 hours for your NZeTA to be processed. Most requests are processed very quickly, some even instantly.
You can apply for NZeTA online at the New Zealand Immigration website. This application costs 23 NZD.
You can also apply using the free NZeTA app that you can download from Google Play or the App Store. This application costs 17 NZD.
Applying using the app is cheaper and the process is extremely simple.
After you download the app, follow the steps:
You can check the status of your NZeTA in the app or on the Check Status page.
The NZeTA is electronically attached to your passport, so you don’t need to download or print anything.
If ever prompted, for example when checking in for a cruise, you can show the NZeTA confirmation on the app or the email you received.
You need to have a travel ticket out of New Zealand to a country you have the right to enter. If that country requires you to hold an onward ticket, you must produce it upon request too.
You will likely be asked to present your onward flight when you check in for your flight. Immigration agents at the border also often ask to see it.
You must have sufficient funds for your stay. This is at least 1000 NZD per month or at least 400 NZD if you’ve paid for accommodation already.
Travel Insurance is NOT mandatory and immigration agents do not ask to see proof of it. It is nonetheless strongly recommended.
Auckland International Airport is the only airport in New Zealand that has a transit zone and allows passengers to transfer to other flights without clearing immigration.
That’s only possible if you’re from a transit visa waiver country in which case you will need an NZeTA.
The transit visa waiver countries are:
These are in addition to the regular visa waiver countries eligible for the NZeTA.
Cruises that stop in New Zealand are treated the same as arriving flights.
If you come from a visa waiver country, you must hold an NZeTA. Otherwise, you will need a regular tourist visa.
When you first arrive at a port in New Zealand you will be considered as holding a visitor visa. It expires 28 days after the arrival of the ship in New Zealand or when the ship leaves – whichever happens first.
If you arrive by cruise ship to stay in New Zealand you will have to apply for entry permission in the same way as you would if arriving on a flight. This includes completing a Traveller Declaration card and showing an onward ticket to the immigration officer at the port.
Remember that the NZeTA is not a visa and does not guarantee entry into New Zealand. You must apply for entry permission.
If you are flying to New Zealand, to apply for entry permission you must first complete an arrival card. You can do so online or on arrival. It will also be given to you on the plane before you arrive.
OR
If you arrive on a cruise ship, you will be considered as holding a visitor visa for up to 28 days from the day you arrive at your first port in New Zealand.
After clearing immigration, you will pick up your checked luggage and proceed to customs.
New Zealand has one of the strictest biosecurity rules in the world. Carefully read through the list of items you must declare on your customs declaration.
It’s better to declare if you’re not sure. Don’t risk it – the fines are high and your visitor visa may be canceled on the spot.
No. You will not be allowed to board your flight without an NZeTA. It is a mandatory requirement to travel to New Zealand.
No need. It’s electronically attached to your passport. You can also show the confirmation email you received or the app screen with the valid NZeTA.
It’s not necessary to do it too far in advance – the processing time is only 72 hours.
On the other side, it’s valid for 2 years so you might as well get it when you know for sure you will travel to New Zealand.
You only need 1 NZeTA to travel to New Zealand an unlimited number of times within 2 years. You can apply for a new one after it expires. There is no limit to the amount of times you can do that.
WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI
Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.
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