What Is the New Zealand NZeTA?
The New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, known as the NZeTA, is an electronic travel authority required for many travellers who can travel to New Zealand without applying for a visitor visa in advance. It is not a visa, and holding one does not guarantee boarding, entry permission or admission at the border.
Whether you need an NZeTA depends on the passport you will use, your reason for travel and whether you are visiting New Zealand, arriving by cruise ship or transiting through Auckland. It is commonly relevant to travellers from visa-waiver countries, Australian permanent residents and certain other eligible travellers. For a broader explanation of visa exemptions and entry rules, see our guide to New Zealand visas and entry requirements.
Australian citizens do not normally need an NZeTA. Australian permanent residents generally do need one before travelling. A separate pathway also applies to eligible Chinese and Pacific Islands Forum passport holders travelling from Australia with an eligible Australian visa.
An NZeTA must match the passport used for travel. A valid NZeTA does not replace the border checks that apply when you arrive in New Zealand.
New Zealand NZeTA: Key Facts
| Question | Key point |
|---|---|
| Who may need it? | Eligible visa-waiver travellers, cruise passengers, Australian permanent residents and certain eligible transit passengers. |
| Where can you apply? | Through the official NZeTA website or mobile app. |
| Official NZeTA fee | NZD $17 through the app or NZD $23 through the website. |
| IVL | NZD $100 when it applies. |
| Processing time | Allow up to 72 hours. |
| Validity | Usually 2 years for traveller and transit NZeTAs. |
| Multiple entries | Yes, while the NZeTA remains valid and you continue to meet the conditions. |
| Core application items | The travel passport, an acceptable facial photo and the information requested in the form. |
| NZeTA versus NZTD | The NZeTA is a travel authority; the New Zealand Traveller Declaration is a separate arrival declaration. |
How to Apply for a New Zealand NZeTA
Apply well before departure. Completing the form may take only a short time, but Immigration New Zealand advises travellers to allow up to 72 hours for processing. Do not wait until airport check-in or cruise embarkation.
- Check your eligibility. Confirm that your passport, travel purpose and itinerary allow you to request an NZeTA rather than a visitor or transit visa.
- Prepare your passport and personal details. Use the same passport that you will present when travelling to New Zealand.
- Choose how to apply. You can use the official website or mobile app. Optional private assistance may also be available for travellers who want help completing and reviewing their information.
- Complete the application form. Enter your biographical, passport and contact details exactly as they appear in your travel document.
- Provide an acceptable facial photograph. The image must meet the applicable requirements and clearly identify you.
- Review the information carefully. Check names, dates of birth, passport number, nationality and declaration answers before submitting.
- Pay the applicable fees. The NZeTA fee and, where applicable, the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy are paid as part of the request.
- Wait for confirmation and check the status if needed. Keep the confirmation email and avoid submitting a second request simply because you have not yet seen an email.
The most consequential mistakes are usually mismatched passport details, using a passport that will not be used for travel, an unacceptable photo and incorrect declaration answers. A duplicate request may also lead to another charge without making the decision faster.
What Documents Do You Need for an NZeTA Application?
For an NZeTA request, you normally need the passport you will travel on and one acceptable facial photograph, or a device that can take one. Your passport should normally remain valid for at least three months after the date you intend to leave New Zealand.
- Passport: the travel document used for the NZeTA request and for your journey.
- Personal details: including information that must match the passport exactly.
- Email address: used to receive confirmation and communications about the request.
- Recent facial photograph: a clear image that looks like you and has not been digitally altered.
- Payment method: to pay the applicable government fees.
- Declarations: answers about matters relevant to your eligibility and travel plans, where requested.
Artificially altered images, including photographs edited or enhanced with AI, may not meet the photo standard. If a photo cannot be accepted, the request may be delayed or declined.
How Much Does a New Zealand NZeTA Cost?
The official NZeTA fee depends on the application channel. The mobile app costs NZD $17, while the official website costs NZD $23. Many travellers must also pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, or IVL, which is NZD $100 per person when applicable.
| Application method | NZeTA fee | IVL if applicable | Total with IVL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official mobile app | NZD $17 | NZD $100 | NZD $117 |
| Official website | NZD $23 | NZD $100 | NZD $123 |
| Optional private assistance | Applicable government fees plus service charges | Depends on eligibility | Total displayed before payment |
The IVL contributes to visitor infrastructure and conservation. It applies to many, but not all, international visitors. For example, eligible transit passengers passing through Auckland International Airport are generally exempt, and other exemptions can depend on the passport used or immigration status.
NZeTA and IVL payments are normally non-refundable. A refund may be possible in limited circumstances involving a technical fault in the immigration system, but not simply because a request is declined, duplicated, submitted with incorrect details or no longer needed.
How Long Does an NZeTA Take to Process?
Allow up to 72 hours for NZeTA processing. Recent official wait-time information shows that many requests are completed faster, but the time required for your request can vary and additional checks may take longer.
The time needed to fill in the form is not the same as the processing time. Submit your request early enough to deal with a photo problem, a request for further information or an unexpected delay. No private service can officially prioritise, fast-track or guarantee an NZeTA decision.
How Long Is a New Zealand NZeTA Valid?
A traveller or transit NZeTA is generally valid for 2 years from the date it is issued. You can use it for multiple eligible journeys while it remains valid. A Crew ETA is a separate category and is generally valid for 5 years.
NZeTA validity is not the same as the length of each stay. A visa-waiver visitor may generally be granted a stay of up to 3 months on each visit, while eligible UK passport holders may be granted up to 6 months per visit. The total time in New Zealand under the relevant visa-waiver arrangement cannot exceed 6 months in any 12-month period.
If you receive a new passport, do not assume your existing NZeTA will automatically match it. Check whether an update is permitted or whether a new NZeTA request is required before travelling.
How to Check Your NZeTA Status
After you submit a request, Immigration New Zealand sends a confirmation email and receipt to the address provided. Check that the passport details in your confirmation match the passport you will use for travel.
If you cannot find the email, check your spam or junk folder, then use the official NZeTA status service or the mobile app to look up your request. Do not submit another application immediately just because the email is missing; a duplicate request does not speed up processing and may not be refundable.
How to Correct or Update an NZeTA
Some limited changes can be requested after submission, including small errors, an email address update, a name change and certain passport-detail updates. The details on the NZeTA must always match the passport used to travel.
A new NZeTA request is required for significant changes, including a change of nationality or passport-issuing state, a change to declaration answers or a change from a transit NZeTA to a traveller NZeTA. If you are changing your name or passport number, request the update at least 10 days before travel. An update is not immediate, so do not leave it until departure day.
Official NZeTA Application vs Optional Private Assistance
Official application
- You complete the request through the government website or mobile app.
- You pay the applicable government NZeTA fee and IVL, if required.
- You enter, review and submit the information independently.
Optional private assistance
- You may receive step-by-step help completing the required information.
- A service may offer a review of passport and travel details before submission.
- Private service charges may apply in addition to any government fees.
Optional assistance is not part of the New Zealand Government and is not required to obtain an NZeTA. It cannot guarantee approval, entry permission or faster processing.
NZeTA for Transit Passengers
Eligible passengers transiting through Auckland International Airport may use a transit NZeTA instead of a Transit Visa, depending on their passport and itinerary. Transit passengers must remain in the international transit area and may stay for no more than 24 hours.
If you need to leave the transit area, collect baggage or stay overnight, you are not travelling as a transit passenger and may need an NZeTA as a visitor or an appropriate visa. Eligible Auckland transit passengers do not need an IVL or a New Zealand Traveller Declaration.
NZeTA for Cruise Passengers
Cruise and cargo-ship passengers travelling to New Zealand may need an NZeTA before their vessel departs, including some passengers whose passport would otherwise require a visitor visa. They must request an NZeTA as a visitor, not as a transit passenger.
If you fly to New Zealand to join a cruise or cargo ship, the rules for entering by air apply to you. You may need an NZeTA if you are eligible for visa-waiver travel, or a visa if you are not.
NZeTA for Children
Check the requirements for every child travelling, including infants. Each traveller who needs an NZeTA must have travel authority linked to their own passport, and applicable government charges are assessed per person.
For travel to New Zealand, the accompanying adult should also ensure that the child has the correct passport and that all travel details are consistent with the child’s NZeTA request.
NZeTA vs New Zealand Traveller Declaration
The NZeTA and the New Zealand Traveller Declaration serve different purposes. The NZeTA is a travel authority that may be required before departure. The New Zealand Traveller Declaration, or NZTD, is an arrival declaration covering travel, customs, immigration and biosecurity information.
A traveller can need both for the same trip. Transit passengers who remain in the Auckland international transit area are exempt from the NZTD, while visitors arriving in New Zealand generally need to complete it.