NZeTA Permit

What is the eTA New Zealand?

The eTA for New Zealand (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) is an electronic travel authorisation for citizens of visa waiver countries.

The NZeTA launched in August 2019 and although it is not a visa, it has been a mandatory entry document since October 2019.

The NZeTAPermit.com: key features

Eligible travellers can easily obtain their NZeTA permit to visit the country for the following purposes:

The main features of the NZeTA are as follows:

Once approved, the eTA New Zealand (NZeTA) is sent to the email address the user provides in their application form.

The IVL for the NZeTA

To obtain the NZeTA visa waiver, applicants are required to pay a small processing fee and a tourist tax known as the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL).

The IVL has been introduced as a way for travellers to contribute directly to the tourism infrastructure and help protect the natural environment they enjoy during their stay in New Zealand.

Who needs an eTA for New Zealand?

Passport holders from all 60 visa waiver countries are required to apply for an NZeTA for tourism before departing towards the country.

The NZeTA allows most eligible holders to travel to New Zealand without a visa for up to 90 days.

Nationals of the UK can enter for up to 6 months with the NZeTA.

Even travellers just transiting through New Zealand on the way to a third-country destination have to obtain an NZeTA for transit.

Passport holders from the 60 visa-waiver countries listed below need an eTA for New Zealand. The requirement also applies to children travelling to New Zealand.

- All European Union citizens:

- Other Countries:

NZeTAPermit.com specifications:

Foreign nationals who are permanent residents of Australia (but not Australian citizens) — regardless of whether they carry a passport from an eligible nation or not— need to apply for an eTA. However, they are not charged the associated tourist levy.

Passenger airline and cruise ship crew need a Crew eTA for New Zealand. The Crew eTA is different from the NZeTA and is requested by the employer.

Other exemptions from the New Zealand eTA visa waiver include:

All airline crew and cruise line crew, no matter their nationality, need to ensure their employer has secured a Crew NZeTA on their behalf before departure to New Zealand. Once approved, the Crew NZeTA is valid for up to 5 years.

How does the NZeTA work?

The NZeTA system automatically pre-screens visa-exempt foreign visitors. It checks that applicants meet the eTA NZ 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:

NZeTA applicants do not need to visit an embassy or visa application centre. Our NZeTAPermit.com process is 100% electronic.

Tourism, business, and transit with an NZeTA

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

1. Tourism 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:

If none of the above applies, a transit visa for New Zealand is required.

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

Tourists of all nationalities can go to New Zealand on a cruise ship with an NZeTA.

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 eTANZ 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:

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 NZ. 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:

New Zealand Visa Categories

Certain travellers may need one of the following types of New Zealand visa:

New Zealand visas are obtained by going to an embassy or consulate to complete and submit an application and the supporting documents in person.