Visa & Entry Requirements for New Zealand
Every person entering New Zealand regardless of nationality must have the right travel documents before they board their flight. According to Immigration New Zealand, most visitors will need either a visa or an NZETA, along with a valid passport.
The 5 Documents You Need to Enter New Zealand
Before getting into the detail, here is a clear checklist of what every visitor needs in order to enter New Zealand:
- A valid passport – Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure date from New Zealand. Check the expiry date before you book!
- A New Zealand NZeTA (Electronic Travel Authority) or Visa
- The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL)
- A completed New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD)
- Proof of onward travel and sufficient funds
Understanding New Zealand’s Visa Requirements
There are three possible visa situations depending on your passport:
1. You need a visa
If your country does not have a visa-waiver agreement with New Zealand, you must apply for a visitor visa before you travel. This is a formal application made through Immigration New Zealand’s online system. It requires supporting documents such as proof of onward travel, evidence of funds, and sometimes accommodation details. Processing times vary by country but can take several weeks, always apply well in advance. Here is a list of visa waiver countries and territories to check for your country.
2. You need an NZETA (no visa required)
If your passport is from a visa-waiver country which includes the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and most of Europe you do not need to apply for a visa. Instead, you apply for an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before you travel. When you arrive at the New Zealand border with a valid NZeTA, Immigration New Zealand will issue you a visitor visa on arrival. The NZeTA is not itself a visa, it is the pre-travel authorisation that allows the visa to be granted at the border.
3. You need nothing (Australian citizens)
Australian citizens like New Zealand citizens can arrive in New Zealand without any pre-travel authorisation at all. They are granted an Australian Resident Visa on arrival automatically.
Top tip: Immigration New Zealand provides a free online tool to check exactly what you need based on your specific passport and travel situation. Always use this tool at immigration.govt.nz before booking travel, as requirements can and do change.
New Zealand’s Visa Waiver Programme
New Zealand maintains visa-waiver agreements with a specific list of countries and territories. If you hold a passport from a country on the visa waiver list, you can travel to New Zealand without a visa, but you still need to obtain an NZeTA before you travel.
People from visa waiver countries do not need a visitor visa to enter New Zealand for a period of less than 3 months, or 6 months if from the United Kingdom. However you still may be required to show evidence of onward travel and funds to support themselves while in New Zealand. You can check what applies to you before you travel.
What is the NZeTA?
The NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority was introduced in 2019. It’s New Zealand’s version of the US ESTA or Australia’s ETA, a pre-travel authorisation that links electronically to your passport and is checked automatically when you check in for your flight.
It is not a visa. It does not stamp your passport. It does not involve any embassy or consulate. It simply gives New Zealand immigration authorities advance notice that you’re coming and confirms you meet the basic requirements to visit. The charge is NZD $17 via the official app or NZD $23 on the website.
Who needs one:
Citizens of visa-waiver countries who are travelling on a foreign passport. This includes Americans, Canadians, British, and most Europeans.
Who does not need one:
Australian citizens. New Zealand citizens. And citizens of a small number of countries who require a full visa instead.
How Long Can You Stay in New Zealand?
With an NZeTA, citizens of most visa-waiver countries can stay in New Zealand for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
A three-month visit allows you to create an epic New Zealand road trip of the North and South Islands, and everything in between! If you want to stay longer, if you’re planning an extended working holiday different visa categories apply.
International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL)
The IVL is a fee visitors will pay as part of their NZeTA application, so it’s worth understanding what it is and why it exists.
The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy is a NZD $100 charge paid by most international visitors entering New Zealand. It is not a visa fee, it is a separate levy specifically directed at protecting and maintaining the natural environment and tourism infrastructure that visitors come to experience. The IVL is each visitor’s direct contribution to keeping New Zealand’s extraordinary landscapes, national parks and walking tracks in the condition that makes them worth visiting in the first place!
When do you pay it? The IVL is paid at the same time as your NZeTA application, in a single transaction.
Is it refundable? No. Immigration New Zealand is clear that the IVL is non-refundable, even if your NZeTA application is declined.
New Zealand’s Biosecurity: What You Must Know Before You Land
New Zealand is an island nation that has evolved in extraordinary ecological isolation. Its unique wildlife, kiwi birds, kauri trees, tuatara exists nowhere else on earth, and New Zealand goes to great lengths to protect it from introduced pests and diseases.
This means biosecurity at the border is taken very seriously. Not understanding this can result in fines of NZD $400 or more, so it’s worth knowing the rules before you arrive.
You MUST declare on your arrival card:
- Any food including packaged snacks, fruit, nuts, seeds, dried goods, meat, dairy
- Plant material of any kind fresh or dried flowers, seeds, soil
- Animal products leather goods, feathers, bones, shells
- Outdoor and camping equipment hiking boots, tents, camping gear that may have soil on it
- Any item that has been in contact with animals, farms, or natural environments overseas
Your declaration form must be completed before you reach passport control. It is free to do and can be submitted on the online form or the NZTD app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to print my NZeTA? No. It’s linked electronically to your passport. You don’t need to carry any physical documentation.
Can I apply for an NZeTA at the airport? No. The NZeTA must be obtained before you travel. You will not be permitted to board your flight without one.
What if my NZeTA application is declined? This is rare for straightforward applications from visa-waiver countries. If declined, you’ll need to apply for a full visitor visa. Contact Immigration New Zealand directly if this happens.
My passport expires in 4 months is that OK? New Zealand requires your passport to be valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure date from New Zealand. If you’re cutting it close, renew your passport before you travel.
