New Zealand's entry system runs on two tracks: a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) for visitors from visa waiver countries, and a full Visitor Visa for everyone else. Because this is exactly the kind of detail that changes with government policy, treat this page as a starting point and always confirm current requirements directly with Immigration New Zealand before you book.
Do you need an NZeTA or a visa?
New Zealand has visa waiver agreements with around 60 countries and territories, including the UK, the USA, Canada, most of the EU, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. If your passport is from one of these, you don't need a visa for a short tourist visit — but you do need to apply for an NZeTA before you travel, whether you're arriving by air or by cruise ship. The official, current list of visa waiver countries is maintained by Immigration New Zealand's visa waiver page — check your own passport country against it directly, since the list is reviewed periodically.
If your passport isn't on that list, you'll generally need a Visitor Visa applied for and approved before you depart, rather than an NZeTA. Visitor Visas allow longer stays than the standard visa-waiver period and involve a more detailed application through Immigration New Zealand.
Australian citizens and permanent residents travelling on an Australian passport are the exception to all of this — no visa and no NZeTA required to enter New Zealand.
What the NZeTA actually is
An NZeTA isn't a visa in the traditional sense — it's a pre-travel screening authorisation, similar in concept to the USA's ESTA or Canada's eTA. It confirms you're pre-approved to board your flight or ship, but border officers still assess every arrival on the day. Once approved, an NZeTA is valid for two years, covering multiple visits within that window for most passport holders, and typically permits stays of up to 3 months per visit (6 months for UK passport holders).
Applications are made online or via the official mobile app, cost NZD $23 through the website or NZD $17 through the app, and are usually processed within 72 hours — though Immigration New Zealand recommends applying well before you travel rather than at the airport, since some applications take longer. The NZeTA application also collects the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), a separate charge most visa-waiver travellers pay alongside it.
A word of caution on third-party sites
Search for "NZeTA" and you'll find a long list of commercial sites offering to process the application for a marked-up fee. Immigration New Zealand explicitly warns that not all of these are legitimate, and using one isn't necessary — the official government website and app handle the same application directly, at the official price, with no middleman. Bookmark the official NZeTA application page and apply there.
Working Holiday and longer stays
If you're planning to work as well as travel, a standard NZeTA or Visitor Visa doesn't cover paid work for a New Zealand employer. Many nationalities aged 18–30 (up to 35 for a handful of countries) are eligible for a Working Holiday Visa instead, which permits both work and travel for up to 12 months. This is a completely different application to the NZeTA and has its own eligibility rules by nationality — check the Working Holiday Visa section of Immigration New Zealand's site if this applies to your trip.
Practical timing
- Apply for your NZeTA (or visa) as soon as your flights are booked, not the week before you fly — while most NZeTAs clear within 72 hours, Immigration New Zealand notes some take longer.
- Your NZeTA is tied to your passport number. If you renew your passport before travelling, you'll need a new NZeTA.
- Keep a note of your NZeTA approval, but you won't be issued a physical document — it's linked electronically to your passport and checked by the airline and at the border.
This page summarises publicly available government guidance as a starting point for planning and isn't immigration advice. Requirements vary by nationality and can change — always confirm your own situation on immigration.govt.nz before booking travel.