Last Updated on November 4, 2019 by Jon Algie
As of the 1st of October 2019, visitors to New Zealand from visa waiver countries will have to apply online for an NZeTa (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before travelling to the country. This new rule applies to everyone travelling to New Zealand who doesn’t need a regular visa – Australians travelling on an Australian passport are also exempt.
Who Needs an NZeTA?
Probably you, if you’re reading this. If you’re from a visa waiver country and you’re travelling in New Zealand for less than three months (six months for UK citizens) you need to do it. This includes the UK, US and most countries in Europe. Check the full list below to see if you’re on it. If your country isn’t on that list it means you’ll need to apply for a proper visa – that part hasn’t changed. The NZeTA applies to travellers arriving by plane or ship and also applies to people transiting through New Zealand. So, one more time, you either need an NZeTA (if you’re from a visa waiver country travelling to New Zealand for less than three months / six months for UK citizens) or a proper visa. If you’re Australian (on an Aussie passport) you don’t need to worry about any of this (a small consolation for getting beaten by the All Blacks all the time I guess). Travellers from some countries which normally require a visa can get an NZeTA if transiting through New Zealand — check the table below to see that applies to you (although New Zealand isn’t exactly a common transit destination).
Click here to find the NZeTA form / here for the app
Visa Waiver Countries
| Andorra Argentina Austria Bahrain Belgium Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Canada Chile Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia — citizens only Finland France Germany Greece Hong Kong — residents with HKSAR or British National–Overseas passports only Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Japan South Korea Kuwait Latvia — citizens only Liechtenstein |
Lithuania — citizens only Luxembourg Macau — only if you have a Macau Special Administrative Region passport Malaysia Malta Mauritius Mexico Monaco Netherlands Norway Oman Poland Portugal — permanent residents only Qatar Romania San Marino Saudi Arabia Seychelles Singapore Slovak Republic Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan — permanent residents only United Arab Emirates United Kingdom — permanent residents only United States of America — including USA nationals Uruguay Vatican City |
Transit Visa Waiver Countries
| Bahamas Bermuda Bolivia Colombia Costa Rica Ecuador Federated States of Micronesia Indonesia Kiribati Nauru Palau Panama |
Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Republic of Marshall Islands Samoa Solomon Islands Thailand Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu Venezuela |
How Much Does It Cost?
The NZeTA is processed online and costs $9 on the free app (or here for Apple users) or $12 if you use the website. Don’t be fooled into paying more than this – with online visas like this there are always countless travel companies trying to cash in. Do it through the official government app / website and you shouldn’t have any trouble. It takes anywhere from 10 minutes to 72 hours to come through, so try not to leave it to the last minute! This system is very similar to the ones the US and Canada use, so if you’ve been to those countries recently you know the drill.
When applying for the NZeTA you’ll also have to pay a $35 Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (ILT). It’s basically a tourist tax and (hopefully) that money will go towards better infrastructure and services for tourists. I remember when people were debating this move a year or so ago and I was personally against it, so I’m glad it’s only $35. That will probably go up in the future though. I’m guessing this levy is also built into the cost of proper visas too.
Apply for your NZeTA here!
Need a Visa?
If you’re not on the visa waiver list, you’ll need to apply for a visa before you come to New Zealand. This has always been the case so most people are probably aware of this already. If you try to board a plan to New Zealand without it, I’m sure you’ll be denied. You’ll also need to apply for a visa if you’re from a visa waiver country and want to stay in New Zealand for longer than three months (or need a different kind of visa).
Planning Your Trip to New Zealand
So, you’ve got the visa situation sorted and now want to get into some proper trip planning? If you’re spending time on the South Island, you’ll find all the travel inspiration you’ll need on this site. My South Island Travel Guide and Two-Week South Island Itinerary are good places to start. I generally advise people to spend most of their NZ trip on the South Island (not just because I run this site), but the North Island is also nice. I write a bit about both islands on my other blog too, jonistravelling.com.
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Jon Algie
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