An NZeTA is a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority: permission for eligible travellers to travel to New Zealand without obtaining a visa before departure. It is not a work visa, and an approved request does not remove the need to meet entry conditions when you arrive. Whether you can use it depends on your passport, your immigration status, your journey and what you plan to do.
For a typical eligible visitor, the official request costs NZD $17 through the app or $23 through the website. Most visitors who must pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy also pay NZD $100. Allow at least 72 hours for processing, with extra time in case further checks are needed. Use the official Immigration New Zealand NZeTA guidance to confirm your route before paying.
Requirements checked on October 31, 2026. This independent guide explains the process; requests and decisions are handled by Immigration New Zealand.
What an NZeTA does—and when a visa is needed
Think of the journey in three stages: choose the right travel route, obtain the necessary permission before departure, and meet border requirements on arrival. An NZeTA belongs to the second stage. Eligible visitors may then be granted the appropriate visitor permission at the border. A valid authority is not a promise of admission or permission to take a local job.
If your nationality or proposed activity requires a visa application, requesting an NZeTA does not replace that application. A traveller who wants to take employment, begin a long course or remain beyond the visitor limits should choose the appropriate visa. Our New Zealand visa application guide explains the different starting points and online accounts.
| Document or decision | Its purpose | What it does not replace |
|---|---|---|
| NZeTA | Pre-travel authority for eligible journeys | A required work, study or Visitor Visa application |
| Visitor Visa obtained before travel | Allows travel for an approved visitor purpose under its conditions | Entry checks and the arrival declaration |
| New Zealand Traveller Declaration | Provides immigration, customs and biosecurity information | An NZeTA or visa |
| Entry permission | The border decision allowing entry | Compliance with the length and conditions of your stay |
Who can request an NZeTA?
The standard visitor route includes citizens travelling on eligible visa-waiver passports. United States and Canadian citizens usually check this route for short visits; British citizens have a different usual per-visit allowance. Residence in the USA or Canada, by itself, does not make a passport eligible. Check the passport you will actually present.
Australian citizens generally do not need an NZeTA. Australian permanent residents normally do. These are different immigration categories even when both travellers live at the same Australian address. Immigration New Zealand also publishes specific arrangements for cruise passengers and for eligible Chinese and Pacific Islands Forum citizens travelling from Australia with a qualifying Australian visa. Follow the conditions for the actual journey rather than assuming an Australian visa is sufficient for everyone.
| Your situation | First check | Practical consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible visa-waiver passport, ordinary short visit | NZeTA visitor eligibility and proposed stay | Request before travelling and prepare visitor evidence |
| Australian citizen | Travel on the appropriate valid passport and meet entry rules | Do not confuse citizenship with permanent residence |
| Australian permanent resident | NZeTA and evidence of permanent residence | Check the authority before departure |
| Passport requiring a visa for the intended visit | Visitor Visa eligibility | Obtain the visa before travelling |
| Cruise or transit journey | Exact arrival method, airport and itinerary | A transit-only authority may not cover entering the country |
For a transit passenger, Auckland International Airport is the relevant airside transit airport. If you collect luggage, pass immigration, connect domestically or use another airport, investigate visitor entry requirements. An overnight connection should be checked against the transit conditions, not simply labelled a layover. Immigration New Zealand describes eligible airside transit as up to 24 hours.
Choose the New Zealand Visitor Visa route when an NZeTA does not fit your circumstances, including where you need an acceptable sponsor to cover the visit. The NZeTA guidance requires visitors to meet their own maintenance requirements; sponsorship eligibility should not be assumed to transfer between routes.
NZeTA cost: request fee, IVL and the actual total
The request fee and the tourism levy are separate components. On the standard calculation for a visitor who must pay the levy, the app total is NZD $117 and the website total is NZD $123. Some travellers are exempt from the IVL. The official checkout should establish the amount for your declared circumstances.
| Official channel | Request fee | IVL where payable | Illustrative total |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZeTA mobile app | NZD $17 | NZD $100 | NZD $117 |
| Official online form | NZD $23 | NZD $100 | NZD $123 |
These are New Zealand dollars. Your card issuer may convert the charge and add its own foreign-currency fee. Save the government receipt so you can distinguish the official charge from any separate service payment. An advertised low request fee should not be mistaken for the full amount including the levy.
Use the request link reached from Immigration New Zealand or its official app links. A third-party service may add a service charge; it cannot decide your request. Check the final domain, currency and charge before entering payment details, especially when searching for “NZeTA official website” or “NZeTA app download.”
How to apply through the official app or online form
1. Prepare the passport and journey details
Use the current passport you intend to travel with, an accessible email address, an acceptable photograph and a supported payment method. Check your name, nationality, date of birth, passport number, issue details and expiry date directly against the document. A photograph or saved note of an old passport is not a reliable substitute.
Decide whether you are visiting or only transiting before completing the questions. A traveller flying into Auckland for a holiday should not select a transit-only purpose just because the trip includes another country later. Each family member needs the correct individual permission, including children.
2. Open the government request channel
Start at the official NZeTA request website or follow the app-store links on the Immigration New Zealand information page. Read the eligibility questions before starting a paid request. The online form takes separate requests; the official app can handle requests for up to ten people together, but each person must qualify.
3. Enter the information and check the photograph
Give accurate answers to identity, travel and eligibility questions. Review the image before submitting: poor lighting, an obscured face or the wrong person’s photograph can create an avoidable problem. Use the current official photo instructions rather than assuming a social-media portrait or an edited holiday photograph will be accepted.
A useful final check is to have the passport holder read their details aloud while another adult compares them with the screen. For a family group, finish one person’s comparison before moving to the next. This is practical error prevention, not a government requirement to use a second checker.
4. Pay and keep the reference
Confirm the declared circumstances, fee and levy before paying. Save the receipt, request reference and confirmation message in a folder you can access while travelling. Check the email address for spelling errors before closing the form. Payment completion and approval are different events; a bank charge alone does not show that travel authority has been granted.
Processing time, status checks and common problems
Immigration New Zealand advises allowing 72 hours. Some requests take longer where additional investigation is necessary. Apply comfortably before departure rather than building your itinerary around an instant decision. A fast decision reported by another traveller is not a dependable processing estimate for your request.
If you need help with an existing request, our INZ phone and contact-channel guide explains where to call and what information to prepare. The separate Traveller Declaration helpline cannot answer NZeTA or visa enquiries.
Use the official NZeTA status checker and follow its requested identification fields. Compare the status result with the passport you will use. Keep your approval confirmation available at check-in, as requested in the official travel guidance.
| Problem | What to check | Useful next action |
|---|---|---|
| No confirmation email | Spam folder, email spelling, saved reference and actual status | Check the official service before making another payment |
| Payment taken but no approval | Whether the request is pending or needs more information | Retain the receipt and follow the government contact guidance |
| Status is still pending near departure | Time since submission and any outstanding request | Contact the official service; do not assume the airline can approve it |
| Passport number or identity error | Passport and request details side by side | Use the official change/contact process before travel |
| Request not approved | The decision and instructions supplied | Consider the correct visa route; repeated identical requests do not fix ineligibility |
Validity, passport changes and repeat visits
An NZeTA is normally valid for two years for travellers. That is the period in which it can be used for eligible journeys, not permission to live in New Zealand continuously for two years. The ordinary visitor allowance is up to three months per visit, or up to six months for eligible UK passport holders, subject to the actual border decision and other conditions.
The official guidance also limits visitor time to six months within a twelve-month period for this route. Count previous visits when planning another trip. A Canadian visitor who has already spent three months in New Zealand should check both the next per-visit limit and the combined time counted back from the intended departure. Leaving for a short holiday elsewhere does not erase earlier days.
For passport renewal or a correction, follow the official NZeTA change instructions. The authority details must match your travel document. Do not assume every identity change can be amended in the same way or that an old approval email will be sufficient with a new passport. Resolve the discrepancy before check-in and retain the updated confirmation.
Prepare for check-in and arrival
For visiting under this route, the official guidance requires evidence of paid onward travel or the appropriate departing-cruise/private-craft evidence. It also sets maintenance amounts of at least NZD $1,000 per month, or NZD $400 per month where accommodation has already been paid. Keep evidence that makes the amount and accommodation arrangement understandable. A friend’s invitation alone is not proof of prepaid accommodation.
Complete the free New Zealand Traveller Declaration in the applicable submission window. For air travel, that begins 24 hours before the journey starts; connected flights without a stopover use the first leg. Read the official declaration instructions and check the separate New Zealand entry requirements checklist for passport, connection and biosecurity preparation.
- Check the authority is approved and matches the passport.
- Carry the confirmation and required onward-travel evidence.
- Prepare maintenance and accommodation evidence.
- Check transit-country requirements separately.
- Complete the declaration and review what you are bringing.
- Know the permission and expiry date actually granted when you arrive.
Keep request preparation separate from boarding preparation
A short request form can make the whole journey feel simpler than it is. Use two small folders: one for the authority request and decision, and one for the evidence you may need at check-in and arrival. Keep the current passport details consistent across both.
| Stage | Your check |
|---|---|
| Before requesting | Eligible passport, correct visitor or transit purpose, accurate identity and photo |
| After the decision | Approval status and passport match, not just the bank payment |
| Before departure | Onward travel, maintenance evidence and the conditions of the actual journey |
Use the official NZeTA page to reach the request service. If the activity changes to a local job, reassess the route using our New Zealand work visa requirements. Keep the entry checklist for the separate boarding and arrival stage.
November 4, 2026 update: keep request preparation separate from boarding preparation. Official references checked for this added guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need an NZeTA?
US citizens making an eligible short visa-waiver visit normally need an NZeTA before travel. Work, longer study and other purposes may require a visa instead. Check the passport and purpose for the actual trip.
Is an NZeTA the same as a visa?
No. It is pre-travel authority for eligible journeys. It does not replace a visa where one is required, and travellers must still meet the conditions for entry and their stay.
Does each child need an NZeTA?
Each traveller must meet the applicable individual requirements, including children. The app can submit requests for multiple people, but this does not create one shared travel authority for the family.
Can I use an NZeTA for a two-year stay?
No. Normal two-year validity allows eligible repeat travel. The permitted length of each visit and the cumulative visitor limit are separate restrictions.
Can I work for a New Zealand employer with an NZeTA?
An NZeTA does not grant permission for local employment. Overseas remote work under eligible visitor conditions is a separate issue; choose the appropriate work visa before taking a New Zealand job.
Can I use an NZeTA only for transit?
Eligible passengers can use the appropriate NZeTA for airside transit through Auckland within the transit conditions. If you need to enter New Zealand, check the visitor requirements instead of assuming transit permission covers the journey.
Does an approved NZeTA guarantee boarding or entry?
No. Your passport, onward travel, purpose and other applicable requirements still matter. The airline and border authorities carry out their respective checks.