What is the New Zealand eTA?

The eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) for New Zealand is an electronic visa waiver launched in August 2019. Eligible travellers can now easily obtain their NZ eTA to travel to the country, without the need to physically go to an embassy or consulate.

As of October 1st 2019, it will be obligatory for citizens of all 60 visa waiver countries to have a valid eTA to visit New Zealand. All airline and cruise line crew will also need to hold a Crew eTA before travelling to New Zealand.

Citizens from eligible countries are able to obtain an eTA for New Zealand by completing a simple online application form. This application form is quick and straightforward to complete, usually taking just a few minutes. Although most applications are processed in as little as 1 business day, some of them may take up to 72 business hours to be processed.

Once approved, the New Zealand eTA (NZeTA) is sent electronically to the applicant e-mail address. The New Zealand eTA is valid for 2 years and can be used multiple times, for maximum periods of 90 consecutive days, until the document expiration. The eTA will remain electronically linked to the traveller’s passport, eliminating the need to receive a passport stamp from border control officials upon arrival.

Applicants are required to pay a processing fee and a tourist tax, the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), to obtain the NZ eTA.

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.

The application form requires that applicants answer a series of questions by entering personal information, such as their full name, address, date of birth, passport details, and travel plans. There are also sections on the New Zealand eTA form related to health and security.

To successfully submit the New Zealand eTA application form, applicants need to have a valid passport from one of the 60 eligible countries and meet the other basic requirements. It is necessary to pay a processing fee and a tourist levy for New Zealand using a credit card.

Applying for the New Zealand electronic travel authorization is a quick, easy process that just involves 4 easy steps you have to complete online:

Fill out the eTA NZ application form with your personal, contact, and travel information;

Carefully review all your data before continuing to the next step;

Pay the New Zealand eTA application fees as well as the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) fee with a valid credit card;

Receive your approved NZ eTA at the email address you submitted in step 1;

Who needs an eTA for New Zealand?

Passport holders from all 60 visa waiver countries are required to apply for an eTA before travelling to the country, even if just transiting through New Zealand on the way to a final destination. The New Zealand eTA is valid for 2 years and can be used multiple times, for maximum periods of 90 consecutive days, until the document expiration.

Apart from citizens of visa waiver countries, airline and cruise line crew of all nationalities are required to submit the online application and obtain a crew eTA before travelling to the country. The Crew eTA is valid for 5 years from the date of issue. Passengers of cruise liners from visa-exempt countries are also required to obtain an New Zealand eTA for a cruise entering the country.

All citizens of the following 60 countries need an eTA for New Zealand: