New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
The New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) is a travel authority, not a visa, for citizens of visa waiver countries and transit passengers. Immigration New Zealand describes it this way: “Some people can use an NZeTA to travel to New Zealand without applying for a visa first. This depends on your passport, how you are travelling and if you are visiting or only transiting.” It costs from NZD $17. INZ publishes a processing time of allow 72 hours.
Checked against immigration.govt.nz on 2026-09-15
What Immigration New Zealand publishes
- Valid for 2 years for travellers
- To allow stays (each visit) for
- 3 months, or 6 months for UK citizens
- Cost
- From
- NZD $17
- Processing time
- Allow
- 72 hours
Copied from the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) page at immigration.govt.nz on 2026-09-15. Figures change without notice.
Who is it for
- be a citizen of a visa waiver country or territory
- a cruise ship passenger
- an Australian permanent resident, or
- be a citizen of China or a Pacific Islands Forum country travelling from Australia with an eligible Australian visa.
- To pass through Auckland International Airport as a transit passenger you must be a citizen of a visa waiver country or transit visa waiver country , an Australian permanent resident or travelling to or from Australia.
INZ’s own wording, unedited.
An NZeTA lets you
- travel to New Zealand without a visa
- transit through Auckland International Airport for up to 24 hours
- visit for up to 3 months at a time, or up to 6 months at a time if you are from the United Kingdom
- travel to New Zealand multiple times while your NZeTA is valid (2 years for most travelers, 5 years for airline crew members).
INZ’s own wording, unedited.
Where to apply
You apply to Immigration New Zealand, not to us. The New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) page carries the application link, the full requirements and the current fee.
Questions about the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
What does the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) cost?
Immigration New Zealand publishes a cost of NZD $17 for this visa, as the "from" figure — the lowest published amount. Medicals, police certificates, translations and any adviser's fee are separate. Checked on 2026-09-15; confirm on the INZ page.
How long does the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) take?
Immigration New Zealand publishes allow 72 hours for this visa. That is a published average, not a promise about any one application. Checked on 2026-09-15; the current figure is on the INZ page.
Who can apply for the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)?
INZ's own summary is: "Some people can use an NZeTA to travel to New Zealand without applying for a visa first. This depends on your passport, how you are travelling and if you are visiting or only transiting." The published criteria are listed above, word for word. Whether any particular person meets them is a question for Immigration New Zealand, or for a licensed immigration adviser or a New Zealand lawyer — not for this site.
Where do I apply?
On Immigration New Zealand's own website. Start at New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA). Applying through this site is not possible: we are an information site and we cannot lodge or handle an application.
Can NZ Visas tell me whether I qualify?
No, and we would be breaking the law if we did. Under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, telling somebody how the rules apply to their own immigration matter is licensed work. We republish the published rules and stop there. More on where that line sits.
Sources
- Immigration New Zealand — New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
- Immigration New Zealand — every visa
Read on 2026-09-15. Immigration rules change: if this page and the source disagree, the source is right.
Once you have a decision
Getting the visa is one job; landing here is another. Our settling-in guides cover the IRD number, a bank account, a rental, schools, a doctor and a driver licence — all free, and all separate from anything to do with your visa.