New Zealand Visa Explained – New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)

Heading to New Zealand soon? Why wouldn’t you be?

New Zealand is absolutely amazing, and very much worthy of weeks and months of exploration. There is a new wrinkle when visiting NZ, however. Visitors from most countries who are heading to New Zealand starting October 1st, 2019 will now need to apply for the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, or NZeTA.

The new NZeTA will allow travelers from 60 countries to stay in New Zealand for up to 90 days, or basically 3 months. 

British citizens will be allowed to stay for longer, up to a total of six months. Meanwhile Australian passport holders and residents of many Pacific Island nations will NOT be required to apply for the NZeTA. Visitors arriving via cruise ships and day tripping through New Zealand destinations WILL  need a valid NZeTA, which is fair play, in our books. 

Here is a list of the 60 visa-waiver countries, which includes all of the European Union members, the United States, and Canada.  The good news is that much like the rather pesky Electronic System for Travel Authorization (or ESTA) for the United States of America an NZeTA will be valid for for up to two years, and for multiple visits during that two year time period. 

Applying for an NZeTA for travel can be done online or via the Immigration New Zealand mobile app. The cost will be NZ$12 per person online, and even cheaper if you use the app, coming in at to NZ$9. 

In addition to the cost of application a fee of NZ$35 will be charged at the same time, per person. This is good news for the citizens of New Zealand as that fee will go towards investing in keeping New Zealand beautiful. We are BIG supporters of this sort of action, especially when back by a government who will distribute the new influx of tourism funds to keeping the country special, and making the lives of locals even better. 

Processing time for the NZeTA can take as little as 15 minutes, or as long as 72 hours, so make sure to give yourself enough time before visiting (or catching a connection in) New Zealand!