Foreign citizens willing to enter the Kingdom of New Zealand must obtain a visa unless they:
- Are a citizen or permanent resident of Australia;
- Are a citizen of one of the 60 visa-waiver countries and territories, but must issue an NZeTA (electronic tourist authorization for entry into New Zealand) instead of a visa;
- Are an United Nations pass owner;
- Are entitled to visa-free travel in accordance with other special provisions (cruise ship crew, cruise ship passengers, aircraft crew, etc.).
Entry requirements
Visitors must have passports valid for at least 3 months beyond the date of their intended stay. Visitors must have proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay: 1,000 New Zealand dollars per person per month of stay, or 400 New Zealand dollars if accommodation has been pre-paid. Visitors must carry the documents required for their next destination.
Applications for student, work and visitor visas can also be submitted online.
The citizens of the following countries are allowed to travel without visas, but with NZeTA:
- Under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia;
- United Kingdom (if you are traveling on a UK passport which shows that you have the right to permanent residence in the UK);
- Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay, Vatican
New Zealand e-Travel Authority (NZeTA)
From 1 October 2019, travelers who do not require a visa must contact the New Zealand e-Tourism Authority (NZeTA) before travelling. NZeTA is mandatory for all sea and air travel, including transit. Once issued, it remains valid for two years. NZeTA costs 9 or 12 New Zealand dollars.
Australian citizens are exempt from the requirement to have an NZeTA before traveling to New Zealand.
The procedure for obtaining an eTA
Applying for an eTA in New Zealand is simple and takes place entirely online. Once the application has been submitted and accepted, the applicant will receive an electronic voucher that must be presented to the Immigration Officer upon arrival.
The electronic visa system is a method of applying for a visa from anywhere in the world. Among the other advantages of this system, it can be noted that travelers no longer need to visit the embassy, as they can submit an application and pay the visa fee online at any time.
Documents required for submission:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival and must have at least 1 free page for stamps;
- Dates of arrival and departure;
- Credit/debit card or PayPal account.
The New Zealand Electronic Entry Authorization (Tourist eTA) allows applicants to enter New Zealand multiple times during the permit's validity. The maximum period of stay in the country for holders of a tourist electronic permit is 90 days. For British citizens, this period is 180 days.
It is worth noting that the presence of an eTA does not guarantee the traveler entry to New Zealand. An Immigration Officer at a point of entry may refuse entry to any person if he or she considers that the person is unable to comply with immigration requirements or that the person's presence in New Zealand would be contrary to the national interest or security.
Visitor Visa
Obtaining a guest visa allows to:
- Visit friends and family, explore New Zealand, do amateur sports or adventure activities;
- Study for up to 3 months;
- Add your partner and dependent children under the age of 19 to the visa application
Choose how to apply
1.Apply for a visa online
The amount you pay for a visa depends on the method you use to apply – applying online is usually cheaper. Most people pay by credit card (Mastercard, Visa or UnionPay).
You will not receive a refund if your application is rejected.
Collect the documents for your application
1.You need to prove that you:
- Have a ticket from New Zealand or the money to buy one;
- Have good health and behavior;
- Have money to live on while you are here or you will receive financial support.
2.If the main purpose of visiting New Zealand is tourism, then you should also add information about:
- Reserved hotel room;
- Health insurance for the traveler:
The minimum amount of insurance coverage should be 50000 Euros, as the cost of healthcare in New Zealand is quite high. The following types of active recreation are popular in New Zealand: diving in the Bay of Islands, rafting on the Kaituna River, surfing in Manu Bay, speed boating in the Tauno region, bungee jumping in the Oakdene Sky Tower or from the Harbor Bridge, zorbing (transparent balloon ride) from Mount Rotarua, skydiving in Auckland, Wellington and Tauno. They should be included in the insurance policy as an additional risk. For mountaineering, rock climbing in Mount, Tasman, Aspiring, Cook, Ruapehu, or trips to hard-to-reach places, it is recommended to include "search and rescue operations" and "helicopter evacuation" risks in the insurance contract.
3.Confirm your identity. With your application you need:
- Provide a colored photograph — or 2 if you use a paper form;
- Have a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand;
- A certificate from the place of work indicating salary and position.
4.Prove that you are healthy and of good behavior. You must notify Immigration New Zealand of any offences:
- Charges;
- Conviction;
- Imprisonment.
5.If you are staying for more than 6 months, you may need a chest x-ray or a medical certificate.
6.Applicants under the age of 18 who plan to travel to New Zealand unaccompanied by their parents, or accompanied by one of their parents need notarized permission from one or both parents or guardianship documents.
Apply for a visa
To apply online, you need to create a New Zealand Government RealMe account.
Before you start creating your online application, prepare all supporting documents for uploading.
International fee for nature protection and tourism
Many tourists and some students and workers coming to New Zealand must pay the International Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) of 35 New Zealand dollars. This fee is payable at the time of your visa application or NZeTA request.
Exemption from IVL
- Citizens and residents of Australia are exempt from paying IVL;
- The citizens of the following Pacific Island countries are exempt from IVL: American Samoa, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
- In addition, there are exceptions for transit passengers arriving and departing from Auckland International Airport, business visa holders and APEC Business Travel card holders.
Inadmissible travel documents
Any travel document issued by the countries listed in the
link is unacceptable for travel to New Zealand and visas will not be accepted.
An individual who intends to travel to and stay in New Zealand as a transit passenger must apply for a transit visa before proceeding to New Zealand, unless this requirement is waived.
Transit is only available at Auckland Airport and transit passengers must remain in the transit area for the duration of their time in New Zealand and no longer than 24 hours. Transit passengers who do not pass through Auckland Airport, or who must leave Auckland Airport's transit area, or who will remain in Auckland Airport's transit area for more than 24 hours, are not eligible to enter New Zealand as a transit passenger and must obtain a Visitor Visa if they are not travelers from visa-free countries.
Transit travelers without visas
From June 20, 2020, the transit visa cancellation applies to, but is not limited to, the following persons:
- A citizen of New Zealand or a holder of a residence class visa;
- An owner of a temporary entry visa;
- A person subject to visa cancellation, but only if he has an electronic transit permit;
- A traveler traveling to or from Australia:
1.A person whose immediate or final destination after transiting through New Zealand is Australia, but only if they hold a valid visa issued by the Australian Government to enter Australia and have a Transit Electronic Permit
2.A person traveling from Australia and having a transit electronic permit;
3.A person whom a representative of the Immigration Service, by special instruction, classified as a person subject to the withdrawal of a transit visa;
4.Citizens of the following countries, but only if they have a transit electronic permit:
Bahamas, Bermuda, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Federated States of Micronesia, Indonesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Thailand Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Venezuela.
Instructions for importing cats and dogs from approved countries:
- Download and read the health standards (IHS) and the IHS guidance document. In the latter, you can find a sample of the veterinary certificate that you need to provide for your cat or dog. It displays all tests, treatment courses and examinations. A separate form can be downloaded at https://www.mpi.govt.nz/bring-send-to-nz/pets-travelling-to-nz/
- Check whether your pet meets all requirements for import into New Zealand. For ease of checking, special checklists have been developed on the MPI website, which you can use to check compliance with all requirements. Your pet must be provided with a special microchip and vaccinated against rabies (only after microchip insertion). He must also pass a blood test no later than 3 months and no earlier than 24 months before the date of importation and undergo treatment for certain parasites 24 to 48 hours before departure;
- Book quarantine at a transit point approved by MPI. A list of such items can be found at https://www.mpi.govt.nz/bring-send-to-nz/pets-travelling-to-nz/. The quarantine period is not less than 10 days. You will need the booking confirmation letter later when submitting your application.
- Apply for an import permit. It takes 20 days to issue such a permit, so you need to apply in advance. Permits are of two types, depending on the country from which the animal is imported. Category 2 – rabies-free countries, category 3 – countries where rabies is absent or under control. For each of these categories, there is a separate application form that can be downloaded from the MPI website.
- Declare medications for the pet if he needs to take any medications while on the road.
- Notify the MPI no later than 72 hours before the arrival of the animal in the New Zealand with the following data:
- Flight number;
- Date and time of arrival
- Name of the carrier and contract number
- Species and breed of pet
- The number of animals in the invoice
- Confirmation of reservation of the quarantine point
- Number of the consignment note (if known)
Restrictions on the import of animals
In addition to cats and dogs, only rabbits and guinea pigs from Australia and chinchillas from Great Britain are allowed into New Zealand.
New Zealand has a unique population of rare and endangered bird species. Therefore, in order to avoid the introduction of bird diseases into the country, the importation of birds into the territory of New Zealand is prohibited until all risks are studied and health standards are developed.
New Zealand