New Zealand Tourist Visa Information and Requirements

Updated on Dec 19, 2023 | New Zealand eTA

Are you planning a holiday to New Zealand and would like to explore the country? You must check a few things before planning your itinerary and booking tickets.

Are you eligible for a visa waiver? New Zealand offers an ETA to citizens of 60 countries, which enables them to travel without a New Zealand tourist visa.

If you are not eligible for ETA, you must fill up the New Zealand tourist visa application and apply. The rules may vary depending on your nationality. For some nationalities, the country insists on a personal interview at the embassy if travelling for the first time. Others can apply for a New Zealand tourist visa online. 

You do not require a New Zealand tourist visa as an Australian citizen. Australian citizens can do business, study or work in New Zealand without a visa.

Continue reading to know more about NZeTA, New Zealand tourist visa requirements, validity, fees and the rules for an emergency tourist visa.

1. What is New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority?

If you belong to any of the below-mentioned countries, you can apply and get the NZeTA, and you will not require a New Zealand tourist visa.

Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia (citizens only), Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (residents with HKSAR or British National–Overseas passports only), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia (citizens only), Liechtenstein, Lithuania (citizens only), Luxembourg, Macau (only if you have a Macau Special Administrative Region passport), Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman Poland, Portugal (if you have the right to live permanently in Portugal), Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (if you are a permanent resident) United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom (UK) (if you are travelling on a UK or British passport that shows you have the right to reside permanently in the UK) United States of America (USA) (including USA nationals), Uruguay and Vatican City.

However, there are certain conditions.

  • The processing time for the NZeTA is 72 hours, so plan your travel accordingly.
  • The NZeTA approval is valid for two years and allows you to travel multiple times.
  • You cannot stay for more than 90 days on each trip. You will need a tourist visa application if you plan to stay more than 90 days.

You are not eligible for NZeTA if you have

  • Been arrested and served a term
  • Been deported from any other country
  • Serious health issues.

The authorities may ask you to obtain a New Zealand tourist visa. 

2. Regular tourist visa

The New Zealand tourist visa application is a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 9 months and allows you to study in New Zealand for 3 Months of courses.

The New Zealand tourist visa requirements may differ depending on your country.

You can apply for a New Zealand tourist visa online.

Fill up the tourist visa application carefully and completely. Ensure there are no mistakes, and your name, middle name, surname, and date of birth must be exactly as in the passport. The immigration officers are very strict and have the right to deny you entry when you land at the airport or seaport.

The passport must be valid for three months (90 days) from the entry date you enter the country.

Two blank pages for the immigration officers to stamp your arrival and departure dates.

Sometimes, they may ask for an invitation letter from your relatives/ friends whom you plan to visit, your itinerary, and your hotel reservation.  In some cases, they ask you to prove you have strong ties to your country and you will not overstay or illegally stay. It is always better to check with the consulate or travel agent for accurate documentation to avoid delays.

Also, they may ask you to prove your financial standing. - how will you pay for your stay and daily expenses? You may have to give details of your sponsor, bank cards, or if you are going on a package tour, confirmation letter and itinerary from the tour operators.

Transit visa rules

You might require an Australian transit visa if you enter New Zealand from Australia. Check with your travel agent or local visa office.

Even if you are transiting New Zealand by air or sea, you should have a transit visa or NZeTA. It is compulsory even if you are not getting out of the airport and will only change aircraft.

Rules for an emergency tourist visa

When there is a crisis, and you must travel urgently to New Zealand, you must apply for an Emergency New Zealand Visa (eVisa for emergencies). To be eligible for the emergency tourist visa New Zealand there must be a valid reason, such as

  • death of a family member or cherished one,
  • coming to court for legal reasons,
  • your family member or a cherished one is suffering from an actual illness.

If you submit a standard tourist visa application, the visa for New Zealand is usually issued within three days and emailed to you. The consulate does not encourage an emergency tourist visa New Zealand if you apply on the grounds of some business crisis. There must be a strong case for them to consider your application.

The embassy will not consider your application for an emergency tourist visa if your purpose of travel is

  • sightseeing,
  • seeing a friend or
  • attending a complicated relationship.

You can apply for an emergency tourist visa by reaching the New Zealand embassy by 2 p.m. Submit the tourist visa application along with the application fee, face photograph and a passport scan copy or a photo from your phone. You can also apply for a New Zealand tourist visa online for urgent processing by visiting the website. They will send your Emergency New Zealand Visa by email. You carry a soft copy or hard copy, which is acceptable at all the New Zealand Visa Authorized Ports of Entry.


Ensure that you have checked the eligibility for your New Zealand eTA. If you are from a Visa Waiver country then you can apply for an eTA regardless of the mode of travel (Air / Cruise). United States citizens, Canadian citizens, German citizens, and United Kingdom citizens can apply online for New Zealand eTA. United Kingdom residents can stay on New Zealand eTA for 6 months while others for 90 days.

Please apply for a New Zealand eTA 72 hours in advance of your flight.