Coming by a Cruise Ship to New Zealand

New Zealand Government has introduced a new travel policy for visitors and transit passengers of certain nationalities that may affect you, this new policy / travel policy is called NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) and voyagers are requested to apply for NZeTA (New Zealand eTA) online three days in advance prior to their travel.

Cruise Ship passengers will pay for an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) in the same transaction as the NZeTA.

Every Nationality can apply for NZeTA if coming by Cruise Ship

Citizen of any nationality can apply for an NZeTA if arriving New Zealand by a cruise ship. However, if traveller is arriving by air, then the traveller must be from a Visa Waiver or Visa Free country, then only will NZeTA (New Zealand eTA) be valid for the passenger arriving into the country.

Australian permanent residents arriving by Cruise Ship to New Zealand

If you are a permanent resident of Australia, then you must request an NZeTA (New Zealand eTA) before you travel to New Zealand.

Best time for coming to New Zealand by Cruise Ship for NZeTA holders

Most of journey lines visit New Zealand during the October – April summer voyage season. A shorter winter journey season additionally keeps running from April – July. The greater part of the world's real voyage organizations offer journey administrations to New Zealand.

In a run of the mill year, in excess of 25 unique boats visit New Zealand's coast. Travels among Australia and New Zealand offer the chance to venture to every part of the length of both North and South Islands.

Most withdraw from Auckland in New Zealand, or Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane in Australia. Ordinarily they visit New Zealand target cities of the Bay of Islands, Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Fiordland. The Marlborough Sounds and Stewart Island are likewise famous ports of call. Ensure that if you are arriving by a cruise ship to New Zealand, you have already applied for a New Zealand eTA (NZeTA). You can be a national of any country, you can apply for NZeTA online.

Cruise Ship New Zealand

List of Cruise Ships for NZeTA visitors

Expedition cruises visit both the large city ports and exotic scenic sights and less travelled and more remote places which are overlooked by the large cruise liners.

The path taken by these expedition cruises include Stewart Island or Kaikoura enroute to New Zealand. Another popular route is South Island on the way to sub-Antarctic islands.

If you are coming on one of the below cruise line to New Zealand, you require a New Zealand eTA (NZeTA) regardless of your nationality. You must, however apply for a Visa if you are not from a Visa Waiver country and coming by air.


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.