If you are from a visa waiver country you may be able to visit New Zealand without a visa. You will need to prove that you can fund your stay, and that you have travel booked to leave New Zealand.
You can enter New Zealand if you are a visa waiver traveller and hold an NZeTA (unless you are exempt).
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Provide your details to make the experience more relevant to you.The criteria and evidence below will provide you with the information you need to meet the requirements of this visa.
You must hold an NZeTA before you travel to New Zealand
You must travel on the passport you used to request your NZeTA. When you check in for your trip present that passport so your airline can check that you hold NZeTA.
They may also ask to see your ticket for travel out of New Zealand at the end of your visit.
You must provide proof of your identity
We use your passport details to check your identity.
Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave New Zealand.
You must be in good health
You must be of good health. When you complete your arrival card you’ll be asked whether you’re coming to New Zealand for medical consultation or treatment.
If you want to come for medical consultation or treatment, you need to apply for a ‘Medical Treatment Visitor Visa’ before travelling to New Zealand.
You must be of good character
When you complete your arrival card, you’ll be asked some questions about your character.
You won’t meet our good character requirements if any of the following apply:
People who may be considered a risk to New Zealand’s security, public order or public interest, include those who are registered sex offenders or associated with a gang.
If we have reason to believe you are not of good character, we can stop you from travelling to New Zealand at check-in, or refuse you entry permission when you get here.
If you are not sure you will meet our requirements for good character, you should apply for a visa before coming to New Zealand.
You must be a genuine visitor to New Zealand and intend to leave at the end of your visit
When you complete your arrival card, you’ll be asked about the purpose of your trip.
We also consider any other information we have about your circumstances and reasons for travelling to New Zealand.
Evidence that you are a genuine visitor
Lawful purposes for a visitor include:
If you intend to undertake employment in New Zealand you can’t travel visa waiver.
If you haven’t complied with the conditions of your visa on any previous visit to New Zealand, you can be stopped from travelling to New Zealand or refused entry permission when you get here.
You must be a citizen of a visa waiver country
We’ll use your passport to check you are a citizen of a visa waiver country when you check-in for your travel and again when you arrive in New Zealand.
You can only travel visa waiver if you’re travelling on a citizen passport. You can’t travel visa waiver on a non-citizen or alien passport.
You can only travel visa waiver if you’re a resident and travel on one of the following passports:
You can only travel visa waiver if you’re a resident and travel on a Macau Special Administrative Region passport.
You can only travel visa waiver, if you have the right to live in Portugal permanently.
You can only travel visa waiver, if you a permanent resident of Taiwan and travel on a Taiwan passport. We’ll use the personal identity number on your Taiwan passport to confirm your permanent residence.
USA nationals can also travel visa waiver.
You must have enough money to live on while you’re in New Zealand
You must have at least NZD$1,000 for each month of your stay, or if you have already paid for your accommodation, NZD$400 for each month of your stay.
You may be asked for evidence you will have access to your funds when you check-in or arrive in New Zealand.
If you are pregnant, there are additional requirements.
You cannot meet the funds requirement for visa waiver travel by arranging a sponsor. If you want to arrange sponsorship, you have to apply for a visa before you travel to New Zealand.
You must have a ticket out of New Zealand
When you check-in, you will be asked to present your travel ticket out of New Zealand to a country you have the right to enter.
Your departure date must be within 3 months of your arrival, or if you are from the United Kingdom, within 6 months.
If after you leave New Zealand you will be travelling to a country that also has an onward travel requirement, we may ask to see that ticket too.
Your tickets must be paid for before your travel.
If you will be leaving on a private craft or cruise ship, we will accept a letter from the craft owner or a cruise itinerary as proof of your travel arrangements.
If your only reason for coming to New Zealand is to renew a visa for another country, we recommend that you apply for a visa before travelling.
You can only visit New Zealand for up to 6 months in any 12-month period.
We will check our records to see how much time you have spent in New Zealand.
If you do not meet this requirement, you must apply for a visitor visa and have it before you travel to New Zealand.
Your family must meet the same requirements to travel to New Zealand with an NZeTA.
To travel to New Zealand with an NZeTA, your family must:
Evidence that you are a genuine visitor
If family members do not meet the requirements they should apply for a visa before visiting New Zealand.
You must provide certified full English translations of any documents that are not in English
Documents must be translated by someone who meets our requirements for providing English translations.
The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for this visa, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.
Check the criteria and conditions to travel visa waiverYou must meet all the requirements for visa waiver travel. If you are not sure you meet the requirements, apply for a visa before you travel.
You must also have:
You must hold an NZeTA before you leave for New Zealand.
Allow 72 hours for your NZeTA request to be processed. Many requests will be processed more quickly.
Arrange your travel ticket and spending moneyWhen you check in for your trip, you must hold an NZeTA.
Your airline will check your passport and may also check your ticket for travel out of New Zealand.
On your way to New Zealand, you will be given an arrival card to fill in. Present your completed arrival card and passport when you arrive.
Application cost – You do not need to pay a fee when granted a visa waiver visitor visa on arrival in New Zealand.
Your visa is granted when you arrive in New Zealand.
These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa.
You must apply for entry permission when you arrive in New Zealand. You can do this by completing a digital New Zealand traveller declaration (NZTD), or an NZTD paper declaration.
New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that you meet their entry requirements.
You can be refused entry permission if:
You will be issued single entry travel conditions.
If you leave New Zealand your visitor visa will expire.
You must have a travel ticket out of New Zealand to a country you have the right to enter at all times during your visit.
You’ll be asked to show us your travel ticket when you check-in or arrive in New Zealand.
You must have enough money to live on while in New Zealand.
You may be asked for evidence you have enough funds to support yourself when you check in or arrive in New Zealand.
You can’t undertake employment in New Zealand.
You can travel to New Zealand visa waiver to assess the job market or to attend a pre-arranged job interview, but if you’re travelling to New Zealand to take up an offer of employment, you must apply for a work visa.
You can apply for more visas to allow you to stay up to 12 months.
You may study for up to 3 months in any 12 month period.
School-aged children can study for up to 3 months in any calendar year. Children studying for more than 2 weeks must attend a school that is signatory to the ‘Code of Pastoral Care for International Students’.
You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.
Your visa will be issued electronically and there will be no label in your passport.
Your visa expires 3 months after you arrive in New Zealand (or 6 months, if you are from the United Kingdom), or when you leave New Zealand, whichever happens first.
If you are an Australian citizen or resident your visa will not expire and you can stay in New Zealand indefinitely.
Get all the details for a visa, NZeTA, or how to update your passport sticker.
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