How to Use Your Online Visa to Visit New Zealand?

Updated on May 20, 2023 | Online New Zealand Visa

NZeTA or Online New Zealand Visa is an e-visa which can be used for the purpose of travel, business, or transit related purposes. Instead of a traditional visa, visitors from visa waiver countries of New Zealand can apply for a NZeTA to visit the country.

eTA New Zealand Visa application process is quick, simple, and completely online, making it extremely simple to get an authorisation to visit New Zealand without needing a traditional New Zealand visa.

eTA New Zealand Visa is eligible for citizens belonging to around 60 nationalities and those not falling under this category are rather required to apply for a traditional visa instead.

Although e-visa application is the simplest process to receive your travel authorization to visit New Zealand, but you must know the following to need a traditional visa to visit New Zealand:

If all NZeTA application requirements like nationality, and security related issues are not met by the applicant then it is best recommended to apply for a traditional visa application instead of an e-visa.
If you are planning to stay in New for more than 3 months period (or more than 6 months in case of UK citizens) then you would need a traditional visa for New Zealand since an e-visa only allows stay within New Zealand for up to 3 months period in general and 6 months specifically in case of UK citizens.
If your purpose to visit New Zealand is other than tourism or business then you would need to apply for a traditional visa instead of an e-visa to visit New Zealand.

Citizens of all 60 nationalities eligible for eTA New Zealand can apply for a NZeTA to visit the country.

Since October 2019 l, eTA has been made a mandatory requirement for entry to New Zealand in case of citizens from New Zealand visa waiver countries.

As a citizen from a visa waiver country, your eTA will be checked by the officials at the checkpoint.

New Zealand Visa (NZeTA)

New Zealand eTA Application Form now allows visitors from all nationalities to obtain New Zealand eTA (NZETA) by email without visiting New Zealand Embassy. New Zealand Visa application process is automated, simple, and completely online. New Zealand Immigration now officially recommends Online New Zealand Visa or New Zealand ETA online rather than sending paper documents. You can obtain New Zealand eTA by filling out a form on this website and making the payment using a Debit or Credit Card. You will also require a valid email id as New Zealand eTA information will be sent to your email id. You do not need visit an embassy or consulate or to send your passport for Visa stamping. If you are arriving to New Zealand by the Cruise Ship route, you should check the New Zealand ETA eligibility conditions for Cruise Ship arrival to New Zealand.

Ways To Use Your New Zealand E-Visa
Travel Without a Traditional Visa

Citizens from 60 nationalities can visit Rotorua with NZeTA. To check your eligibility for NZeTA you can visit this page.

Mostly, Online New Zealand Visa allows visitors to stay within New Zealand upto a period of 90 days within a 3 months timeline. For UK citizens however, this timeline reaches upto 6 months.

NZeTA (or New Zealand eTA) is a multiple entry authorization and allows visitors to travel within New Zealand until your e-visa expiry.

However, in certain cases, citizens of some nationalities may not be able to enter multiple times within a period and their e-visa may only give them single time entry authorization.

You must gather all relevant information regarding the eligibility for Online New Zealand Visa before planning your trip. For further help you can visit this page to check eligible countries for Online New Zealand Visa.

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If your travel goals of 2023 include visiting New Zealand on your next trip then read along to explore the best ways to travel across the naturally gifted landscapes of this country. Learn more at Visitor Visa Tips for New Zealand.

Transit With Your Online New Zealand Visa

Online New Zealand Visa (or New Zealand eTA) can also be used as an authorisation for passengers transiting through Auckland.

Transit passengers need to present either a transit visa or a New Zealand eTA at the time of transit in Auckland.

If you do not belong to a transit visa waiver country of New Zealand then you must apply for a transit visa instead of an e-visa for New Zealand for the purpose of transit.

If you are a transit passenger transiting through New Zealand you must keep the following details in mind before planning your visit:

As a transit passenger you are required to remain within the international transit of Auckland international airport for up to 24 hours beyond which your transit visa would officially deny you to stay within that area.

As a transit passenger, you must remain on board on the flight transiting through New Zealand to a third country.

Transit passengers are allowed to spend upto 24 hours within the International transit area of Auckland International airport. During this transit passengers are also free to explore the nearby places in Auckland during the period of transit.

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As a traveller, you must want to explore different aspects of a country which are yet to be discovered. To witness New Zealand's tribal culture and scenic beauty, visiting Rotorua must be on your travel list. Learn more at Travel Guide to Rotorua, New Zealand.

More Ways to Use New Zealand eTA

Apart from an all-online easy application process, travelling with an eTA to New Zealand could be the best option for you given the following reasons:

Getting a NZeTA to visit New Zealand would allow you to visit the country for the purpose of tourism. For short term travellers to the country this is the best option to visit this gorgeous nation with an easy online application process. Instead of a traditional visa, an e-visa for New Zealand would save a great amount of your time and energy. Simply follow easy online e-visa application steps to get your Online New Zealand Visa at your doorstep.
Apart from tourism, New Zealand eTA would allow you to visit New Zealand for business related trips for a specific period. If you want to expand your business to New Zealand getting eTA for New Zealand is the fastest way to plan a business-related trip to the country.
For those transiting to a third country via New Zealand then carrying NZeTA for transit purposes is a mandatory requirement for all eligible passengers. All passengers in this case must remain within the international transit area of Auckland international airport during the transit period.

Other Travel Authorisations to Visit New Zealand

Before travelling to New Zealand choose which visa categories remain best for you depending on the purpose of your visit to New Zealand. Check these visa categories before planning a visit to the country to know which visa would work best for your visit:

Work Visa for New Zealand
Tourism Visa
Medical Visa for New Zealand
Student Visa
Transit Visa
Visa to join extended family staying in New Zealand

Visa for Business related visit to New Zealand

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New Zealand has a new entry requirement known as the Online New Zealand Visa or eTA New Zealand Visa for short visits, vacations, or professional visitor activities. To enter New Zealand, all non-citizens must have a valid visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA). Learn more at Online New Zealand Visa.

Who Can Get New Zealand E-Visa?

If you are visiting New Zealand with an E-visa, you must meet the following requirements before planning your visit:

Only citizens of New Zealand with a valid passport of New Zealand or citizens for another country with an endorsement from the New Zealand government are eligible for NZeTA or an e-visa for New Zealand.
Any visitor to New Zealand carrying a valid visa.
Australian citizens wanting to visit New Zealand carrying an Australian passport.

Who Cannot Use E-Visa to Visit New Zealand?

If you belong to one of New Zealand's visa waiver countries then getting a NZeTA for business related visits to New Zealand is a mandatory requirement from October 2019 onwards.

Getting NZeTA is the simplest application process in an all online format. Hence, you would save a tremendous amount of time by avoiding any visits to the New Zealand embassy or consulate.

You must check your eligibility before applying for an e-visa for New Zealand as only citizens of visa waiver countries as mentioned by the New Zealand government are eligible to apply for an e-visa for New Zealand. Only eligible citizens can avail the benefit of travelling with an e-visa to New Zealand.

You can easily check your country’s eligibility for e-visa or NZeTA here.

As a foreign traveller to New Zealand your NZeTA would not allow you to engage in any of the following activities:

Buy property
Undergo medical treatment
Run a business
Invest in New Zealand
Seek employment and work
Perform commercial work like movie making

Make sure that your purpose to visit New Zealand does not fall under any of the above activities.

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When landing in New Zealand on a cruise ship, cruise passengers of all nations can apply for an NZeTA (or New Zealand eTA) instead of a visa. Tourists who arrive in New Zealand to board a cruise are subject to different laws. More information is provided below. Learn more at New Zealand eTA for Cruise Ship Travelers.

Ensure COVID 19 Precautions before your Visit

Although your e-visa application will be processed regardless of your vaccination status, do take certain precautions before visiting a foreign country.

Citizens belonging to a high yellow fever transition rate and who are eligible for an e-visa to New Zealand would need to present a proof of vaccination at the point of their arrival in Turkey.

An e-visa for New Zealand can only be used as an authorization to visit the country for short term tourism or business-related visits.

However, if you wish to visit New Zealand for other specific purposes then you would need to get permission from New Zealand’s embassy in your country.

You will need permission from relevant authorities if your visit involves any other purpose than travel or trade within New Zealand.

Know the Eligibility for Online New Zealand Visa

If you are a citizen of one of the following countries, then you are eligible to apply for an e-visa for New Zealand.

Your e-visa will remain valid for 180 days and would allow you to stay within New Zealand up to 90 consecutive days within this period. However, the condition of stay period might change in case of certain nationalities.

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If you want to visit the beautiful locations of New Zealand, then there are many hassle-free ways to plan your trip to the country. You can explore your dream locations like Auckland, Queenstown, Wellington and plenty of other gorgeous cities and places within New Zealand. Learn more at New Zealand Visitor Information.

What is a Single-Entry E-Visa?

If you belong to one of the following countries, then your e-visa for New Zealand would only allow you single time entry within New Zealand for a period of 30 days.

Single entry e-visa for New Zealand or a conditional visa for New Zealand is eligible only for the following categories fulfilling the below requirements:

Passport holders of these countries.
All visitors from these countries must hold a tourist visa from one of the Schengen countries, Ireland, US or UK.

All visitors from these nations must have a residence permit from one of Schengen countries, US, UK or Ireland.

Medical Visits to New Zealand

An e-visa can only be used for the purpose of tourism or trade within New Zealand.

According to April 2016 Law on Foreigners and International Protection, visitors must be travelling with valid medical insurance throughout their trip. An e-visa cannot be used for the purpose of medical visit to the country.

READ MORE:
New Zealand eTA or NZeTA has been made a necessary entry document needed by foreign citizens on arrival to New Zealand from 2019. If visiting New Zealand is among your travel plans or a trip to the country for any other specific purpose, then your wait to get an authorisation to visit New Zealand could be simply a few minutes. Learn more at New Zealand Business Visa.

When Your E-Visa Expires?

You will immediately need to leave New Zealand in ase you have stayed beyond the expiry mentioned on your e-visa.

In case of emergency to stay within New Zealand you must apply for a residence permit at the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management to avoid deportation, fines or travel bans.

You will immediately need to leave New Zealand in ase you have stayed beyond the expiry mentioned on your e-visa.

In case of emergency to stay within New Zealand you must apply for a residence permit at the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management to avoid deportation, fines or travel bans.

Avoid Discrepancy in New Zealand eTA Application

No, any discrepancy or mismatch in your travel document on arrival and information on your e-visa application would not permit you to enter New Zealand with an e-visa. In this case you will have to reapply for an e-visa to visit New Zealand.

An e-visa only acts as an authorization to visit New Zealand and not as a guarantee to enter the country.

Any foreigner wanting to enter New Zealand may be denied entry by immigration officials at the point of arrival on the grounds of suspicious behaviours, threat to citizens or other security related reasons.

Check Your Eligibility

If you are a citizen of one of the following countries then you are eligible to apply for an e-visa for New Zealand.

Online New Zealand Visa is an easy online application process. Apply for an e-visa for New Zealand within a few minutes time and easily get your NZeTA start a wonderful trip to New Zealand.

NZeTA application process is the easiest way to complete your dream to visit the gorgeous country of New Zealand in the most hassle-free way possible. Apply for an e-visa to visit New Zealand today to get your electronic authorization to visit New Zealand.

Ensure that you have checked the eligibility for your Online New Zealand Visa. If you are from a Visa Waiver country then you can apply for an Online New Zealand Visa or New Zealand eTA regardless of the mode of travel (Air / Cruise). United States citizens, European citizens, Canadian citizens, United Kingdom citizens, French citizens, Spanish citizens and Italian 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.