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Complete the form
Add your passport, personal, and travel details accurately.
New Zealand eTA (NZeTA)
The New Zealand eTA — the NZeTA, or New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority — is required from visa-waiver visitors and eligible transit passengers before they fly. Apply online and we check your details before submitting. It is valid for two years and multiple entries while linked to the same passport.
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Start my New Zealand eTA
Online eTA application
Complete your NZeTA details in one guided form.
✉Confirmation by email
Keep your completed confirmation handy for travel.
Simple process
How to apply for your New Zealand eTA online
Three steps to get your electronic travel authority before departure.
What you need before starting the eTA application
Have the passport you will use for travel ready. Enter the passport number, issue date, expiry date, names and other details exactly as they appear in the document. The New Zealand eTA is linked electronically to that passport, so every traveller needs a separate New Zealand travel authority application, including infants when the requirement applies to them.
Prepare a clear digital photo and, when requested by the process, the passport photo page. A phone photo may be suitable when it meets the required format: use a plain background, keep the face fully visible and avoid anything that obscures the image. Do not add uploads or documents that the application does not request.
Keep your expected travel dates and an email address you can access during the journey. Flight details can be included when they are available, but do not treat them as mandatory unless the current application asks for them. Review everything before submission because the New Zealand eTA must match the passport used to travel.
Families can prepare shared travel information together, but each application must use the correct individual passport and photo. Check every record separately before moving on; copying one traveller’s passport number, expiry date or email details into another application can create an avoidable mismatch.
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Choose your processing
Select the service timing that best suits your journey.
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Receive confirmation
We process your request and send the confirmation by email.
Mistakes that delay a New Zealand eTA
Applying immediately before departure leaves little time if the application needs extra review. Immigration New Zealand advises allowing up to 72 hours, and not every case is completed at the same speed. Check that the passport will remain suitable for the journey because the electronic authority is tied to that document.
Enter names in the correct order and copy the details from the passport, including the machine-readable line. Do not assume visa-waiver status covers every journey: cruise and transit cases can have their own requirements. Review the itinerary and passport rules that apply before submitting.
A photo that does not meet the requirements can delay processing. Use a plain background, remove glasses and hats, and keep the face fully visible. Finally, do not use one application for the whole family. Each traveller needs their own New Zealand eTA when required, including babies and infants.
Use an email inbox you can check before and during travel, then review the confirmation as soon as it arrives. If a name, passport number or other core detail is incorrect, check the current correction process rather than assuming airline staff can change the electronic authority at departure.
What is the New Zealand eTA (NZeTA)?
The New Zealand eTA — also written NZeTA, and known as the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority — is the travel authority that eligible visa-waiver visitors and cruise or transit passengers may need before travelling to New Zealand. It is linked to the passport used in the application and normally lasts two years.
This electronic authority allows travel information to be reviewed before departure. It can support multiple entries while it remains valid and connected to the same passport.
The New Zealand eTA is not a visa and does not replace one where a visitor visa is required. Prepare your passport, travel dates and personal details before you begin.
Who needs a New Zealand eTA, and who needs a visa
A New Zealand eTA is not a visa, and the two documents are not interchangeable. Eligible visa-waiver visitors may travel with the electronic authority, while travellers using passports outside the visa-waiver programme may need a visitor visa instead. Immigration New Zealand determines which requirement applies to each passport and journey.
Australian permanent residents, eligible transit passengers travelling through Auckland International Airport and cruise passengers can also fall within the New Zealand travel authority rules. Because the circumstances differ, check the current requirement for your passport, residence status and route rather than assuming that every transit or cruise journey is treated identically.
The New Zealand eTA is electronically linked to the passport entered in the application. It normally remains valid for two years and supports multiple entries while that passport remains the same. If you replace the passport, the authority does not transfer automatically; you may need a new application using the new passport details.
This distinction is especially important when a trip combines a cruise, an Auckland transit and a later visit. The requirement can depend on how the traveller reaches New Zealand as well as the passport held, so use the full itinerary when checking whether the travel authority or a visa is appropriate.
Why travellers apply for their New Zealand eTA here
Apply any day of the year
Start your application whenever it suits your travel plans.
Your eTA details checked before submission
A guided flow helps identify common omissions before processing.
Support from our team before submission
Contact our team when you need help with your application.
Do you need a New Zealand eTA?
Eligible travellers need a New Zealand eTA before travelling, including many visa-waiver visitors and transit passengers.
Requirements vary by passport, visa status and journey. The electronic authority is not a visa, and travellers who need a visa must carry the appropriate visa as well.
Nationalities that need the
New Zealand eTA
Eligible travellers can complete their New Zealand eTA application online before departure.
United States
Canada
United Kingdom
Netherlands
Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
After your New Zealand eTA is approved
Approval is sent by email and the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority is linked electronically to the passport used in the application. There is normally no separate physical document to collect, although keeping the confirmation and reference available can be useful during travel.
Airlines may verify the New Zealand travel authority against the passport before departure. The authority is normally valid for two years and can support multiple entries during that period, provided the passport and other travel conditions remain valid.
If you receive a new passport, the existing authority does not transfer to it automatically. Review the current process and, when required, submit a new New Zealand eTA application with the replacement passport details before your next journey.
Before a later trip, confirm that the passport number still matches the approval and that the authority remains within its validity period. Keep the approval email or reference in an accessible place even though the status is electronic, especially when several travellers in one booking have separate applications.
Questions before you begin
Helpful information about your New Zealand eTA application, timing and eligibility.
What is the New Zealand eTA?⌄
The New Zealand eTA is an electronic travel authority for eligible travellers before they travel to New Zealand. It is linked to the passport used in the application and does not replace a visa where one is required.
Is the New Zealand eTA the same as the NZeTA?⌄
Yes. The New Zealand eTA, the NZeTA and the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority are names for the same travel authority. There is one application to make.
How long is the New Zealand eTA valid for?⌄
The New Zealand eTA is normally valid for two years from approval and can cover multiple entries while it remains valid and linked to the same passport. The permitted stay still depends on the entry rules that apply to the traveller and journey.
Do I need an eTA if I am only transiting?⌄
Eligible transit passengers travelling through Auckland International Airport can require a New Zealand eTA. Check the rules for your passport, transit status and complete itinerary before departure rather than assuming every connection is treated the same way.
Do cruise passengers need one?⌄
Cruise passengers may need a New Zealand eTA before travelling, depending on their passport and immigration status. Check the requirements that apply to your journey before boarding because an electronic travel authority and a visitor visa are different requirements.
What happens if I get a new passport?⌄
The New Zealand eTA is linked electronically to the passport used in the application. If you replace that passport, you will generally need to apply again using the new passport details.
Can I apply directly with Immigration New Zealand?⌄
Yes. You can apply yourself through Immigration New Zealand channels and pay the applicable government charges directly. This website provides an optional private review and handling service.
How long can processing take?⌄
Immigration New Zealand advises allowing up to 72 hours. Some applications may be completed sooner, but not every case follows the same timing. Apply well before travel and make sure your passport and photo details are correct.
Is ArrivalCardOnline part of Immigration New Zealand?⌄
No. ArrivalCardOnline is an independent private assistance provider.
What information should I prepare?⌄
Have your passport details, a suitable digital photo, travel dates, an accessible email address and any available flight information ready before starting. Each traveller needs a separate application.
Ready to apply for your New Zealand travel authority?
Start your guided application now, or contact our team if you need help with your travel details.