New Zealand eTA Eligibility For United States Citizen
If you hold a United States passport and want to visit New Zealand, you will need a New Zealand eTA (NZeTA) before you travel. It works much like the US ESTA you may already know: an online, passport-linked travel authorisation that visa-waiver travellers must have before boarding a flight or cruise — there is no need to visit the New Zealand Embassy or queue for a paper visa.
Here is a quick summary for US travellers, followed by everything you need to know about eligibility, how to apply and what to expect on your trip from the United States to New Zealand.
The New Zealand eTA for Americans (also spelled “NZeTA”) was introduced in 2019 to allow eligible nationals to travel to New Zealand for transit, tourism, or business purposes.
The New Zealand ETA is available to citizens of more than 170 countries, including those from the United States. The process of obtaining a New Zealand eTA for US residents is quick and easy.
US citizens traveling to or transiting through New Zealand under the Visa Waiver Program must have an NZeTA. This also applies to cruise ship passengers. NZeTA can take up to 72 hours to process, so apply well in advance of your trip. The NZeTA is valid for up to two years for multiple visits. If your NZeTA application is rejected, you will need to apply for a visa. Travelers from visa-exempt or visa-exempt countries transiting through New Zealand must have an NZeTA from 1 October 2019 even if New Zealand is not their final destination. The International Tourism and Conservation Levy (IVL) is a way to contribute directly to the tourism infrastructure you use and help protect the natural environment you enjoy while in New Zealand. Most visitors will also need to pay for an IVL, which is paid at the same time you apply for the NZeTA.
Yes, any US citizen wishing to enter New Zealand for a short stay must have an electronically approved eTA linked to their passport. An approved New Zealand eTA is required for US citizens to visit the country for short stays for the following purposes:
Once you have obtained a New Zealand ETA for US citizens, travellers can print a valid copy to show at border control to start planning their trip to New Zealand. Once approved, the New Zealand ETA for US citizens remains digitally linked to the traveller’s passport, eliminating the need to always physically stamp your passport upon arrival.
You can apply for the NZeTA for US citizens right here on our website — just fill out the application form.
Is the NZeTA the same as the US ESTA?
The NZeTA works in a very similar way to the US ESTA — both are online, passport-linked travel authorisations for visa-waiver travellers. However, the NZeTA is a separate New Zealand document; holding a US ESTA has no bearing on entering New Zealand. Even though the systems feel familiar, US citizens still need to obtain an NZeTA (and pay the IVL) before they travel.
How long is the flight from the US to New Zealand?
Non-stop flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston and Newark to Auckland take roughly 13 hours. From the US East Coast you should expect 16–18 hours in total with a connection. Because New Zealand is across the International Date Line, you typically “lose” a day flying out and “gain” it on the way home.
Can US green-card holders use the NZeTA?
The NZeTA is based on the passport you travel on, not your US residency. If you hold a passport from one of the visa-waiver countries you can apply for an NZeTA; if your passport is from a country that is not on the visa-waiver list, you will need a New Zealand visitor visa regardless of your US green card.
Do US citizens need an NZeTA just to transit through Auckland?
Yes. Auckland International Airport has no sterile transit zone, so even if you are only connecting to another country you must hold an approved NZeTA before you board. See our requirements page for the full conditions.
Can I visit New Zealand on an NZeTA as part of a US cruise?
Yes. US passport holders arriving by cruise apply for the same NZeTA and simply indicate that they are a cruise passenger. Every traveller, including children, needs their own NZeTA and pays the IVL.