The New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority covers short business trips to New Zealand under the visitor category. It is the ideal authority for attending meetings, conferences, negotiations or training. The business NZeTA is quick to obtain online and valid for up to 2 years — but it is important to understand that it does not permit you to take up paid employment with a New Zealand employer.
There is no separate "business visa" within the NZeTA scheme. Instead, short business visits are made under the same visitor authority used by tourists, and you simply indicate that the purpose of your trip is business when you travel. The NZeTA is linked electronically to your passport and is verified automatically by your airline and by immigration when you arrive, so there are no forms to print or documents to attach.
For visa-waiver nationals attending to company matters in New Zealand for a short period, the NZeTA offers a fast, low-cost alternative to a full work visa. It is designed for legitimate business activities that do not involve entering the New Zealand labour market or being paid by a local employer, and it can be arranged online in a matter of minutes.
You can use the NZeTA for a wide range of short-term business purposes, provided they do not amount to taking up employment in New Zealand. Typical permitted activities include:
Please note: the NZeTA does not allow you to work for a New Zealand employer, fill a role in the local labour market or provide paid services. If you intend to work in New Zealand, you must apply for the appropriate work visa instead.
The business NZeTA is intended for citizens of visa-waiver countries who are travelling to New Zealand for short business visits. This includes travellers from the United States, the United Kingdom, most of Europe, Canada, Japan and many other nations. If you hold a passport from one of these countries and your visit is limited to permitted business activities, the NZeTA is the authority you need.
If your nationality is not covered by the visa-waiver arrangement, or your work in New Zealand goes beyond the activities allowed on a visitor authority, you will need to apply for a business or work visa instead. You can compare the available options on our NZeTA visa types page, and confirm your eligibility on the list of eligible countries.
Applying for a business NZeTA requires very little preparation. Before you begin, make sure you have:
Make sure your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure from New Zealand, and enter every detail exactly as it appears in your passport.
Because business travel is made under the visitor authority, the application is the same as for tourism. It is completed entirely online and only takes a few minutes:
You can review the current fees and the full requirements before you start.
Most business NZeTA applications are approved within 72 hours, and many are granted sooner. During busy periods, or if additional checks are needed, approval can take a little longer. To keep your business trip on schedule, apply at least three full days before you are due to travel.
Applying early is especially important for business travellers with fixed meeting dates. Do not book non-refundable arrangements or travel to New Zealand until you have received written confirmation that your NZeTA has been approved.
Once approved, you will receive a confirmation email with your reference number. The authority is stored electronically against your passport, so there is nothing to print — simply travel with the same passport you used when applying. Keeping a copy of the confirmation makes it easy to check your status later if you wish.
With your business NZeTA in place, you can travel to New Zealand and carry out your permitted business activities with confidence, knowing your authority to enter is already secured.
Apply for your NZeTA online before your trip.