The New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) for tourism is the fastest and simplest way for visa-waiver travellers to visit New Zealand for a holiday. Whether you are exploring the fjords of Milford Sound, road-tripping across the South Island, or visiting family and friends, a single tourist NZeTA lets you enter New Zealand for stays of up to 90 days and remains valid for up to 2 years with multiple entries.
The NZeTA is an electronic travel authorisation that is linked directly to your passport. It was introduced in October 2019 and is now a mandatory requirement for citizens of visa-waiver countries who wish to travel to New Zealand for short stays. Instead of applying for a traditional visa at an embassy or consulate, eligible tourists can request their authority entirely online in a matter of minutes.
For the vast majority of holidaymakers, the tourist NZeTA is all that is needed to enter New Zealand. It replaces the paperwork, appointments and long waiting times associated with a full visa, giving travellers a convenient, low-cost way to plan their trip. Once approved, there is nothing to print or attach to your passport — the authority is stored electronically and checked automatically by the airline before you board and by immigration officers when you arrive.
The visitor NZeTA is designed for leisure travel and other short-term, non-work activities. It is the correct authority to choose if you are coming to New Zealand for any of the following reasons:
It is important to understand what the tourist NZeTA does not allow. You cannot use it to take up employment with a New Zealand employer, to provide paid services, or to study a course that lasts longer than three months. If you intend to work or study long-term, you will need to apply for the appropriate work or student visa instead.
A tourist NZeTA allows you to stay in New Zealand for up to 90 days on each visit. Because the authority is valid for up to two years, you can travel to New Zealand as many times as you like during that period, provided each individual stay does not exceed the 90-day limit. This makes the NZeTA ideal for travellers who want the flexibility to return more than once without applying again each time.
There is one important exception for certain passport holders. Travellers whose passports are issued by the United Kingdom may be able to stay for up to six months per visit, while most other eligible nationalities are limited to three months in any twelve-month period. If you are unsure how the limits apply to your nationality, check the list of eligible countries before you travel.
The tourist NZeTA is intended for citizens of visa-waiver countries — nations whose passport holders do not need a full visitor visa for short stays in New Zealand. This includes travellers from the United States, the United Kingdom, most of Europe, Canada, Japan and many other countries. If you hold a passport from one of these nations and you are travelling for tourism, the NZeTA is almost certainly the authority you need.
If your country is not on the visa-waiver list, or you plan to stay longer than the NZeTA permits, you will need to apply for a New Zealand Visitor Visa instead. You can compare the two options on our NZeTA visa types page to be certain you are applying for the right one.
One of the biggest advantages of the tourist NZeTA is how little you need to get started. Before you begin the online application, make sure you have:
Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the date you intend to leave New Zealand. Double-check that the details you enter match your passport exactly, as any mismatch can delay your approval.
The whole process is completed online and usually takes less than ten minutes. To apply, follow these simple steps:
You can review the current visa fees and the full NZeTA requirements before you start so there are no surprises during the application.
Most tourist NZeTA applications are processed and approved within 72 hours, and many are granted much faster. However, during busy travel seasons or when additional checks are required, processing can occasionally take a little longer. For this reason, we strongly recommend applying at least three full days before your departure date.
Applying early gives you peace of mind and leaves time to correct any errors should they arise. You should not book non-refundable travel or attempt to fly to New Zealand until you have received written confirmation that your NZeTA has been approved.
Once your tourist NZeTA is approved, you will receive a confirmation email containing your reference number. Because the authority is linked electronically to your passport, you do not need to carry a printed copy — simply travel with the same passport you used to apply. We still recommend saving the confirmation email so you have your reference number to hand.
If you would like to confirm that your authority is active, you can check your application status online at any time using your reference number and email address. When everything is in order, you are ready to enjoy your holiday in New Zealand.
Apply for your tourist NZeTA online in just a few minutes.