Application Form Guide
Completing the New Zealand eTA (NZeTA) application takes only a few minutes when you have everything ready. This step-by-step guide walks you through each part of the online form so you can submit it correctly the first time and avoid delays. Most applications are approved within 72 hours, and often much sooner, so it is best to apply at least three days before you travel.
You can use a single form to apply for one traveller or for your whole family or group at the same time — you enter your contact and trip details once, then add each passenger.
Have the following ready so you can complete the form in one sitting:
Enter your personal details exactly as they appear on your passport, then add your contact details and residential address. You only need to fill in this general information once — it applies to every traveller on the application, and all approvals are sent to the same email address. Not every traveller has to live at the address you enter; it is used only for correspondence.
Carefully copy your passport number, country of issue, date of birth and expiry date. Double-check every field against the passport itself, as a single wrong character is the most common reason an NZeTA fails to match at the border. Make sure the passport you enter is the same one you will travel on.
Provide the purpose of your visit (tourism, business, transit or a cruise stopover) and your intended arrival details. You do not need confirmed flight or accommodation bookings to apply, but your answers should reflect your genuine travel plans.
You must hold a separate NZeTA for every traveller, including children and infants who appear on a parent's passport. Instead of submitting a form for each person, click Add travellers to include additional passengers on the same application and pay for them together in one secure transaction.
Indicate whether you have ever held any other legal name — for example, a maiden name or a name changed by deed. Pseudonyms or nicknames that have never appeared on an official identity document should not be entered here.
After payment you will be asked to upload a passport-style photo for each traveller. Use a clear, recent, colour photo taken against a plain light background, with the face fully visible and no hats or sunglasses. A good photo helps your application be approved without follow-up requests. See our NZeTA requirements page for the full photo specifications.
Review every detail before you submit — corrections are much harder to make once the application has been sent to Immigration New Zealand. Pay the fee securely with your card, and you will receive a confirmation email with your reference number. Your approved NZeTA is linked electronically to your passport and emailed to you, so there is nothing to print or collect.
Once your application is submitted and paid for, it is sent to Immigration New Zealand for assessment. Most NZeTAs are approved within 72 hours, though many arrive within a few hours. You will be notified by email as soon as a decision is made. If your application needs a closer look, the status may show as "pending" for a short time — this is normal and rarely lasts longer than three days. When approved, your NZeTA is valid for up to 2 years and allows multiple visits, so you will not need to reapply for each trip. You can check progress at any time using our visa status page.
Before submitting, you confirm that you have completed the form as accurately as possible and understand that errors can prevent your trip. You agree to comply with Immigration New Zealand (INZ) requirements and consent to INZ using and, where required, sharing the information you provide under the Immigration Act 2009 and Privacy Act 1993 — including with airlines, shipping companies and transport operators to facilitate check-in.
Start Your Application