New Zealand visa requirements: NZeTA, visas and arrival.
Visa waiver and NZeTA, visitor visas, the visitor levy and arrival, from Immigration New Zealand.
What are the New Zealand visa requirements?
Most visitors need an NZeTA or a visitor visa before they fly. Passports from visa waiver countries need only an NZeTA for stays under three months, or six for UK citizens; other passports need a visitor visa. Australian passport holders need neither. Explera DMC New Zealand checks each traveller’s requirement at quotation, against Immigration New Zealand.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
Why entry is checked first.
Entry is the one part of a New Zealand trip that cannot be fixed on arrival: a missing NZeTA or visa can stop a passenger at check-in. The rules follow the passport the traveller flies on, not where they live, so each person in a group or family is checked separately.
This page summarises what Immigration New Zealand and New Zealand Customs publish, read on 1 November 2026. It is a planning guide for travellers and their agents, not immigration advice: rules change, so confirm every traveller on the official Immigration New Zealand website before travel.
What applies, and to whom.
Visa waiver passports: NZeTA
Holders of passports from visa waiver countries do not need a visitor visa for stays of less than three months, or six months for UK citizens, but must get an NZeTA before they travel. Immigration New Zealand may ask for onward tickets and proof of funds on arrival.
Read moreOther passports: visitor visa
Passports not on the visa waiver list, including those of India and China, need a visitor visa applied for before travel, with the visitor levy charged at application. Build the processing time into the booking window.
Read moreAustralian passports
Australian citizens and permanent residents travelling on an Australian passport need neither a visa nor an NZeTA, according to Immigration New Zealand.
Read moreGroups and tour escorts
Group Visitor Visa and Tour Escort Visitor Visa applications are now made in Immigration Online. Immigration New Zealand says one group application can hold up to 50 visitor visa applications, and every member must arrive together.
Read moreChinese visitors from Australia
Under a trial Immigration New Zealand began in November 2025, Chinese passport holders travelling from Australia on an eligible Australian visa can use an NZeTA for up to three months. As of 26 October 2026, INZ says this continues until further notice.
Read moreThe visitor levy
Most visitors pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy when they request an NZeTA or apply for a visa. Australian passport holders and many Pacific passports do not. The amount is set by the Government, so confirm it on the INZ website.
Read moreThe traveller declaration
Everyone arriving completes a New Zealand Traveller Declaration, including NZeTA and visa holders. By air, the earliest it can be submitted is 24 hours before the trip starts. It covers biosecurity, so food, plant and animal products and used outdoor gear must be declared.
Read moreeGates at passport control
New Zealand Customs eGates serve travellers aged 10 or over with an ePassport from an eligible country or territory. An eGate does not replace an NZeTA or a visa, so the entry permission still has to be in place before the flight.
Read moreNine source markets at a glance.
From Immigration New Zealand’s visa waiver list, read on 1 November 2026. Entry follows the passport, not the country of residence. For any other passport, check the visa waiver list on the Immigration New Zealand website.
| Passport | Apply before travel for | Stay without a visitor visa | Visitor levy |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Apply before travel forVisitor visa | Stay without a visitor visaNone: a visa is needed | Visitor levyCharged with the visa |
| China | Apply before travel forVisitor visa (NZeTA trial when travelling from Australia) | Stay without a visitor visaNone, except under the trial | Visitor levyCharged with the visa |
| United States | Apply before travel forNZeTA | Stay without a visitor visaLess than three months | Visitor levyPaid with the NZeTA |
| United Kingdom | Apply before travel forNZeTA | Stay without a visitor visaLess than six months | Visitor levyPaid with the NZeTA |
| Australia | Apply before travel forNothing (Australian passport) | Stay without a visitor visaNo visa or NZeTA needed | Visitor levyNot paid |
| Germany | Apply before travel forNZeTA | Stay without a visitor visaLess than three months | Visitor levyPaid with the NZeTA |
| Singapore | Apply before travel forNZeTA | Stay without a visitor visaLess than three months | Visitor levyPaid with the NZeTA |
| Malaysia | Apply before travel forNZeTA | Stay without a visitor visaLess than three months | Visitor levyPaid with the NZeTA |
| United Arab Emirates | Apply before travel forNZeTA | Stay without a visitor visaLess than three months | Visitor levyPaid with the NZeTA |
When to apply.
Apply as soon as the trip is likely. Immigration New Zealand says an NZeTA is generally processed within 72 hours; a visitor visa needs its own processing time built into the booking window. December to February does not change the rules, but the busiest weeks leave the least room for a late application.
What to check first.
- Check the passport each traveller will fly on, its validity and its condition. Dual nationals apply with that passport.
- Confirm NZeTA or visitor visa for each traveller, and that it is approved before the flight.
- Confirm whether the visitor levy applies and that it was paid with the application.
- Check transit rules for any itinerary that connects through Auckland to another country.
- Brief everyone on the traveller declaration and biosecurity before they pack.
Related services and programmes.
Services: Group tours & GIT · FIT & tailor-made · MICE & incentives.
See itineraries and fixed departures for ready-made programmes.
Questions travellers and agents ask about entry.
Do I need a visa to visit New Zealand?
Most visitors need a visa or an NZeTA. Passport holders from visa waiver countries need only an NZeTA for stays of less than three months, or six months for UK citizens. Australian passport holders need neither.
Do Indian citizens need a visa for New Zealand?
Yes. India is not on the visa waiver list, so Indian passport holders apply for a visitor visa before travel, with the visitor levy charged at application.
How long does an NZeTA take?
Immigration New Zealand says an NZeTA is generally processed within 72 hours, so apply well before departure, never at the airport.
Does an eGate replace an NZeTA?
No. eGates speed up passport control for eligible ePassport holders aged 10 or over, but every traveller still needs the right entry permission before the flight.
Who confirms the rules for my trip?
Immigration New Zealand. This page is a planning summary, not immigration advice. Explera DMC New Zealand checks each traveller’s requirement at quotation and points to the official website.
More ways to explore New Zealand.
Explera DMC New Zealand is the B2B New Zealand DMC for New Zealand trips planned around entry rules. We contract the accommodation, transfers, licensed guides and experiences at net rates, so you sell New Zealand trips planned around entry rules with one accountable ground partner and your own branding.
Send the brief to our New Zealand DMC desk for a net programme quotation.