An NZeTA for cruise passengers of any nationality
Cruising is the one way of visiting New Zealand where nationality hardly matters. Since 1 October 2019, all cruise passengers need an NZeTA, and they can apply for one whatever their nationality. Passengers from countries that would normally need a visitor visa to fly in can visit on a cruise ship with an NZeTA instead.
You don't need an NZeTA for a cruise if you are:
- An Australian citizen
- A New Zealand citizen
- Holding a valid New Zealand visa
Australian permanent residents do need an NZeTA for a cruise, but don't pay the IVL.
Flying in to join a cruise
Many itineraries start or finish in Auckland or another New Zealand port. If you fly to New Zealand to board your ship, you are arriving by air, so the air travel rules apply to that part of the trip.
| Your trip | Visa-waiver passport | Other passports |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise arrives in New Zealand from overseas | NZeTA | NZeTA |
| Fly into New Zealand, then board a cruise | NZeTA | Visitor visa needed |
| Cruise ends in New Zealand, then fly home | NZeTA | NZeTA (you arrived by ship) |
Check your itinerary carefully. If your passport is not from a visa-waiver country and your cruise starts in New Zealand, a cruise NZeTA alone is not enough. You need a visitor visa for the flight in. Our eligibility guide lists visa-waiver countries.
When to apply for your cruise NZeTA
Apply before you embark, not before you reach New Zealand. Your cruise line checks NZeTAs at the start of the voyage, which may be in Sydney, Brisbane, Honolulu, Singapore or elsewhere. If you have no NZeTA, you can be refused boarding.
- Allow up to 72 hours, and apply earlier if you can
- Apply once you have booked, even months in advance, as the NZeTA lasts up to 2 years
- Check that your passport is valid for at least 3 months after the cruise leaves New Zealand
- Check your cruise line's own deadline for travel documents
New Zealand cruise ports
New Zealand cruises typically run during the southern summer, roughly from October to April. Common ports and scenic stops include:
| Port | Region | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | North Island | Waitematā Harbour, Hauraki Gulf islands, often a start or end port |
| Bay of Islands | Northland | Waitangi Treaty Grounds, sailing, dolphins |
| Tauranga | Bay of Plenty | Mount Maunganui, day trips to Rotorua |
| Napier | Hawke's Bay | Art Deco architecture, wineries |
| Wellington | North Island | The capital, Te Papa museum, waterfront |
| Picton | Marlborough | Marlborough Sounds, Sauvignon Blanc vineyards |
| Lyttelton and Akaroa | Canterbury | Gateways to Christchurch and Banks Peninsula |
| Port Chalmers | Otago | Dunedin, Otago Peninsula wildlife |
| Fiordland | Southland | Scenic cruising in Milford, Doubtful and Dusky Sounds |
You don't need to list your ports of call on the NZeTA application. The NZeTA covers you for every port on your itinerary.
The IVL for cruise passengers
Most cruise passengers pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). It helps fund the tourism infrastructure and conservation areas many passengers visit on shore excursions. It is collected with your NZeTA application, so you don't pay it on board or at the port.
Australian permanent residents are exempt from the IVL. Our form works out whether the IVL applies when you enter your details. See the NZeTA fees page for prices.
Crew members
Crew on cruise and cargo ships also need an NZeTA, but it is a different type: a crew NZeTA. It is normally arranged by the employer or the ship's agent, not by individual crew members, and it is not the same as a passenger NZeTA.
If you are joining a ship as crew, speak to your employer or manning agent. Our application service is for passengers only.
Going ashore in New Zealand
At your first New Zealand port, border officers and biosecurity staff process passengers, usually on board or at the cruise terminal. Your cruise line will explain the arrangements.
- Carry the passport you used for your NZeTA, or follow your cruise line's instructions on passports
- Don't take food off the ship. Fruit, sandwiches and snacks from the buffet can't go ashore
- Clean mud and seeds off shoes before hiking or visiting farms
- Be back on board on time. If you miss the ship, you are responsible for rejoining it, and the visitor rules still apply
Biosecurity fines apply to cruise passengers too. Taking an apple from the ship's restaurant ashore can lead to an instant fine. Leave all food on board.
How to apply for a cruise NZeTA
Start the form
Select "Visit" and choose cruise ship as your way of arriving.
Add every passenger
Enter passport details for each person, including children. Up to 10 travellers fit in one application.
Upload photos and pay
Add a photo for each passenger and pay by card. The IVL is included where it applies.
Keep your confirmation
Your decision arrives by email. Keep a copy for the cruise check-in desk.
Apply for a cruise passenger NZeTA
Cruise NZeTA: frequently asked questions
Yes, unless you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen or already hold a valid New Zealand visa. Passengers of every other nationality need an NZeTA before the ship sails.
Yes. Cruise passengers of any nationality can apply for an NZeTA, as long as they arrive in New Zealand on the cruise ship. If you fly into New Zealand to join the ship, different rules apply.
Usually not. Most cruise lines ask passengers to arrange their own NZeTA and will check it before you board. Follow your cruise line's instructions.
Choose cruise ship as your way of arriving. You don't need to list every port of call.
Yes. An NZeTA lasts up to 2 years, or until your passport expires, and covers multiple visits.
Yes. Ships cruising in New Zealand waters arrive in New Zealand even if they visit scenic areas such as Milford Sound, so passengers need an NZeTA unless they are exempt.
Changing planes in Auckland before or after your cruise? Read the transit guide.