• newzealand email contact usvisa@nzeta-visa.org

As of October 1, 2019, the New Zealand government has introduced an electronic travel authorization, called "NZeTA", which is mandatory for entry into and transit through New Zealand (via Auckland only). The NZeTA is valid for 2 years, for stays of up to 90 days in tourism. You can stay here for a maximum of 6 months per year and must pay a VILT tax for nature conservation. The average time to obtain NZeTA is 72 hours.

NZeTA requirements for arriving by cruise ship

Are you going to backpacking in New Zealand soon? Or are you in transit to, for example, Australia? From 1 October 2019, it is mandatory to apply for an Electronic Travel Authority for your trip to New Zealand on the cruise. This is also called a New Zealand visa (NZETA). You can easily apply for the travel authorization online and you will receive an almost immediate message whether you have been granted access to New Zealand. If approved, NZeTA remains valid for two years. If you apply for a new passport within these 2 years, you can transfer the NZeTA to your new passport.

Conditions Cruise passengers for applying for an NZeTA

In order to submit an online application to get NZeTA for a cruise, a visitor must have a passport with the minimum validity for 3 months after departure from New Zealand. he/she need to provide a valid email ID to receive important emails regarding eTA application. In addition, the following applies:

- A visa is not required for a stay of up to 3 months.

- The New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) is mandatory.

- The document is valid for 2 years on the condition that your passport is also valid during that period.

- The processing time for the approval of an NZeTA for a cruise passenger is a maximum of 72 hours.

It is also required to provide valid credit or debit card details in order to pay the tourism fee and charges for NZeTA. In addition to an Electronic Travel Authority, New Zealand has also decided to introduce a tourist tax known as Tourism Levy. You arrange this at the same time as applying for the NZeTA.After payment, you download a document that is valid for 2 years or as long as the validity of your passport.

Australian permanent residents from different countries are needed to submit an NZeTA application so that they can travel on a cruise to New Zealand. But they do not ask for the IVL taxes.

One thing to be mentioned here that crew and passengers of a non-cruise vessel, or the visitors on a foreign vessel carrying shipload, doesn't need to apply for New Zealand eTA.

Applying for the NZeTA for a cruise passenger

with the help of an online option and using a phone, tablet, or laptop, one can apply for NZeTA. The cruise ship online application form can directly be filled in just a few minutes. Candidates need to duly fill the form with their personal information along with the mentioned ones in the passport, including:

- First and last name

- Date of Birth

- Nationality

- Residential Address

- Contact Details

- Passport number with the issue and expiry date

An applicant needs to provide the purpose for their visit. If anyone has the purpose to get medical treatment, he/she won't get the eTA approved for the cruise. They need to provide all the details in the correct manner in order to avoid any mishap or rejection.

The approved New Zealand eTA for a cruise will be sent to the provided email address. They also need to carry the passport (the similar one used for application) along with the valid documents while entering New Zealand.

NZeTA Application Process

Applying for the New Zealand eTA is really quick and easy. It just involves three simple steps to complete the process.

– Provide all the information like personal details, contact, address, and travel information while filling the form.

– Review all the information carefully before submission.

Pay NZeTA application fees as well as IVL charges fee with a valid credit or debit card.

Countries eligible for NZeTA for cruise

Several countries are there whose citizens need to apply for eTA New Zealand when they travel there on a cruise. They can easily apply for the application online.

It must be noted that visitors who fly to New Zealand to catch a cruise for further journeys need to obtain NZeTA if they are from other countries mentioned below.

Applicants with a passport from a non-eligible country require to have a New Zealand tourist Visa at a New Zealand embassy or consulate before they depart on their trip.

A traveller from Australia also needs to apply for NZeTA but they are exempted from paying IVL.

– All European Union citizens:

Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark
Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland
Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland
Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden United Kingdom

-Other Countries are:

Andorra Argentina Bahrain Brazil Brunei Canada Chile
Hong Kong Iceland Israel Japan Kuwait Liechtenstein Macau
Malaysia Mauritius Mexico Monaco Norway Oman Qatar
San Marino Saudi Arabia Seychelles Singapore Republic of South Korea Switzerland Taiwan
United Arab Emirates United States Uruguay Vatican City

The crew from the Cruise line needs to ensure their company has requested the relevant Crew NZeTA prior to departure. This eTA remains valid for five years.


NZeTA Application