Rules for Czech passport holders
New Zealand treats the Czech Republic as a visa-waiver country. Czech citizens can arrive for tourism, family visits or business meetings and stay for up to 90 days on each visit. To use the waiver, you need an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority), which has been required since 1 October 2019.
An NZeTA is linked electronically to your passport. When you check in for your flight, whether in Prague or at a connecting airport, the airline's system confirms that it is approved. Once issued, it stays valid for up to 2 years, so it can cover a return trip later.
Czech visitors to New Zealand tend to be independent travellers. Many rent a campervan, tramp (hike) the backcountry or follow the Southern Alps from Arthur's Pass to Fiordland. The NZeTA suits all of that, as long as you don't work and you leave within 90 days.
Why your ID card is not enough
Inside the Schengen area you may rarely need a passport, so it is easy to forget that New Zealand requires one. The občanský průkaz is not accepted for travel to New Zealand, and you can't apply for an NZeTA with it.
Check the expiry date now. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave New Zealand. If you need a new passport, get it before you apply, because a new passport needs a new NZeTA.
Háčky, čárky and surnames ending in -ová
Czech names often contain letters such as č, ř, š, ž, ě and ů, and many women's surnames end in -ová. None of this is a problem, but the details you enter must match your passport's machine-readable zone (MRZ), the two lines of characters at the bottom of the photo page.
- Drop accents and diacritics, as the MRZ does: Dvořák becomes DVORAK, Řeháková becomes REHAKOVA
- Keep the -ová ending exactly as printed
- Enter all given names, not just the one you use day to day
- Book your flights under the same spelling
Planning a long trip within 90 days
Travel from Prague to New Zealand usually takes more than 24 hours, via Dubai, Doha, Istanbul or Frankfurt and then Asia. After a journey that long, many Czech travellers want to stay as long as possible. Keep these points in mind:
| Each visit | Up to 90 days from the day you arrive |
|---|---|
| Onward ticket | You should have a ticket out of New Zealand when you arrive |
| Side trips | A trip to Australia or the Pacific Islands and back means re-entering New Zealand, and the officer will consider your travel history |
| Staying longer | You need to apply for a visa before your permitted stay ends |
New Zealand's seasons are opposite to Czech ones. Czech winter (December to February) is the best time for hiking and beaches; Czech summer is New Zealand's ski season.
Want to work? Consider the working holiday option
The NZeTA does not allow any work, including casual fruit picking or hostel work in exchange for a bed. Young Czech citizens may be eligible for the Czech Republic Working Holiday Visa, which is a separate visa with its own age limits, conditions and application. You would not need an NZeTA if you hold that visa.
For short courses of up to 3 months, an NZeTA is enough. See our NZeTA visa information page for a summary of what is allowed.
What the NZeTA application form asks
The online form takes around 10 minutes. You will need to provide:
Contact and trip type
Your email address, the visa type ("Visit Visa") and your choice of processing speed.
Passport and personal details
Names, date of birth, passport number, issue and expiry dates.
Health and character questions
Short questions about convictions, deportations and medical treatment plans.
A photo and payment
A clear face photo against a plain background, then card payment. The fee includes the IVL levy.
Normal processing takes 48–72 hours, Emergency 24–48 hours and Rush 12–24 hours. Prices are on the fees page.
Apply for an NZeTA from the Czech Republic
Before leaving Prague
- Your NZeTA approval email, plus the passport you applied with
- Return or onward flight booking
- Proof of funds, such as a credit card or bank statement
- The New Zealand Traveller Declaration, completed before arrival
- Clean hiking boots, tent and bike: soil on outdoor gear is a biosecurity risk
Dried forest mushrooms, klobása, honey and seeds are typical Czech gifts that must be declared on arrival. An undeclared item can cost you an instant fine.
Ready? Start your New Zealand eTA application today.
Czech traveller FAQs
Yes. The Czech Republic is a visa-waiver country, so you don't need a visa for short visits, but you must hold an approved NZeTA before you board a flight or cruise to New Zealand.
No. New Zealand only accepts passports. Apply for your NZeTA with your Czech passport and carry that same passport on the trip.
No. Enter it exactly as it appears in the machine-readable zone of your passport, which normally shows it without the accent, for example NOVAKOVA.
Not on an NZeTA alone. If you want to stay longer, you would need to apply for a visa before your permitted stay ends.
Young Czech citizens may be eligible for the Czech Republic Working Holiday Visa. It is a separate visa with its own conditions and is not part of the NZeTA.
Allow up to 72 hours. You can choose Normal (48–72 hours), Emergency (24–48 hours) or Rush (12–24 hours) processing.