Danish citizens and the NZeTA
Denmark is one of the countries whose citizens can visit New Zealand without a visa. Instead of applying at an embassy, you complete a short online application for an NZeTA, the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority. It has been required since 1 October 2019 for visa-waiver travellers arriving by air, and for every cruise passenger.
The NZeTA is linked to your passport and checked by your airline at check-in. It is valid for up to 2 years and allows several visits, each of up to 90 days. If you get a new passport in that time, you will need to apply again.
Danish travellers often plan long, active trips: hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, cycling the Otago Central Rail Trail, sailing in the Bay of Islands or visiting friends made during exchange years. All of these are fine on an NZeTA.
Greenland and the Faroe Islands
Danish citizens living in Greenland or the Faroe Islands travel on Danish passports. If that is your situation, the same NZeTA rules apply to you as to someone flying from Copenhagen. What matters is the passport you hold, not where in the Kingdom of Denmark you live.
Residents of Denmark who are not Danish citizens should follow the rules for the country that issued their passport. Some nationalities need a visa for New Zealand even if they live in Denmark.
Entering Æ, Ø and Å on the form
The NZeTA form uses English letters only. To make sure your application matches your passport, copy your name from the machine-readable zone (the two lines at the bottom of the photo page), where Danish letters are converted:
| Letter | In the MRZ | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Æ | AE | Kræmer → KRAEMER |
| Ø | OE | Søren → SOEREN |
| Å | AA | Ågård → AAGAARD |
If your passport shows something different, follow your passport. Use the same spelling on your flight booking too.
From Copenhagen to Auckland
There are no nonstop flights from Denmark to New Zealand. Popular routes from Copenhagen Airport go via Doha, Dubai, Singapore or Bangkok, and some connect in Australia before the final short hop across the Tasman. Expect more than 24 hours of travel and plan a quiet first day.
New Zealand is 10 to 12 hours ahead of Denmark, depending on daylight saving in each country. The seasons are reversed: a Danish winter getaway in January lands you in the middle of the New Zealand summer.
Check-in happens in Copenhagen. Even when you change planes in the Middle East or Asia, your airline may check your NZeTA at the very start of the journey. Have it approved before you leave home.
How to apply for an NZeTA from Denmark
Begin online
Choose "Visit Visa" and select Normal, Emergency or Rush processing.
Passport data
Copy names and numbers from your passport's MRZ.
Questions
Answer the health and character declarations.
Photo and card
Upload a recent face photo and pay. IVL is included.
| Processing option | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Normal | 48–72 hours |
| Emergency | 24–48 hours |
| Rush | 12–24 hours |
Prices for each option are listed on the NZeTA fees page. You can add up to 10 travellers to one application, which keeps family trips simple.
Travelling from Denmark soon?
Apply now and allow up to 72 hours for your NZeTA decision.
Outdoor gear and biosecurity
New Zealand protects its farms and native wildlife with some of the strictest biosecurity rules in the world. On arrival you must complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration and tell officers about:
- Used hiking boots, tents, fishing gear and bicycles, which should be clean and free of soil
- Food such as rugbrød with seeds, rullepølse and other cured meats, cheese, honey and fresh fruit
- Plant material, seeds, wood and natural souvenirs
Bring your return or onward ticket, proof of funds and accommodation details as well. A border officer makes the final decision on entry.
Work, study and longer stays
- An NZeTA does not allow paid or unpaid work for a New Zealand business
- It does not cover study longer than 3 months
- It does not allow stays of more than 90 days per visit
Young Danes who want to travel and work may be eligible for the Denmark Working Holiday Visa, which is a separate visa. Business visitors can attend meetings and conferences; see our business visitor guide. If your trip is purely for pleasure, apply for your NZeTA online and start planning.
Frequently asked questions from Denmark
No. Denmark is a visa-waiver country, so Danish citizens can visit for up to 90 days without a visa. An approved NZeTA is required before you travel.
Use the spelling from the machine-readable zone of your passport. Ø is usually written OE, Å is written AA and Æ is written AE.
Yes. If you travel on a Danish passport, the same NZeTA rules apply wherever in the Kingdom of Denmark you live.
Yes. An NZeTA is valid for up to 2 years, or until your passport expires, and covers multiple visits of up to 90 days each.
Young Danish citizens may be eligible for the Denmark Working Holiday Visa. It is a separate application and is not the same as an NZeTA.
Yes, it is strongly advised. Soil on boots, tents and bikes is a biosecurity risk, and you must declare used outdoor equipment when you arrive.
Contact us as soon as possible. If an error is found after approval, you may need a new NZeTA, so check your passport details carefully before submitting.