Who qualifies for an NZeTA from Estonia
Estonia is on New Zealand's list of visa-waiver countries. If you are an Estonian citizen travelling on an Estonian passport, you can visit New Zealand for tourism, family visits or business for up to 90 days without a visa. Since 1 October 2019, you have needed an approved NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before you board.
Estonia has residents with several different statuses, so it is worth being precise about who the waiver covers:
| Your status | Can you use the Estonian visa waiver? |
|---|---|
| Estonian citizen with an Estonian passport | Yes, apply for an NZeTA |
| Holder of an Estonian alien's passport (grey passport) | No, check visa requirements separately |
| Resident of Estonia with another country's passport | Depends on that country's status |
| Estonian e-resident | No, e-Residency is not citizenship |
If you hold dual citizenship, for example Estonian and Finnish, apply with the passport you will travel on and use that same passport throughout the journey.
Passport, ID-card and e-Residency
Estonians use their digital ID-card for almost everything, from banking to voting. For New Zealand, though, it is not enough. Airlines will only board you with a valid Estonian passport, and your NZeTA is linked to that passport number.
e-Residency is not a travel document. The e-resident digital ID is for running a business online. It does not give the right to travel on the Estonian visa waiver.
Check that your passport stays valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand. When copying your name into the form, use the version shown in the machine-readable zone at the bottom of the photo page, where letters such as õ, ä, ö, ü, š and ž are converted to plain Latin letters.
What you can and cannot do on an NZeTA
Allowed
- Holidays and sightseeing
- Visiting friends and family
- Business meetings, conferences and trade shows
- Study for up to 3 months
- Transit through Auckland
Not allowed
- Paid work or working for a New Zealand company
- Stays longer than 90 days per visit
- Study longer than 3 months
- Medical treatment as the purpose of the trip
Estonia's tech sector has strong links with startups worldwide, and many Estonian visitors combine a conference in Auckland or Wellington with a holiday. Read more about business visits on an NZeTA. Young Estonians who want to work while travelling may be eligible for the Estonia Working Holiday Visa, a separate visa with its own application.
Travelling from Tallinn
Tallinn has no long-haul flights to the Pacific, so the trip to New Zealand starts with a short hop. Popular options include flying via Helsinki and then on to Asia, or via Riga, Warsaw, Frankfurt or Istanbul and then through the Middle East. The full journey usually takes well over a day.
New Zealand's seasons are opposite to Estonia's. If you want to escape the dark Estonian winter, December to February brings long summer days in New Zealand. Ski fans may prefer July and August, when the Southern Alps have snow.
New Zealand is 9 to 11 hours ahead of Estonia, depending on daylight saving in each country. Your airline may check your NZeTA when you first check in at Tallinn, even if the long-haul flight to New Zealand leaves from another airport, so make sure it is approved before you set off. If you are travelling as a family, remember that every traveller needs their own NZeTA, including children and babies with their own Estonian passports.
Application steps and processing times
Contact details
Your email, "Visit Visa" and a processing option.
Passport
Details exactly as in your Estonian passport.
Declarations
Health and character questions.
Photo and payment
Upload a face photo, pay by card.
Processing options: Normal 48–72 hours, Emergency 24–48 hours, Rush 12–24 hours. The fee includes the IVL tourism levy. See our fees page for prices. Up to 10 travellers can be added to one application.
Apply for an NZeTA from Estonia
On arrival in New Zealand
Your NZeTA lets you board. At the border, an officer makes the final decision, so keep these to hand:
- The passport you used to apply
- Return or onward ticket
- Evidence of funds for your stay
- Accommodation details
- Your New Zealand Traveller Declaration
Declare food from home. Rye bread with seeds, smoked meats, cheese, honey and berries must be declared. Biosecurity officers will check them, and undeclared items can result in a fine.
Planning ahead? Complete your New Zealand eTA application online in about 10 minutes.
Estonian travellers' FAQs
No visa is needed for visits of up to 90 days. Estonia is a visa-waiver country, and Estonian citizens must hold an approved NZeTA before they travel.
No. The visa waiver applies to Estonian citizens travelling on an Estonian passport. Holders of an alien's passport (the grey passport) should check New Zealand's visa requirements separately before planning a trip.
No. e-Residency is a digital identity for business and is not citizenship or a travel document. Your NZeTA eligibility depends on the passport you hold.
No. The ID-card works for travel within the EU, but New Zealand only accepts passports.
Young Estonian citizens may be eligible for the Estonia Working Holiday Visa. It is a separate visa, not an NZeTA, and has its own conditions.
Allow up to 72 hours. If your trip is urgent, Rush processing usually takes 12–24 hours.