Emirati citizens or UAE residents?
The United Arab Emirates is one of New Zealand's visa-waiver countries. This applies to citizens of the UAE who travel on an Emirati passport. Since 1 October 2019, those travellers have needed an approved NZeTA instead of a visa for short visits.
A large share of people living in the UAE are not Emirati citizens, so this is the first thing to check. Your residence visa or Emirates ID doesn't change which New Zealand rules apply to you. What matters is the passport you travel on.
Emirati passport holder
You can apply for an NZeTA and visit New Zealand for up to 90 days without a visa.
UAE resident with another passport
Check the rules for your country of citizenship. British, Irish, French or Canadian expats, for example, can use an NZeTA. Many other nationalities need a visa.
Not sure? Browse our NZeTA eligibility information, or see the UK and United States pages if you hold one of those passports.
What the NZeTA allows
The New Zealand eTA is a travel authority for short visits. With it, Emirati citizens can:
- Holiday in New Zealand, from Auckland's harbour to the fiords of the South Island
- Visit children who are studying at a New Zealand university or school
- Attend business meetings, trade shows and conferences
- Take a short course that lasts up to 3 months
- Transit through Auckland International Airport
It doesn't let you work, study long-term or stay for more than 90 days per visit. Business visitors can negotiate and attend meetings, but not carry out paid work for a New Zealand organisation. For more on this, see our business travel page.
Entering Arabic names correctly
Emirati names can be long, with several parts that link a person to their father, grandfather and family or tribe. The NZeTA must match your passport exactly, so these tips help to avoid problems at check-in:
Use the English spelling in your passport
The same Arabic name can be romanised in many ways, such as Mohammed, Mohamed or Muhammad. Use the spelling on your passport, not on another document.
Keep every part of the name
Include parts such as bin, bint, Al or Al-, in the same order and with the same spacing or hyphen.
Check the family name field
Put the surname shown in your passport in the family name field, and the remaining names in the given names field.
Apply online in four steps
Our English-language form usually takes about 10 minutes. You can include your whole family, up to 10 travellers, and pay once.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Start | Enter your email, choose "Visit" and pick a processing speed. |
| 2. Passports | Add each traveller's details from their UAE passport. The passport must be valid for 3 months after you leave New Zealand. |
| 3. Photos | Upload a clear photo of each person's face. Women who wear a headscarf for religious reasons can keep it on, as long as the face is fully visible. |
| 4. Pay | Answer the health and character questions, review the details and pay by card. |
Apply for an NZeTA from the UAE
Allow up to 72 hours. We offer Normal (48–72 hours), Emergency (24–48 hours) and Rush (12–24 hours) processing. The fee includes the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). See the fees page for prices.
Flying from Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Emirates operates a non-stop service between Dubai and Auckland, one of the longest flights in the world at around 16 to 17 hours. Travellers from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates often join that flight or connect through Australian or Asian hubs such as Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. If you connect in Australia, you need permission to transit there as well.
New Zealand is 8 to 9 hours ahead of the UAE, depending on New Zealand daylight saving. Many Emirati families travel during the UAE summer, which is winter in New Zealand. June to August is perfect for skiing in Queenstown or Wanaka, while December to February offers warm days for road trips and lakes. Halal food is easy to find in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, but harder in small towns, so plan ahead.
Landing in New Zealand
A border officer makes the final decision on entry. Keep these to hand:
- The Emirati passport linked to your NZeTA
- A return or onward ticket
- Hotel or rental bookings
- Evidence of funds, such as a credit card
- Your completed New Zealand Traveller Declaration
Biosecurity checks are strict. Declare dates, nuts, spices, honey, saffron, coffee beans, dried fruit and any meat. Oud wood and plant materials should also be declared. If you are not sure, declare it.
Ready? Start your New Zealand eTA application today and keep your approval email with your travel documents.
Questions from the UAE
No. Citizens of the United Arab Emirates can visit New Zealand for up to 90 days without a visa. You must have an approved NZeTA before you travel.
Your nationality decides the rules, not your UAE residence visa. Indian citizens are not on the visa-waiver list, so you would need a visitor visa, even if you live in the UAE.
Copy the English spelling exactly as printed in your passport's machine-readable zone, including any parts such as bin, bint or Al. Don't add or remove names.
You must declare all food on your New Zealand Traveller Declaration. Some packaged items may be allowed after inspection, but undeclared food can result in a fine.
Only if they are a citizen of a visa-waiver country. A helper's eligibility depends on their own passport, and people who come to work in New Zealand need a work visa.
Yes. It is valid for up to 2 years, or until your passport expires, and allows multiple visits of up to 90 days each.