Norway and the NZeTA
Norwegian citizens have been able to visit New Zealand without a visa for many years. Since 1 October 2019, that visa-free access comes with one condition: you must hold an NZeTA, an electronic travel authority linked to your passport. It applies to anyone flying into New Zealand on a Norwegian passport and to every passenger arriving on a cruise ship.
Norway is not in the European Union, but it is part of the Schengen area and the EEA. None of that changes the New Zealand rules. What matters is the passport you hold. A Norwegian passport gives you visa-waiver status, and the NZeTA is the step that activates it before your trip.
With an approved NZeTA you can:
Travel and explore
Tramping, skiing, sailing or touring for up to 90 days per visit.
See family and friends
Visit relatives or friends who live in New Zealand.
Business visits
Meetings, conferences and site visits, for example in aquaculture, energy or shipping, without working for a New Zealand employer.
Cruise or transit
Join a cruise, or change planes at Auckland on the way to another country.
You can also take a course of study that lasts no more than 3 months. You can't work, and you can't use the NZeTA to travel for medical treatment.
Before you start
Gather the following before you open the form. It makes the application much quicker.
- A Norwegian passport valid for at least 3 months beyond the day you plan to leave New Zealand. If it expires sooner, renew it first, because a new passport needs a new NZeTA.
- A recent photo of your face, taken in good light against a plain background. A phone photo is fine.
- An email address you can access while travelling.
- A Visa, Mastercard or American Express card for payment.
- The passport details of anyone else in your group, if you want to apply for them at the same time.
National ID card: the Norwegian national ID card is a valid travel document inside Europe, but it can't be used for New Zealand. Bring your passport.
Ø, Æ and Å in your name
Many Norwegian names contain letters that are not part of the basic Latin alphabet. Online forms and airline systems usually only accept A to Z, so you need to know how your passport writes your name in Latin letters.
| Letter in your name | Usual spelling in the passport's machine-readable zone |
|---|---|
| Ø (e.g. Sørensen) | OE (SOERENSEN) |
| Æ (e.g. Mæland) | AE (MAELAND) |
| Å (e.g. Åsheim) | AA (AASHEIM) |
Always check your own passport rather than relying on this table. The two lines of characters at the bottom of the photo page show the exact spelling used for travel. Use the same spelling in your flight booking and your NZeTA application so that the airline's check matches.
Apply online
Open the application
Choose your processing speed and enter a contact email address.
Enter the traveller details
Add each traveller's passport information. You can include up to 10 people in one application.
Answer the questions
Short questions about health, criminal convictions and your travel plans. Answer each one honestly.
Add photos and pay
Upload one photo per traveller and pay by card. We check the details before your application is submitted.
Your fee includes the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), which Norwegian visitors pay. It supports tourism infrastructure and conservation in New Zealand.
Apply for your NZeTA from Norway
Processing speeds
Allow up to 72 hours for a decision, and apply as soon as your travel dates are settled. Choose the speed that suits your departure date:
- Normal
- 48–72 hours
- Emergency
- 24–48 hours
- Rush
- 12–24 hours
- Prices
- See NZeTA fees
You can check progress any time with our application status tool. Approval arrives by email.
Outdoor gear and biosecurity
Many Norwegians come to New Zealand for the outdoors: the Great Walks, alpine routes, fishing and ski fields. New Zealand protects its farms and native forests with some of the strictest biosecurity rules in the world, so outdoor equipment gets extra attention at the airport.
- Clean hiking boots, tent pegs, bikes and fishing gear before you pack them, so there is no soil, seeds or plant material left
- Declare used outdoor equipment on your New Zealand Traveller Declaration
- Declare food such as brunost, dried fish, cured meats and reindeer products. Some items may be allowed after inspection, others are not
- If you're unsure about an item, declare it. Declared items do not lead to a fine
Failing to declare a risk item can lead to an instant fine. Border officers can also refuse entry to anyone who does not meet the entry requirements, even with an approved NZeTA.
Getting there
There are no direct flights from Norway. Most travellers fly from Oslo, Bergen or Stavanger to a European or Middle Eastern hub, then on through the Gulf or Asia to Auckland or Christchurch. The journey usually takes more than 24 hours. Remember that Norway's winter is New Zealand's summer, which makes New Zealand a popular escape from the dark months between November and March. New Zealand is between 10 and 12 hours ahead of Norway, depending on daylight saving.
On arrival, show your passport, your onward or return ticket, proof of funds and accommodation details if asked, and your completed traveller declaration.
Beyond a 90-day visit
If your plans go beyond a holiday, the NZeTA is not the right document. Paid work, long courses and stays over 90 days all need a visa. Norwegian citizens aged 18 to 30 may be eligible for a working holiday visa, which is applied for separately and replaces the need for an NZeTA.
Only planning a holiday? Complete your NZeTA application for Norway once your flights are booked. For general guidance, read our NZeTA requirements overview. If you are joining a ship, our cruise passenger guide explains how the NZeTA works at sea.
Norwegian travellers' FAQs
No. Norway is a visa-waiver country, so Norwegian citizens can visit for up to 90 days without a visa. You must, however, have an approved NZeTA before you travel by air or cruise ship.
No. The nasjonalt ID-kort is accepted for travel within Europe but not for New Zealand. You need a valid Norwegian passport, and the NZeTA is linked to that passport number.
Use the spelling shown in the machine-readable zone at the bottom of your passport photo page, where Ø, Æ and Å are converted to Latin letters. That is the version airlines and border systems read.
Yes, it is strongly recommended. Used outdoor equipment such as boots, tents and fishing gear must be declared and can be inspected, and items with soil or plant material may be cleaned or held at the border.
Yes. It stays valid for up to 2 years, or until your passport expires, and covers multiple visits of up to 90 days each.
Norwegian citizens aged 18 to 30 may be eligible for a working holiday visa for New Zealand. It is a separate visa with its own application, and you don't need an NZeTA if you travel on it.