Visa-free, with an NZeTA
Poland is one of the European countries whose citizens can visit New Zealand without a visa. Since 1 October 2019, that visa-free access depends on an NZeTA, a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority that you apply for online before you travel.
Think of the NZeTA as a pre-check rather than a visa. You answer a few questions, upload a photo and pay, and the approval is attached electronically to your passport. Airlines check it at check-in, so you can't board a flight to New Zealand without it. Cruise passengers need one too.
With an approved NZeTA, Polish citizens can stay up to 90 days per visit for:
- Holidays, road trips and hiking
- Visiting family and friends
- Business meetings, conferences and trade events
- Short study, up to 3 months
- Transit through Auckland Airport
Your NZeTA remains valid for up to 2 years, so a second trip within that time needs no new application, unless you get a new passport.
Why your dowód osobisty stays at home
Many Poles travel around Europe using only their identity card. That doesn't work for New Zealand. You must travel on a Polish passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave New Zealand.
Check your passport before you apply. If it expires soon, renew it first. An NZeTA can't be moved to a new passport, so a renewal later means paying for a new NZeTA.
If you hold dual citizenship, for example Polish and British, choose one passport and use it consistently for your NZeTA, your flight booking and your arrival in New Zealand.
Polish letters and your name
The NZeTA form accepts standard Latin letters only. Polish diacritics are therefore dropped, as they are in the machine-readable zone of your passport:
- Ą → A
- Ć → C
- Ę → E
- Ł → L
- Ń → N
- Ó → O
- Ś → S
- Ź, Ż → Z
So "Łukasz Wójcik" becomes LUKASZ WOJCIK. Always double-check against the bottom two lines of your own passport photo page, which is exactly what airline systems read. Double-barrelled surnames, such as those taken after marriage, should be entered with the hyphen as shown.
Completing the application
The form is in English and takes around 10 minutes per person. Have your passport, a recent photo and a payment card ready.
Choose your speed
Normal (48–72 hours), Emergency (24–48 hours) or Rush (12–24 hours). Prices are on the fees page.
Enter traveller details
Add each person's passport information. Up to 10 travellers can be included in one application, and each receives their own NZeTA.
Answer the questions
Questions cover health, criminal convictions and immigration history. Answer every one accurately.
Upload photos and pay
Pay by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. The fee includes the IVL tourism levy, which Polish visitors pay.
Apply for an NZeTA from Poland
We check each application for errors before it is submitted. You can follow its progress using our status page.
From Warsaw or Kraków to Auckland
There are no direct flights from Poland to New Zealand. From Warsaw Chopin, Kraków or Gdańsk you will usually fly via a Middle Eastern hub such as Dubai or Doha, or via an Asian hub such as Singapore, before the long flight to Auckland or Christchurch. Allow well over a day door to door.
Polish winter = NZ summer
December to February is warm, with long days, in New Zealand. It is peak season, so book flights and campervans early.
Polish summer = NZ winter
June to August brings ski season in the Southern Alps and quieter roads elsewhere. Pack warm layers.
New Zealand is 10 to 12 hours ahead of Poland, depending on daylight saving. At the border, have your passport, onward or return ticket, accommodation details and evidence of funds ready, and complete your New Zealand Traveller Declaration before you land. A border officer makes the final decision on entry.
Packing Polish food
New Zealand has strict biosecurity rules to protect its farming and native species. Food from home is the most common reason travellers are stopped at the airport.
- Kiełbasa, kabanosy, smoked ham and other meat products, which are often refused entry
- Homemade pierogi with meat fillings
- Fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds and mushrooms
- Declare all food, including sweets and honey, on your Traveller Declaration
- Commercially packed items are more likely to be allowed after inspection
- Declaring is free; failing to declare can mean an instant fine
Work, study and working holidays
You can't work in New Zealand on an NZeTA, and study is limited to 3 months. Polish citizens aged 18 to 30 may be eligible for a working holiday visa for New Zealand, which allows a longer stay with work. It is a separate application with its own conditions and is not handled through our NZeTA service.
For general eligibility rules, see the NZeTA requirements page. If you are travelling for meetings, our business travel guide explains what is allowed. When you are ready, apply for your Polish NZeTA online.
Polish travellers ask
No. Poland is a visa-waiver country, so you can visit for up to 90 days without a visa. You do need an approved NZeTA before your flight or cruise.
No. The dowód osobisty is valid for travel within the EU and Schengen area but not for New Zealand. You need a valid Polish passport.
Use plain Latin letters, following the machine-readable zone at the bottom of your passport photo page. For example, Ł is written as L and Ż as Z.
Meat products are among the most restricted items. Declare all food when you arrive; undeclared risk items can lead to an instant fine, and meat may be seized.
Polish citizens aged 18 to 30 may be eligible for a working holiday visa. It is a separate application, and you don't need an NZeTA if you travel on that visa.
Allow up to 72 hours. Faster Emergency (24–48 hours) and Rush (12–24 hours) options are available if you are travelling soon.