At a glance: the NZeTA for Singaporeans
Singapore is on New Zealand's list of visa-waiver countries. As a Singapore citizen, you can holiday, visit family or go on a business trip for up to 90 days without applying for a visa. What you do need is an NZeTA, an electronic travel authority that New Zealand introduced in October 2019.
The NZeTA is linked to your Singapore passport and can be used for up to two years, or until the passport expires. Because many Singaporeans visit New Zealand more than once, this is useful: one approval can cover a December family trip and a ski holiday the following July.
We are an independent online service that helps you complete and submit the NZeTA application. Approvals are decided by the New Zealand immigration authorities.
Getting your name right
Singapore passports reflect many naming traditions, and the NZeTA must match your passport exactly. Use the two machine-readable lines at the bottom of the photo page as your guide.
| Name style | How to enter it |
|---|---|
| Chinese names | Put the surname (for example TAN or LIM) in the family name field and the rest in given names. If your passport includes an English name, include it as printed. |
| Malay names | Include bin or binte and your father's name if the passport shows them. |
| Indian names | Include s/o or d/o and the parent's name only if they appear in the passport. |
| Single names | If your passport shows only one name, follow the format it uses in the machine-readable zone. |
Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you leave New Zealand. If you renew it, apply for a new NZeTA linked to the new passport.
Singapore PRs and pass holders
Singapore is home to many permanent residents and foreign professionals on Employment Passes or S Passes. Living in Singapore does not make you eligible for an NZeTA. New Zealand looks only at your nationality.
- A Malaysian citizen with Singapore PR can apply for an NZeTA with a Malaysian passport, as Malaysia is a visa-waiver country
- A British, Japanese or Korean professional can apply with their own passport
- Nationals of countries outside the waiver list need a New Zealand visa, even if they live in Singapore
Our NZeTA information page explains the eligibility groups.
From Changi to New Zealand
Singapore has some of the most convenient links to New Zealand of any country. There are direct flights from Changi to Auckland and Christchurch, usually overnight, taking around 10 to 11 hours. Many travellers from Europe and South Asia also connect through Singapore on their way to New Zealand.
New Zealand is 4 to 5 hours ahead of Singapore. Seasons are reversed from what you might expect north of the equator: New Zealand summer runs from December to February, and the ski fields open in winter, roughly June to October.
Cruising? Some long cruises sail from Singapore to Australia and New Zealand. Every cruise passenger needs an NZeTA before departure, even if you never fly into New Zealand. See our cruise passenger guide.
Apply online in minutes
The NZeTA application is in English and takes about ten minutes per traveller.
Start with your email
Add your contact details, pick a processing speed and tell us the purpose of your trip.
Enter each passport
Add everyone travelling with you, up to 10 people in one application. Children need their own NZeTA.
Answer the declarations
A short set of health and character questions.
Upload a selfie-style photo
Face straight to the camera against a plain, light background.
Pay by card
The fee includes the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL).
Apply for an NZeTA from Singapore
Processing options are Normal (48–72 hours), Emergency (24–48 hours) and Rush (12–24 hours). Check prices on the fees page. Allow up to 72 hours if your flight is not urgent.
Popular trip types from Singapore
Self-drive holidays
Campervan and road trips around the South Island are popular. New Zealand drives on the left, like Singapore. Check the rules for using your driving licence before you go.
Ski and snow trips
The June school holidays coincide with the start of the ski season in Queenstown, Wanaka and Mt Ruapehu.
Business and conferences
Meetings, negotiations and events are allowed. Read our business visitor guide.
Short courses
You can study for up to 3 months on an NZeTA. Longer courses need a student visa.
Young Singaporeans who want to work while travelling may be eligible for a working holiday visa. That is a separate application; an NZeTA never allows work.
Arrival checks and biosecurity
A border officer decides whether you can enter. Bring your return ticket, accommodation details and evidence of funds, and fill in the New Zealand Traveller Declaration before you land.
- Bak kwa, sausages and other meat products, including meat in instant noodle flavourings
- Fresh fruit such as durian, mangosteen and lychees
- Undeclared mooncakes, dried herbs, Chinese medicines and seeds
All of these must be declared and many will be refused. Declaring an item is never penalised, but failing to declare it can mean an instant fine.
Everything in order? Apply for your New Zealand eTA from Singapore well before your flight from Changi.
Singapore NZeTA questions
No. Singapore citizens can visit New Zealand for up to 90 days without a visa, but they must hold an approved NZeTA before boarding their flight or cruise.
Singapore PR status does not count. You need to check the rules for the country that issued your passport. If that country is not on the visa-waiver list, you need a visa.
Copy your name exactly from the machine-readable lines of your passport, including any of these words if they appear there. Don't add or remove parts of your name.
No. An NZeTA does not allow work. Young Singaporeans may be eligible for a working holiday visa, which is a separate application with its own conditions.
Yes. Cruise passengers need an NZeTA whatever their nationality, unless they hold a New Zealand visa or are exempt, for example as Australian citizens.
Meat products such as bak kwa are usually refused. Mooncakes with egg yolk, and many other foods, must be declared and may be taken away. If in doubt, leave it out or declare it.