Three things to do before you fly
1. Check your passport
It must be valid for at least 3 months after you leave New Zealand.
2. Get an NZeTA
Apply online at least 72 hours before departure.
3. Make your declaration
Complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration before you arrive.
Japan is a visa-waiver country for New Zealand. Since 1 October 2019, every Japanese visitor arriving by air or on a cruise ship must hold an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority). It is checked at check-in at Narita, Haneda, Kansai or any other airport where you begin your journey.
Eligibility and length of stay
You can apply for an NZeTA if you hold a Japanese passport and are travelling for:
- Sightseeing, skiing, hiking or a honeymoon
- Visiting family or friends
- Business meetings, conferences, inspections or trade events
- A language course, school trip or homestay of up to 3 months
- Transit through Auckland International Airport
Each visit can last up to 90 days. The NZeTA itself is valid for up to two years, or until your passport expires. If you get a new passport, for example when switching from a 5-year to a 10-year passport, you need a new NZeTA.
If you are a foreign resident of Japan with a different nationality, the rules depend on your own passport, not your Japanese residence card. Check the page for your country of citizenship.
Your name in romaji
Japanese passports show your name in capital Latin letters (romaji), usually in Hepburn romanisation. Kanji and kana are not used on the NZeTA form. Copy the passport spelling exactly, because airline and border systems compare them character by character.
| Situation | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Long vowels | Use the passport form: ONO, OHNO or OONO are all possible, so check yours |
| Name order | Surname in family name field, given name in given names field |
| Maiden name in brackets | Enter only the surname shown in the machine-readable lines |
| Children | Each child's name exactly as in their own passport |
Business travellers from Japanese companies often visit New Zealand for meetings, inspections and trade events in sectors such as food, forestry and tourism. These trips are allowed on an NZeTA, provided you are not paid by a New Zealand organisation and don't do hands-on work. See our business travel guide for more detail.
Students and young travellers
New Zealand is popular with Japanese students for English study, school exchange programmes and homestays. With an NZeTA, students can take a course that lasts up to 3 months in total. For longer study, a student visa is required. See our NZeTA requirements for more on what's allowed.
Japanese citizens aged 18 to 30 may be eligible for New Zealand's Japan Working Holiday Visa, which lets you work while you travel. It is a separate visa. An NZeTA doesn't allow any work, including unpaid work in exchange for accommodation.
Travelling as a group? Families and school groups can add up to 10 travellers in one application. Every person, including young children, still receives their own NZeTA.
How to apply from Japan
Start the application
Open the NZeTA application form and enter your contact details.
Choose processing
Normal takes 48–72 hours, Emergency 24–48 hours and Rush 12–24 hours.
Add passport details and answers
Copy passport details in romaji and answer the health and character questions.
Upload a photo and pay
A smartphone photo against a white wall is fine. Pay by card; the IVL tourism levy is included. Prices are on the fees page.
Most applications are decided well within 72 hours, but some take longer if extra checks are needed. If you are travelling at a busy time, such as New Year or Golden Week, apply as soon as you book. If you have dual nationality, which can apply to some children born overseas, apply with the passport you will actually travel on.
Japanese holidays and New Zealand seasons
Because New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, its seasons are the opposite of Japan's. That makes it a great escape at times when Japan is busy, hot or cold.
| Japanese holiday | Season in New Zealand | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| New Year (Shōgatsu) | Summer | Beaches, hiking, lakes |
| Spring break, March | Early autumn | Wine regions, road trips |
| Golden Week, late April–May | Autumn | Autumn colours in Central Otago |
| Obon, August | Winter | Skiing in Queenstown and Wānaka |
Air New Zealand flies non-stop between Tokyo and Auckland, with a flight time of around 11 hours. Other routes connect via Australia, Singapore or other Asian hubs. With only a small time difference, jet lag is mild.
Cruise passengers also need an NZeTA. Some Japanese travellers visit New Zealand on a South Pacific cruise from Australia, stopping at ports such as Bay of Islands, Auckland and Akaroa. Apply before you board.
At Auckland Airport
A border officer checks your passport and makes the final decision about entry. Be ready to show a return or onward ticket, proof that you can pay for your stay, and where you are staying. Make sure you've completed the New Zealand Traveller Declaration.
Declare Japanese food items. Rice, umeboshi, dried fish and squid, instant noodles with meat flavouring, miso, green tea and fresh fruit must all be declared. If you're not sure, declare it. Undeclared items can lead to an instant fine.
Questions and answers for Japanese travellers
No. Japan is a visa-waiver country. Japanese passport holders can stay up to 90 days per visit with an approved NZeTA.
The application is in English, but all details are copied from your passport, which is already printed in English letters. Enter your name exactly as it appears in romaji in your passport.
Enter exactly what your passport shows, for example OHNO rather than ONO. The NZeTA must match the passport, not the usual romanisation.
Yes. Short study of up to 3 months is allowed with an NZeTA. Each student needs their own NZeTA, and schools often apply for a group together.
No. Work is not allowed. Japanese citizens aged 18 to 30 may be eligible for the Japan Working Holiday Visa, which is a separate application.
You must declare them. Some packaged foods are allowed after inspection, but products containing meat, eggs or fresh plant material may be taken away.