Who qualifies from Qatar
Qatar is on New Zealand's list of visa-waiver countries. If you hold a Qatari passport, you can visit New Zealand for up to 90 days at a time without applying for a visa. Since 1 October 2019, you need an approved NZeTA before you travel. It is an electronic authority linked to your passport and checked by your airline at check-in.
Most people living in Qatar are not Qatari citizens, and this causes a lot of confusion. Visa-waiver status depends only on the passport you hold:
- Qatari citizens apply for an NZeTA and visit visa-free
- Residents from other visa-waiver countries, for example the United Kingdom or Malaysia, also use an NZeTA, under their own country's rules
- Residents from transit visa-waiver countries, such as the Philippines, can only use an NZeTA to transit at Auckland
- Residents from other countries, for example India, Pakistan or Egypt, need a visitor visa, which is a separate application
A Qatari residence permit doesn't change any of this. If you're not sure which group your passport falls into, see our eligibility guide.
Applying for a family group
Qatari families often travel together, sometimes across several generations. Our form is built for this: you can add up to 10 travellers to one application and pay once. Each person still gets their own NZeTA, because every approval is tied to an individual passport.
Children and babies
Every child needs their own passport and their own NZeTA, whatever their age.
Photos
Upload a clear photo for each person. Religious head coverings are fine if the face is fully visible.
Names
Copy each name in Latin letters exactly as in the passport, including "Al" and any hyphens.
Passports
Check every passport is valid for at least 3 months after you leave New Zealand.
Start a family NZeTA application
Travelling with household staff
Your staff follow their own passport's rules. A driver, nanny or housekeeper travelling with your family is assessed on their own nationality, not yours.
Many domestic workers in Qatar hold passports from countries that are not on New Zealand's visa-waiver list. They may need a visitor visa, which is a separate application to the New Zealand immigration authorities and takes considerably longer than an NZeTA. Check their requirements early, ideally before you book flights, so the whole group can travel together. Staff with a Philippine passport, for example, can't enter New Zealand on an NZeTA; see our Philippines page.
Flying from Doha
Hamad International Airport is one of the world's major hubs for flights to New Zealand. Qatar Airways has operated nonstop flights between Doha and Auckland, one of the longest scheduled routes in the world, and other itineraries connect through Asia or Australia. Your NZeTA is checked when you check in at Doha, so it must be approved before you go to the airport.
New Zealand is 9 to 10 hours ahead of Qatar, depending on New Zealand daylight saving. The seasons are a draw for many Qatari visitors: in June, July and August, when Doha is at its hottest, New Zealand has cool winter weather and snow on the mountains around Queenstown. December to February is New Zealand's summer.
Business travellers can attend meetings, conferences and negotiations on an NZeTA. Read our business visitor guide for what's allowed.
Application steps and timing
Choose a processing speed
Normal (48–72 hours), Emergency (24–48 hours) or Rush (12–24 hours). See the fees page for prices.
Enter passport details
Fill in the details for each traveller. Use the Latin spelling from the passport.
Answer the declarations
Questions cover health, criminal history and previous travel.
Upload photos and pay
Pay by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. The fee includes the IVL tourism levy.
Allow up to 72 hours. Decisions arrive by email, and you can check your application status at any time.
At the New Zealand border
An approved NZeTA lets you board. A border officer makes the final decision on entry, so carry:
| Passport | The same Qatari passport you used for your NZeTA |
|---|---|
| Tickets | A return or onward ticket |
| Funds | Evidence you can pay for your stay, such as a bank or credit card |
| Accommodation | Hotel bookings or the address where you are staying |
| Declaration | Your completed New Zealand Traveller Declaration |
Declare food and plant products. This includes dates, Arabic sweets, nuts, spices, honey and oud or other wood products. New Zealand biosecurity is strict, and undeclared items can lead to an instant fine.
The NZeTA doesn't allow work. If you want to work or study long-term, you need a visa. Ready to go? Apply for your NZeTA from Qatar today.
Qatar NZeTA FAQs
No. Qatar is a visa-waiver country, so Qatari passport holders can visit for up to 90 days without a visa. An approved NZeTA is required before you board.
Only if your passport is from a visa-waiver or transit visa-waiver country. A Qatari residence permit does not give visa-waiver status; your nationality decides which rules apply.
Yes. You can add up to 10 travellers to a single application. Each person, including infants, still receives their own NZeTA linked to their own passport.
It depends on her passport, not yours. Many household staff hold passports from countries that need a visitor visa for New Zealand, so check her nationality before you book.
Up to 2 years, or until the passport expires if sooner. You can use it for several visits of up to 90 days each.
Declare all food when you arrive. Packaged items are often allowed after inspection, but undeclared food can lead to an instant fine.