Which Hong Kong passports qualify?
Hong Kong is a special case because residents may hold more than one type of travel document. New Zealand's visa-waiver rules depend on the passport you travel on, so start by checking yours against the table below.
| Travel document | NZeTA? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HKSAR passport | Yes | Visit for up to 90 days with an approved NZeTA. |
| British National (Overseas) passport | Yes | Up to 90 days per visit. The 6-month stay for British citizens does not apply to BN(O) holders. |
| Macau SAR passport | Yes | Macau is also a visa-waiver territory. |
| Document of Identity (DI) for Visa Purposes | No | This is not a passport, so you would need a visa. |
| Passport of another country | Depends | Follow the rules for that nationality, not your Hong Kong residence. |
Hong Kong permanent residents who hold a Chinese mainland passport rather than an HKSAR passport are not covered by Hong Kong's visa waiver. If that applies to you, read about the New Zealand visitor visa.
Do Hong Kong travellers need an NZeTA?
Yes. Since October 2019, visa-waiver travellers must get an NZeTA before they fly or sail to New Zealand. It is a digital authorisation linked to your passport, not a sticker or a stamp. Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand and other carriers check it at check-in at Hong Kong International Airport.
One NZeTA covers multiple trips for up to two years, or until your passport expires if that is sooner. For HKSAR passports, which are usually valid for ten years for adults, that typically means the full two years.
The NZeTA is not a substitute for a visa if you are planning something other than a short visit. If you intend to work, study for more than 3 months or stay longer than 90 days, apply for the right visa before you travel. Elderly parents visiting children who have settled in New Zealand can use an NZeTA for each visit, but border officers may ask about the length and purpose of repeated long stays.
Applying is the same whether you live in Hong Kong or are travelling from elsewhere, for example from mainland China, Taiwan or the UK. What matters is the passport you hold and use for the journey.
Entering Chinese and English names correctly
Name errors are the most common reason Hong Kong applications need fixing. Your NZeTA must match your passport exactly, so follow these rules:
- Use the English (romanised) spelling printed in your passport, such as CHAN for surname and TAI MAN for given names.
- Put your surname in the family name field, even though Chinese order places it first.
- Only add an English name such as PETER if it appears in the machine-readable lines at the bottom of the photo page.
- Do not enter Chinese characters, Chinese commercial codes or nicknames.
Tip: before you submit, compare your application with the two lines of letters and chevrons (<<<) at the bottom of your passport. If the names match those lines, you've entered them correctly.
Trips an NZeTA covers
Holidays
Self-drive tours, Queenstown ski trips in July and August, or Christmas in the New Zealand summer.
Family visits
Visit children studying in New Zealand or relatives in Auckland's large Hong Kong community.
Business
Meetings, trade fairs and negotiations. You can't be paid by a New Zealand business or work there.
Short study
An English course or school holiday programme of up to 3 months.
An NZeTA can't be used to work. Hong Kong residents aged 18 to 30 may be eligible for New Zealand's Hong Kong Working Holiday Scheme, which is a separate visa with its own application.
Apply for your NZeTA in four steps
Start the form
Open our NZeTA application form, add your email and choose Normal, Emergency or Rush processing.
Add travellers
Add up to 10 people, for example a whole family, with each person's passport details.
Upload photos
A phone photo against a plain wall works well. No glasses, hats or filters.
Pay by card
Pay securely. The fee includes the IVL tourism levy. See NZeTA fees for current prices.
Allow up to 72 hours. Typical processing is 48–72 hours for Normal, 24–48 hours for Emergency and 12–24 hours for Rush.
Flying from Hong Kong to New Zealand
Hong Kong is one of the few places in Asia with non-stop flights to Auckland, taking around 11 hours. Many travellers also connect onwards to Christchurch, Wellington or Queenstown. New Zealand is usually 4 or 5 hours ahead of Hong Kong, depending on New Zealand daylight saving.
If you are only changing planes in Auckland on the way to South America or another country, read our transit guide. Visa-waiver passport holders can usually use the same NZeTA for transit.
Flights between Hong Kong and New Zealand are popular around Christmas, Chinese New Year and the Easter holidays, so book early and apply for your NZeTA as soon as your dates are fixed. If you are joining a cruise that visits New Zealand ports, you also need an NZeTA; see our cruise ship guide.
Food, medicine and customs on arrival
At the border, show your passport, your return or onward ticket and proof of funds, and complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration before you land. The border officer makes the final decision on entry.
Declare these common items from Hong Kong: mooncakes, dried meats such as lap cheong, dried seafood, bird's nest, herbal medicines, tea, rice and fresh fruit. Food that isn't declared can result in an instant fine, even if it would have been allowed.
FAQs for Hong Kong travellers
Yes. Hong Kong residents travelling on a British National (Overseas) passport can apply for an NZeTA. BN(O) holders follow the normal 90-day visitor rule, not the longer stay that applies to British citizens.
Either can be used, but choose one and use it for everything: the NZeTA application, airline check-in and the New Zealand border. Your NZeTA only works with the passport you applied with.
Macau SAR passport holders are also on New Zealand's visa-waiver list and need an NZeTA for short visits. Check the rules for your passport before you book.
Only if it is printed as part of your name in the passport's machine-readable lines. If your English name only appears in the observations section, enter your name the way the machine-readable zone shows it.
No. Working holidays need a separate visa. Hong Kong residents aged 18 to 30 may be eligible for a working holiday visa, but the NZeTA itself does not allow you to work.
You must declare them. Some items are allowed after inspection, while others, such as products containing egg yolk or meat, may be taken from you. Declaring avoids a fine.
Apply at least 72 hours before departure. Even with a direct flight, the airline will not let you board without an approved NZeTA.