Do you need an NZeTA or a tourist visa?
It depends on your passport. New Zealand has two routes for holidaymakers:
Visa-waiver passport: NZeTA
If your country is on the visa-waiver list, you apply online for an NZeTA. It is quick, usually decided within 72 hours, and lasts up to 2 years.
Other passports: visitor visa
If your country is not on the list, or is a transit-only country, you need a visitor visa to holiday in New Zealand by air. That is a separate application with the immigration authorities.
Not sure which applies to you? Our NZeTA eligibility guide lists every eligible country. If you are arriving on a cruise ship, the rules are different: any nationality can use an NZeTA. See the cruise passenger guide.
What you can do as a visitor
An NZeTA covers the things most people do on holiday. You can:
- Tour both islands by car, campervan, bus, train or domestic flight
- Walk the Great Walks and day hikes, ski, surf, cycle, kayak and bungy jump
- Visit national parks, glaciers, fiords, geothermal areas and wine regions
- Spend time with friends, family or a partner who lives in New Zealand
- Attend a wedding, festival, sports event or concert
- Take a short course or study programme of up to 3 months
- Combine your holiday with some business visitor activities, such as a meeting
Sport and adventure activities are a big part of most visits. If you plan to do them, take out travel insurance that covers them, and check the cover for activities like skiing and skydiving specifically.
What you can't do on an NZeTA
- Work for a New Zealand employer or business, paid or unpaid
- Pick fruit, work in hospitality or take any casual job, even for a few days
- Study for longer than 3 months
- Travel to New Zealand mainly for medical treatment
- Stay longer than your permitted visit
If you are young and want to travel and work, look at the Working Holiday schemes New Zealand runs with many countries. Each is a separate visa with its own age limits and quotas. Your country's guide page explains whether a scheme may be available to you.
How long you can stay: the 90-day rule
Most tourists can stay in New Zealand for up to 90 days on each visit. British citizens are the exception: they can stay for up to 6 months per visit.
| Passport | Each visit | NZeTA validity |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (British citizens) | Up to 6 months | Up to 2 years |
| Other visa-waiver countries | Up to 90 days | Up to 2 years |
| Australian permanent residents | Set on arrival | Up to 2 years |
The NZeTA itself allows multiple visits over up to 2 years. That makes it ideal if you visit family often, or if you are travelling around the Pacific and coming back through New Zealand. Border officers may ask questions if you spend most of your time in New Zealand on back-to-back visits, so make sure your trips are genuinely for a holiday.
Want to stay longer? The NZeTA can't be extended. Before your permitted stay ends, apply for a visitor visa from inside New Zealand. Don't overstay, as it can affect future travel.
Short courses and study
You can study on an NZeTA for up to 3 months. Popular choices include English language courses, surf or ski schools, cooking and wine courses, and short university summer programmes.
If your course is longer than 3 months, you need a student visa before you start. If you are not sure how long your programme will last, ask the school. They often deal with this question.
When to visit New Zealand
New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, so its seasons are the opposite of Europe and North America. Each season suits a different kind of trip.
| Season | Months | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | December to February | Beaches, Great Walks, festivals. The busiest and most expensive time, so book early. |
| Autumn | March to May | Settled weather, autumn colours in Central Otago, wine harvest and fewer crowds. |
| Winter | June to August | Skiing and snowboarding around Queenstown, Wanaka and Ruapehu. Lower prices in the north. |
| Spring | September to November | Lambing season, waterfalls in full flow, quieter roads. Weather changes quickly. |
Whatever the season, pack layers and a rain jacket. Weather in the mountains and on the West Coast can change within an hour. The sun is also strong, so bring sunscreen even on cool days.
Trip planning checklist
Check your passport
It must be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave New Zealand. Renew it first if needed, because a new passport means a new NZeTA.
Apply for your NZeTA
Apply as soon as your plans are firm. Allow at least 72 hours, and more during busy holiday periods.
Book your onward travel
You will need a return or onward ticket to show at the border.
Arrange travel insurance
Choose cover that includes medical care and any adventure activities you have planned.
Complete the Traveller Declaration
Fill in the New Zealand Traveller Declaration before you fly. It is separate from your NZeTA.
Pack for biosecurity
Clean hiking boots, tents and bikes before you travel. Declare any food, plants or animal products when you land.
Applying for an NZeTA as a tourist
Choose "Visit" as your reason for travel on our form. You will need each traveller's passport, a photo, an email address and a payment card. Families and groups can apply together. Our form takes up to 10 travellers in one application, which is handy for family holidays.
Choose a processing speed when you apply: Normal (48–72 hours), Emergency (24–48 hours) or Rush (12–24 hours). Prices for each option, including the IVL tourism levy, are on our NZeTA fees page.
Tourist NZeTA: frequently asked questions
Not exactly. Citizens of visa-waiver countries don't need a tourist visa, but they do need an NZeTA before they travel. In practice, the NZeTA is what most holidaymakers apply for.
Yes. Visiting friends and relatives is a normal visitor activity. Bring your host's address and contact details in case the border officer asks.
Generally no. Voluntary work that would normally be paid, or that is the main purpose of your trip, can count as work. If volunteering is part of your plans, check the rules with the New Zealand immigration authorities before you travel.
Yes. Visitors can usually drive with a valid licence from home in English, or with an approved translation or International Driving Permit. Remember that New Zealand drives on the left.
You can't extend an NZeTA. To stay longer, you must apply for a visitor visa from inside New Zealand before your permitted stay ends.
It is not required for an NZeTA, but it is strongly recommended. Visitors are usually not covered for public health care, and adventure activities carry extra risk.
Yes. Your NZeTA allows multiple visits for up to 2 years, as long as each stay follows the visitor rules and you are genuinely visiting.
Travelling for work instead? Read the business visitor guide. Only changing planes? See transit through Auckland.