Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic Ocean, renowned for its financial services industry and pink-sand beaches. Bermudian travellers heading to Australia, Asia, or Pacific Island destinations frequently route through major aviation hubs including Auckland International Airport. Bermuda is included on New Zealand's transit visa waiver list, meaning Bermudian citizens are not required to hold a traditional transit visa to pass through a New Zealand airport. However, since 1 October 2019, an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) is mandatory for all Bermudian citizens transiting New Zealand and must be approved online before departure.
New Zealand's transit visa waiver exempts Bermudian citizens from the requirement to obtain a traditional transit visa when passing through a New Zealand airport en route to a third destination. Without this waiver, Bermudian travellers would need a formal transit visa for every connection through New Zealand. Since October 2019, the NZeTA has replaced the old process. It is an electronic pre-travel authorisation linked to your Bermuda passport number, verified automatically by airlines at check-in and by New Zealand border officers. No physical transit document is required beyond your passport.
Bermudian citizens must understand the clear distinction between a transit NZeTA and a New Zealand visitor visa:
Bermudian citizens cannot enter New Zealand for tourism or business on a transit NZeTA. Any intended activity in New Zealand beyond the transit connection requires a visitor visa.
You must hold an approved NZeTA before transiting any New Zealand airport as a Bermuda passport holder if:
The NZeTA is required whether you remain in the airside transit zone or clear New Zealand immigration during a longer layover connection.
Apply at least 5–6 business days before your scheduled departure from Bermuda. Review the terms and conditions before submitting.
The NZeTA issued for your Bermuda passport is valid for 2 years from the date of approval and covers multiple transit journeys through New Zealand within that period. You do not need to reapply for each transit — the same NZeTA is used automatically every time you transit New Zealand within the 2-year window. If you renew your Bermuda passport, a new NZeTA must be applied for using the new passport details before your next New Zealand transit, as the authorisation is bound to the specific passport number.
Bermudian citizens are on New Zealand's transit visa waiver list, meaning no traditional transit visa is required to pass through a New Zealand airport. However, an NZeTA is mandatory since 1 October 2019 for all Bermudian transit passengers. The NZeTA must be obtained online before departure — it is not available at any New Zealand airport.
No. The NZeTA for Bermudian citizens authorises transit through New Zealand airports only. It does not permit entry into New Zealand for tourism, business, or any extended stay. If a Bermudian citizen wishes to visit New Zealand, a separate New Zealand visitor visa must be applied for through Immigration New Zealand before departing Bermuda.
No. The transit NZeTA does not authorise Bermudian citizens to conduct business, attend meetings, or undertake any activity that requires entering New Zealand. Bermudian citizens who need to conduct business in New Zealand must apply for a New Zealand visitor visa through Immigration New Zealand before departing Bermuda.
The application is entirely online. Select Bermuda as your passport country, enter your personal and passport details, upload a recent passport-size photograph, and pay the combined NZeTA and IVL fee in a single secure card transaction. Approval is sent by email within 48–72 hours. Apply at least 5–6 business days before departure from Bermuda.
Bermudian citizens transiting New Zealand must hold a valid Bermuda passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity, an approved NZeTA linked to that passport, and a confirmed onward travel ticket to their final destination beyond New Zealand. These are verified by the airline at check-in and by New Zealand border officers. Bermudian citizens without confirmed onward travel may be denied boarding or refused transit entry.