Can Ecuadorians visit New Zealand with an NZeTA?
Only in specific situations. Ecuador is on New Zealand's list of transit visa-waiver countries. This means Ecuadorian citizens can pass through Auckland International Airport between two international flights without applying for a transit visa, provided they hold an approved NZeTA.
It does not mean you can enter New Zealand as a tourist after arriving by plane. For a holiday, a family visit or a business trip by air, Ecuadorian passport holders need a visitor visa. The one exception is cruise travel, explained further down this page.
The NZeTA requirement started on 1 October 2019. Airlines must check it before you board, so without one you may be stopped at check-in in Quito or Guayaquil.
Is my itinerary a transit?
The easiest way to understand the rules is through examples. Each of these assumes an Ecuadorian passport.
| Itinerary | Transit NZeTA enough? |
|---|---|
| Quito → Santiago → Auckland → Sydney, 5-hour wait in Auckland | Yes, if you also have an Australian visa |
| Guayaquil → Los Angeles → Auckland → Nadi, 3-hour wait | Yes, if you meet the US and Fiji requirements |
| Arrive Auckland, overnight in a city hotel, fly out next day | No, you would be leaving the airport |
| Arrive Auckland, connect to a domestic flight to Christchurch | No, transit is only possible at Auckland |
| Connection in Auckland of 30 hours | No, it exceeds 24 hours |
| Arrive in Wellington on a cruise ship | Apply for an NZeTA as a visitor instead |
Our transit guide explains these rules in more depth.
Routes from Quito and Guayaquil
There are no direct flights between Ecuador and New Zealand. Travellers usually connect in Santiago or Lima for flights across the South Pacific, or fly north to a US hub with nonstop services to Auckland. Bogotá and Panama City are also common first stops.
Each connection point has its own entry and transit rules. A US connection needs the US documents that apply to Ecuadorian citizens, and so on. Your NZeTA only covers the Auckland stop.
Mind the time change. Mainland Ecuador is 17 to 18 hours behind New Zealand, and you will cross the International Date Line. Count your Auckland connection from local arrival time to local departure time.
Documents to carry for an Auckland transit
- A valid Ecuadorian passport, the same one used for your NZeTA
- Your approved NZeTA confirmation
- A confirmed onward ticket from Auckland to a third country
- Any visa or permit required by your final destination
- Baggage checked through to your final destination, if possible
If your flights are on separate bookings and you would have to collect your bags in Auckland, speak to your airline first. Collecting luggage usually involves passing through immigration, which is not allowed on a transit NZeTA.
Pacific cruises that visit New Zealand
Cruise passengers are treated differently. Every cruise passenger needs an NZeTA, and Ecuadorian citizens who arrive in New Zealand on a cruise ship can apply for an NZeTA as a visitor. This includes the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.
Long Pacific voyages, including some that call at South American ports before crossing to Australia and New Zealand, are a popular way to see several countries in one trip. If you join the cruise in Auckland after flying there, though, you are arriving by air and need a visitor visa. See our cruise ship guide.
Applying online for a transit NZeTA
Select the visa type
Choose "Transit Visa" for an airport connection, or "Visit Visa" for a cruise arrival.
Add each traveller
Enter passport details. Include both surnames if your passport shows two. You can add up to 10 travellers.
Answer the declarations
Complete the short character and health questions truthfully.
Upload a photo and pay
A clear photo of your face on a plain background, then card payment.
Allow up to 72 hours. Choose Normal (48–72 hours), Emergency (24–48 hours) or Rush (12–24 hours) processing; see the fees page for prices.
Apply for a transit NZeTA from Ecuador
If you want to visit New Zealand
Ecuadorians who want to explore New Zealand after flying in must apply for a visitor visa through the New Zealand immigration authorities. It is a separate process that we do not offer, and it usually needs more supporting documents and time than an NZeTA. Once you have a visitor visa, you do not need an NZeTA for that trip.
If you are only passing through, start your transit NZeTA application now, so it is approved well before you fly.
Ecuador transit FAQs
Yes. Ecuador is a transit visa-waiver country, so you need an approved NZeTA to transit through Auckland International Airport without a transit visa.
No. Transit passengers on an NZeTA must stay in the international transit area of the airport and leave within 24 hours. A hotel stay means entering New Zealand, which requires a visa.
No. A domestic connection means entering New Zealand. Ecuadorian citizens arriving by air to visit need a visitor visa.
Yes. Ecuadorian citizens who arrive in New Zealand on a cruise ship can apply for an NZeTA as a visitor. If you fly in to join the ship, you need a visitor visa.
No. Transit passengers do not pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.
Up to 2 years, or until your passport expires. You can use it for several transits during that time.