Kiribati and New Zealand
Kiribati and New Zealand are close Pacific neighbours. Many I-Kiribati families have relatives living in New Zealand, students and workers travel between the two countries, and New Zealand is an important partner for Kiribati. For air travel, though, it's important to understand where the NZeTA fits.
Kiribati is on New Zealand's list of transit visa-waiver countries. This means a Kiribati passport holder can pass through Auckland International Airport on the way to another country without a transit visa, as long as they hold an NZeTA. It does not mean you can enter New Zealand without a visa.
Transit or visit? Choose the right document
Transit NZeTA
You're flying through Auckland to another country, stay inside the international transit area, and leave within 24 hours.
Visitor visa
You want to leave the airport: to see family, attend church or a wedding, have a holiday or attend a meeting.
If you plan to leave Auckland Airport, even for a few hours, a transit NZeTA is not enough. You need a visitor visa. Apply well before your trip, as visitor visas take longer to process than an NZeTA.
The NZeTA is linked to your passport. It can be used for several transits over up to two years, as long as your passport remains valid, so frequent travellers don't need to apply each time.
The transit rules, step by step
A transit NZeTA works only when every one of these conditions is met:
- You arrive at and depart from Auckland International Airport. Transit at Christchurch, Wellington or any other airport is not allowed.
- You stay in the international transit area and do not go through immigration.
- You are in transit for no more than 24 hours.
- You have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country, plus any visa you need for that country.
If your bags are not checked through to your final destination, or you have separate tickets, you may need to collect your luggage and check in again, which means entering New Zealand. In that case you need a visa. Our transit guide explains this in more detail.
Getting to Auckland from Kiribati
There are no direct flights from Kiribati to New Zealand. Travellers from South Tarawa usually fly to Nadi in Fiji and connect there to Auckland, or travel via Brisbane in Australia. From Kiritimati (Christmas Island), flights connect through Fiji. Connections can be infrequent, so plan your dates carefully.
Remember that transit rules apply at every airport on your journey. If you travel via Australia or Fiji, check whether you need a visa or authorisation for those countries too. Tarawa shares New Zealand's standard time, so New Zealand is only one hour ahead during its daylight saving season. Kiritimati, one of the first places in the world to see each new day, is one to two hours ahead of New Zealand.
How to apply for a transit NZeTA
The NZeTA application is completed online. Have these ready:
| Passport | A Kiribati passport valid for at least 3 months after you leave New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Photo | A clear photo of your face against a plain background |
| Travel details | Your flights into and out of Auckland |
| Contact | An email address, and a payment card |
Choose "Transit" as your type of travel. The transit fee does not include the IVL tourism levy. Allow up to 72 hours for a decision; our processing options are Normal (48–72 hours), Emergency (24–48 hours) and Rush (12–24 hours). Prices are on the fees page.
Apply for a transit NZeTA from Kiribati
Enter your names exactly as they are printed in your passport. Once approved, your NZeTA can be used for up to 2 years, or until your passport expires.
Take care to choose "Transit" rather than "Visit" when you apply. A Kiribati passport holder cannot be approved for a visit by air with an NZeTA, so choosing the wrong type can cause delays.
Visiting family in New Zealand
If you want to spend time in New Zealand, whether for a family celebration, a funeral, a holiday or a meeting, you need a visitor visa. This is a separate application from the NZeTA. You will usually need to show your travel plans, that you have enough money for your stay, and that you will return home or travel on afterwards.
Work, study and residence in New Zealand all have their own visa categories, and they are also separate from the NZeTA. Read our visitor visa page for an overview of how visitor visas differ from the NZeTA.
Arriving by cruise ship
There is one situation where Kiribati citizens can enter New Zealand with an NZeTA: arriving on a cruise ship. All cruise passengers, whatever their nationality, can apply for an NZeTA as a visitor. If you fly to New Zealand to join a cruise, however, you need a visitor visa for your arrival by air. See our cruise guide.
Biosecurity: if you go ashore in New Zealand, declare all food, including dried fish, coconut products, breadfruit, pandanus, shells and woven items made from plant material. Undeclared items can lead to a fine.
FAQs for Kiribati travellers
No. Kiribati is a transit visa-waiver country. To visit New Zealand by air, including to see family, you need a visitor visa. The NZeTA only covers transit at Auckland International Airport.
It means changing planes at Auckland International Airport within 24 hours, without leaving the international transit area, on your way to another country.
No. If you hold a valid New Zealand visa, you don't need an NZeTA as well.
Only if your total time in transit is 24 hours or less and you stay in the transit area. Many airports have limited facilities overnight, so check your connection times carefully.
No. Transit passengers do not pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.
Yes. Every traveller needs their own NZeTA, including babies and children. You can add up to 10 travellers in one application.
Changing planes in Auckland?
Apply for your transit NZeTA online and travel through New Zealand without a transit visa.