Paraguay's NZeTA status
New Zealand treats Paraguay as a transit visa-waiver country. In practical terms that gives Paraguayan citizens one specific benefit: you can change planes at Auckland International Airport without applying for a transit visa. Since 1 October 2019 you must hold an approved NZeTA to use that benefit.
The NZeTA is an electronic authority linked to your passport. It is not stamped in your passport and you don't collect it anywhere. Your airline checks it electronically when you check in, and you will be refused boarding if it is missing.
It is important to be clear about what the NZeTA does not do for Paraguayan passport holders. It does not let you enter New Zealand by plane for a holiday, a family visit or business. For that you need a visitor visa.
Auckland as a gateway
Paraguay is landlocked and has no direct flights to Oceania. Travellers from Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asunción normally fly first to a regional hub such as São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Santiago or Panama City. From South America, the main trans-Pacific routes cross to Auckland, and many continue to Australia or the Pacific islands.
Students
Paraguayans studying in Australia often connect through Auckland.
Family travel
Visiting relatives in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane via a trans-Pacific route.
Business
Agribusiness and trade travel to Australia or Asia.
Whatever your reason, the rule is the same: if the stop in Auckland is only a connection, a transit NZeTA covers New Zealand. You still need any visa required by your destination country. New Zealand is about 15 to 16 hours ahead of Paraguay, so double-check the local times on your itinerary.
Transit conditions explained
| Condition | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Auckland only | Your connection must be at Auckland International Airport. Transit at any other New Zealand airport needs a visa. |
| 24 hours or less | Count from your scheduled arrival to your scheduled departure. Long overnight layovers can go over the limit. |
| Stay airside | You must not pass through immigration. That includes collecting checked baggage. |
| Onward to a third country | You need a confirmed ticket out of Auckland to another country, plus any documents that country requires. |
Delays: if a long delay means you can't leave within the transit rules, speak to your airline staff in the transit area straight away. Do not try to leave the airport on your own.
Full details are in our New Zealand transit guide.
Passport and name details
You must travel on a valid Paraguayan passport. The cédula de identidad, which many Paraguayans use for regional travel within South America, is not accepted for this journey.
- Two surnames: Paraguayan names usually include a paternal and a maternal surname. Enter both, in the order shown on your passport.
- Accents and ñ: the form uses unaccented letters. Use the spelling from the machine-readable zone of your passport, where Ñ normally appears as N.
- Dual nationality: if you also hold, for example, an Argentine, Brazilian, Spanish or Italian passport, apply with the passport you will travel on. The rules for that passport then apply.
- Children: each child needs their own passport and their own NZeTA.
Apply in four steps
Choose "Transit"
Pick transit as your reason for travel and select a processing speed.
Passport details
Enter the details for each traveller, up to 10 per application.
Questions
Answer the health and character questions.
Photo and payment
Upload a face photo and pay by card.
Decisions arrive by email, normally within 72 hours. Choose Normal (48–72 hours), Emergency (24–48 hours) or Rush (12–24 hours). Transit passengers don't pay the IVL tourism levy. Compare options on the fees page.
Apply for a Paraguay transit NZeTA
If you want to visit New Zealand
New Zealand is a long way from Paraguay, and it is natural to want to break the journey with a few days in Auckland or a trip to see the South Island. To do that you need a visitor visa, applied for separately with the New Zealand immigration authorities before you travel. Expect to provide more information than for an NZeTA, such as your travel plans and evidence of funds, and allow plenty of time.
The exception is cruise travel. Paraguayan citizens who arrive in New Zealand on a cruise ship can apply for an NZeTA as a visitor. See our cruise NZeTA page.
Connecting through Auckland?
Get your transit NZeTA sorted before you leave Asunción.
Paraguay transit FAQs
Yes. Paraguay is a transit visa-waiver country, so you don't need a transit visa, but you must have an approved NZeTA before boarding a flight that connects at Auckland.
No. The cédula de identidad can be used in some South American countries, but not for travel through New Zealand. You need a valid Paraguayan passport.
A transit NZeTA, as long as you stay in the airport transit area and leave within 24 hours. You also need the right visa for Australia.
Not on a transit NZeTA. Leaving the airport means entering New Zealand, and Paraguayan citizens need a visitor visa for that.
Yes. An NZeTA is valid for up to 2 years and can be used for several transits, as long as you travel on the same passport.
Yes. If you arrive in New Zealand by cruise ship, you can apply for an NZeTA as a visitor. If you fly in to meet the ship, you need a visitor visa instead.