New Zealand Transit NZeTA for Solomon Islands Citizens

Transit Visa Waiver — NZeTA required for all transit through New Zealand airports

Apply NZeTA Transit — Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands on New Zealand's Transit Visa Waiver List

The Solomon Islands is a Melanesian Pacific nation with strong regional ties across the Pacific. Solomon Islands citizens travelling to Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, or other destinations regularly connect through Auckland International Airport — one of the primary Pacific aviation hubs. The Solomon Islands is included on New Zealand's transit visa waiver list, meaning Solomon Islands 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 Solomon Islands citizens transiting New Zealand and must be approved online before departure.

Solomon Islands Country Flag Image | New Zealand Transit NZeTA for Solomon Islands Citizens

What the Transit Visa Waiver Means for Solomon Islands Citizens

New Zealand's transit visa waiver exempts Solomon Islands citizens from obtaining a traditional transit visa when passing through a New Zealand airport en route to a third destination. Without this waiver, a transit visa would be required regardless of whether travellers enter immigration control or remain airside. Since October 2019, the NZeTA has replaced the old transit documentation process. It is an electronic authorisation linked to your Solomon Islands passport number, verified automatically by airlines at check-in and by New Zealand border officers. No physical transit document is required beyond your passport.

Transit NZeTA vs New Zealand Visitor Visa — The Key Distinction

Solomon Islands citizens must understand the difference between a transit NZeTA and a New Zealand visitor visa:

  • Transit NZeTA: Allows Solomon Islands citizens to pass through a New Zealand airport on the way to a third destination. Transit purposes only — does not allow entry into New Zealand for tourism, business, family visits, or any extended stay.
  • New Zealand Visitor Visa: Required if you wish to enter New Zealand for tourism, family visits, or business. Applied for separately through Immigration New Zealand before departing the Solomon Islands.

If your travel plan includes a planned stopover in New Zealand between flights, a visitor visa is required in addition to the transit NZeTA.

When Solomon Islands Citizens Need a Transit NZeTA

You must hold an approved NZeTA before transiting any New Zealand airport as a Solomon Islands passport holder if:

  • Your flight route includes a connection or layover at Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, or any other New Zealand international airport.
  • You are travelling onward to Australia, Fiji, Vanuatu, or any other third-country destination via a New Zealand connecting flight.
  • Your airline requires NZeTA verification at check-in before boarding any flight transiting New Zealand.

The NZeTA is required whether you remain in the airside transit zone or clear New Zealand immigration during a longer layover.

How to Apply for a New Zealand Transit NZeTA from the Solomon Islands

  1. Open the application — Visit our NZeTA application page and select Solomon Islands as your passport country.
  2. Enter your passport details — Full name, Solomon Islands passport number, date of birth, and planned transit dates must exactly match your passport.
  3. Upload your photograph — A recent colour passport-size photo with white background and full face clearly visible.
  4. Pay the combined fee — The NZeTA service fee and International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) are paid in one secure online card transaction.
  5. Receive your NZeTA — Approval arrives by email within 48–72 hours. Save a digital or printed copy to carry while travelling.

Apply at least 5–6 business days before departure. Review the terms and conditions before submitting.

Documents Required for Solomon Islands Transit NZeTA

  • Valid Solomon Islands passport — at least 6 months of remaining validity beyond your transit date, with at least one blank page.
  • Confirmed onward travel ticket to your final destination beyond New Zealand.
  • Recent passport-size colour photograph (white background, full face visible).
  • Valid email address to receive the approved NZeTA.
  • Debit or credit card for the combined NZeTA and IVL payment.

Transit NZeTA Validity — Reusable for Multiple Pacific Transits

The NZeTA issued for your Solomon Islands passport is valid for 2 years from the date of approval and covers multiple transit journeys through New Zealand during that period. You do not need to apply for a new NZeTA each time you transit — the same authorisation is used automatically on every New Zealand transit within the 2-year window. If you renew your Solomon Islands passport, a new NZeTA must be applied for before your next New Zealand transit, as the authorisation is bound to the specific passport number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Solomon Islands 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 Solomon Islands transit passengers. The NZeTA must be obtained online before departure — it is not available at the airport.

No. The NZeTA for Solomon Islands 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 Solomon Islands citizen wishes to visit New Zealand, a separate New Zealand visitor visa must be applied for through Immigration New Zealand before departing the Solomon Islands.

Yes. Solomon Islands citizens travelling to Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, or other Pacific island destinations via Auckland can transit New Zealand without a traditional transit visa. An NZeTA must be obtained online before departure. The NZeTA covers the transit connection through Auckland regardless of the onward Pacific destination.

The application is entirely online. Select Solomon Islands 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 the Solomon Islands.

Yes. The NZeTA issued for a Solomon Islands passport is valid for 2 years from the date of approval and can be reused for multiple transit journeys through New Zealand within that period. There is no need to apply for a new NZeTA each time you transit — the same authorisation is read automatically on every New Zealand transit within the 2-year validity window.