What "transit visa-waiver" means for Thailand
New Zealand places Thailand on its list of transit visa-waiver countries. In simple terms, Thai citizens don't need a transit visa to change planes in New Zealand. They do, however, need an approved NZeTA, which has been required for transit passengers since 1 October 2019.
This is different from the rules for visa-waiver countries such as Japan or Singapore, whose citizens can use an NZeTA to holiday in New Zealand. For Thai passport holders, the NZeTA works as a transit permission when you fly, and as a visitor authority only when you arrive by cruise ship.
Your airline will check your NZeTA when you check in at Suvarnabhumi or at your connecting airport. If you don't have one, you may not be allowed to board the flight to Auckland.
Transit or visit: which applies to you?
Look at your itinerary. If Auckland is only a stop between Thailand and a third country, you are a transit passenger. If New Zealand is a destination where you want to spend time, you are a visitor.
Transiting through Auckland
Example: Bangkok to Auckland, then on to Santiago, a Pacific island or North America. You stay airside and need an NZeTA.
Visiting New Zealand
Example: a holiday in Queenstown or a visit to relatives in Christchurch. When flying in, you need a New Zealand visitor visa.
A visitor visa is a separate application with its own requirements, and it is assessed by the New Zealand immigration authorities. You can read more about the options on our tourist visa page.
Conditions for transiting through Auckland
A transit NZeTA comes with clear limits. You must meet all of these conditions:
- You arrive and depart through Auckland International Airport only.
- You stay in the international transit area for no more than 24 hours.
- You hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country.
- You have any visa or entry permission needed for your final destination.
The transit rules do not allow you to:
- Pass through immigration to leave the airport, even for a few hours
- Fly in to one New Zealand airport and leave from another, such as Christchurch
- Stay overnight in a city hotel between flights
- Take a domestic flight within New Zealand
Separate tickets carry a risk. If your bags are not checked through and you would need to collect them and check in again, you may have to pass through immigration. Ask your airline before you travel. Our transit guide has more detail.
Arriving on a cruise ship
There is one important exception. All cruise passengers need an NZeTA, whatever their nationality. That means Thai citizens who arrive in New Zealand on a cruise ship can apply for an NZeTA as visitors, rather than needing a visitor visa for the cruise.
Cruises calling at Auckland, the Bay of Islands, Wellington, Akaroa and Dunedin often start in Sydney or Brisbane. If you fly to Australia to join the ship, you will also need Australian entry permission. If you plan to fly out of New Zealand after the cruise ends, check your situation first, because the cruise NZeTA does not usually cover arriving by air. See our cruise passenger guide.
Completing the application
The online form is in English and takes around 10 minutes per person. You can include up to 10 travellers, which helps families flying together.
Choose the right type
Select "Transit" if you are changing planes in Auckland, or "Visit" if you are arriving on a cruise ship.
Enter your passport details
Copy the details from your Thai passport data page, including the expiry date.
Upload a photo
Use a recent colour photo of your face against a plain, light background.
Answer the questions and pay
Answer the health and character questions, review everything carefully and pay by card.
Apply for a transit NZeTA from Thailand
Allow up to 72 hours for processing. You can choose Normal (48–72 hours), Emergency (24–48 hours) or Rush (12–24 hours) processing. Prices are listed on our fees page.
Thai names and passports
Thai names are written in Thai script at home, but your NZeTA must use the English spelling printed in your passport. Thai family names are often long, and different romanisations of the same name are common. Use the passport spelling letter by letter, even if you spell it differently on social media or at work.
- Enter your first name and family name exactly as in the passport.
- Leave out your nickname, such as "Ploy" or "Bank", unless it is printed in the passport.
- Leave out titles such as Mr, Mrs, Miss or Nai.
- If you have recently changed your name after marriage, use the name in the passport you will travel with.
Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure. If you renew your passport, you will need a new NZeTA.
Before you fly from Bangkok
Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport has had direct services to Auckland in some years. Many travellers connect through Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney or Melbourne instead. Each connection has its own transit rules, so check them as well.
- Approved NZeTA confirmation, saved on your phone
- Passport valid for the whole journey
- Onward boarding pass or e-ticket to your final destination
- Visa for your final destination, if one is needed
If you are not sure whether you are a transit or a cruise passenger, contact us before you apply. When you are ready, apply for your NZeTA online.
Common questions from Thai travellers
Not when arriving by air. Thailand is a transit visa-waiver country, so an NZeTA only lets you transit through Auckland International Airport. To holiday in New Zealand after flying in, you need a visitor visa.
You can stay in the international transit area for up to 24 hours. You must remain airside and leave from the same airport on your onward flight.
No. A transit NZeTA does not allow you to pass through immigration. If you want to leave the airport, you need a visitor visa.
No. Transit passengers are exempt from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, so your transit application does not include it.
Cruise passengers of any nationality can apply for an NZeTA, so Thai citizens arriving by cruise ship can apply for one as a visitor. Choose "Visit" as the type on the form.
No. Only use the name printed in your passport. Thai nicknames are not part of your legal name and will cause a mismatch with your passport.