Vanuatu's NZeTA status explained
Vanuatu and New Zealand are Pacific neighbours with strong links through trade, church networks, education and work. Many ni-Vanuatu families have relatives who have worked or studied in New Zealand, and Auckland is a regular connecting point for journeys to Asia, the Americas and other parts of the Pacific.
For immigration purposes, Vanuatu is a transit visa-waiver country. This means citizens of Vanuatu don't need a transit visa to pass through Auckland International Airport on the way to another country. Since 1 October 2019, they do need an approved NZeTA, which the airline checks before boarding.
The transit NZeTA is not permission to visit New Zealand after flying in. For that, ni-Vanuatu citizens need a visa. Cruise passengers are the exception, as explained below.
Am I transiting? A quick check
Answer these questions about your trip. If the answer to all of them is yes, you are a transit passenger and the NZeTA is the right choice.
Is New Zealand only a stop on the way?
Your final destination must be a third country, not New Zealand.
Do you arrive and leave through Auckland International Airport?
Transit is only allowed at Auckland. Changing to another New Zealand airport is not transit.
Is your connection under 24 hours?
You must leave on your onward flight within 24 hours of arriving.
Will you stay in the international transit area?
You can't pass through immigration or leave the airport.
If any answer is no, you need a visa rather than a transit NZeTA.
Flying out of Port Vila
Most international flights leave from Bauerfield International Airport in Port Vila, with some services from Pekoa International Airport on Espiritu Santo. Regional routes have connected Vanuatu with Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Nadi and Nouméa, although schedules and airlines have changed in recent years. Check your booking carefully, because the route decides which rules apply.
| Example route | Do you need a transit NZeTA? |
|---|---|
| Port Vila → Auckland → Santiago or Los Angeles | Yes, plus any visa for your destination |
| Port Vila → Auckland → Papeete, staying airside | Yes, if you connect within 24 hours |
| Port Vila → Brisbane → Singapore | No, but Australia's transit rules apply |
| Port Vila → Auckland, to stay with family | No, you need a visitor visa |
Transit conditions at Auckland
- Stay airside
- YesNo immigration clearance
- Maximum time
- 24 hours
- Onward ticket
- RequiredTo a third country
- Next country's visa
- If neededCheck before you fly
Make sure your bags are checked through. If you have to collect luggage and check in again because your tickets were booked separately, you would need to enter New Zealand. A transit NZeTA doesn't allow this. Our transit visa guide has more advice.
Visiting, working or studying in New Zealand
If you fly to New Zealand to see relatives, attend a church event, go to a graduation or take a holiday, you need a visitor visa. It is a separate application, decided by the New Zealand immigration authorities, and it usually takes longer to process than an NZeTA. Start early and gather your documents before you apply.
- Work of any kind, including seasonal horticulture or vineyard work, needs a work visa.
- Study needs the appropriate student visa.
- An NZeTA can't be changed into a visa at the airport.
Our tourist visa page gives a plain-English overview of the visit options.
Arriving by cruise ship
Vanuatu is a familiar stop on South Pacific cruises, with ships calling at Port Vila, Mystery Island and Champagne Bay. If you are a ni-Vanuatu citizen travelling as a passenger on a cruise that visits New Zealand, you can apply for an NZeTA as a visitor, because every cruise passenger needs one. Choose "Visit" as the type on the form. Read our cruise ship NZeTA guide for the full rules.
Applying for your NZeTA
Apply at least 72 hours before you fly. You can do it on a phone, and a family member in New Zealand or elsewhere can help you complete it. Please have ready:
- A Vanuatu passport valid for at least 3 months after you leave New Zealand
- A clear photo of your face against a plain, light background
- An email address that you can check while travelling
- A debit or credit card for payment
Choose Normal (48–72 hours), Emergency (24–48 hours) or Rush (12–24 hours) processing. You can include up to 10 travellers in one application, and every person, including babies, needs their own NZeTA. Prices are on our fees page.
Apply for a transit NZeTA from Vanuatu
Already applied? Check your NZeTA status. If you are about to book, make sure your route meets the transit rules, then complete your NZeTA application online.
Questions from Vanuatu
Only when arriving on a cruise ship. If you fly into New Zealand and want to go through immigration, you need a visitor visa. By air, the NZeTA only covers transit at Auckland International Airport.
Yes. If you stay airside at Auckland International Airport for up to 24 hours before your onward flight, you need an approved transit NZeTA.
No. An NZeTA never allows work. You need the correct work visa for your job, arranged before you travel.
Not on a transit NZeTA. Domestic flights mean entering New Zealand, which requires a visitor visa or another visa.
No. The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy is not charged to transit passengers.
Up to 2 years, or until your passport expires. You can use it for multiple transits during that time.