The Auckland transit rules at a glance
To transit through New Zealand on an NZeTA, every one of these conditions must apply to your journey:
You arrive and leave through Auckland International Airport
Transit without a visa is only allowed at Auckland. You can't transit through Christchurch, Wellington, Queenstown or any other airport.
You stay airside, in the transit area
You don't go through immigration, collect bags in the arrivals hall or leave the terminal.
You are in New Zealand for 24 hours or less
Measured from when your arriving flight lands to when your onward flight departs.
You hold a confirmed onward ticket to another country
Your next flight takes you out of New Zealand to a country you are allowed to enter.
You hold an approved NZeTA
Unless you are exempt, for example as an Australian citizen.
Separate tickets can cause problems. If your flights are on different bookings, you may have to collect your bags and check in again. That means entering New Zealand, which is not a transit. Ask your airline whether your bags can be checked through to your final destination.
Who can transit with an NZeTA
Two groups of travellers can transit through Auckland with an NZeTA instead of a transit visa:
Visa-waiver citizens
Citizens of the visa-waiver countries can transit with an NZeTA. Their NZeTA also lets them leave the airport and visit, so many simply apply as visitors. See the full eligibility list.
Transit visa-waiver citizens
Citizens of the 24 transit visa-waiver countries listed below can transit with an NZeTA, but they can't use it to visit New Zealand by air.
Holders of an Australian permanent resident visa also need an NZeTA to transit. Australian citizens and anyone holding a valid New Zealand visa don't need one.
Transit visa-waiver countries
If you hold a passport from one of these countries, you can transit through Auckland with an NZeTA. Each guide explains the rules for that nationality, including what to do if you want to visit New Zealand.
Bahamas
Bermuda
Bolivia
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Indonesia
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Nauru
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Thailand
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Citizens of these countries can apply for an NZeTA as a visitor if they are arriving in New Zealand on a cruise ship. To fly in and visit, they need a visitor visa.
NZeTA vs transit visa vs visitor visa
| Transit NZeTA | Transit visa | Visitor visa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Visa-waiver and transit visa-waiver citizens | Citizens of all other countries | Anyone who needs to enter NZ without visa-waiver status |
| Leave the airport? | No | No | Yes |
| Time limit | 24 hours, airside | 24 hours, airside | As stated on the visa |
| Airports | Auckland only | Auckland only | Any international port |
| How to apply | Short online application | Separate application with the immigration authorities | Separate application with the immigration authorities |
| IVL | Not payable | Not applicable | Payable in most cases |
| Typical decision time | Up to 72 hours | Longer; apply well ahead | Longer; apply well ahead |
When you need a transit visa instead
You need a transit visa, not an NZeTA, if your passport is from a country that is on neither the visa-waiver list nor the transit visa-waiver list. A transit visa is a separate application made directly with the New Zealand immigration authorities. It takes longer than an NZeTA, so apply well before your trip.
Even with a transit visa, the same limits apply: Auckland only, airside only, 24 hours at most. You don't need a transit visa if:
- You are a citizen of a visa-waiver or transit visa-waiver country (you need an NZeTA instead)
- You hold a valid New Zealand visa of any type (no NZeTA needed either)
- You are an Australian citizen (no NZeTA needed either)
- You hold a valid Australian resident visa and meet the other transit conditions (you still need an NZeTA)
The last point catches people out: Australian permanent residents are exempt from a transit visa, but they still need an NZeTA.
No IVL for transit passengers
Most visitors pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) with their NZeTA. Transit passengers don't, because they don't enter New Zealand. When you choose "Transit" as your reason for travel on our form, the IVL is left out automatically. See the NZeTA fees page for the transit price for each processing speed.
Visa-waiver citizen? Consider applying as a visitor. If there is any chance you will want to leave the airport, for example after a long delay or on a future trip, a visitor NZeTA covers both visiting and transit. It includes the IVL.
Your Auckland transit, step by step
Before you fly
Apply for your NZeTA at least 72 hours ahead. Check that your connection is under 24 hours and your bags are checked through.
At check-in
Your airline checks your passport, NZeTA and onward booking. Without an approved NZeTA, you can be refused boarding.
On arrival in Auckland
Follow the "International Transfers" signs, not "Arrivals". You will go through a transit security screening.
In the transit lounge
Wait in the international departure area for your connecting flight. You can't go landside to the city or the domestic terminal.
Departure
Board your onward flight within 24 hours of landing.
If your onward flight is cancelled and you are stuck for more than 24 hours, speak to your airline straight away. The airline and border staff will tell you what to do.
Common transit mistakes
- Booking a connection through Christchurch or another city, which is not a transit
- Booking an overnight layover longer than 24 hours
- Planning a quick trip into Auckland city between flights on a transit-only NZeTA
- Booking separate tickets that force you to re-check bags
- Assuming you don't need an NZeTA because you are "only in transit"
- Applying with an old passport after renewing it
Getting it right is simple. Apply for a transit NZeTA online, choose "Transit" as your purpose, and enter the passport you will travel on.
Transit NZeTA: frequently asked questions
Yes, if you are a citizen of a visa-waiver or transit visa-waiver country. Your airline will check for an approved NZeTA before you board the flight to Auckland.
Not as a transit passenger. You must stay in the international transit area. If you want to leave the airport, you need to enter New Zealand as a visitor, which needs a visa-waiver NZeTA or a visitor visa.
No. Transit without a visa is only possible at Auckland International Airport. Any other airport means entering New Zealand, so you need to meet visitor entry rules.
Then you can't transit on an NZeTA. Visa-waiver nationals can enter as visitors with an NZeTA, while others need a visitor visa. Consider changing your booking to a shorter connection.
No. Transit passengers don't pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. Your application fee reflects this when you choose transit as your reason for travel.
Yes, unless you are an Australian citizen or hold a New Zealand visa. Australian permanent residents and other eligible nationals need an NZeTA for the transit.
If you are from a visa-waiver country, apply with "Visit" as your purpose, which also covers transit. If you are from a transit-only country, an NZeTA can't be used for a holiday by air.
Arriving by sea instead? Read the cruise ship NZeTA guide, or browse all NZeTA FAQs.