New Zealand's new travel rules: All you need to know about the NZeTA

Tuesday, 17 September 2019

Overseas visitors caught out by New Zealand's new travel rules have had their plans disrupted and faced thousands of dollars in extra expenses. Here's what they need to know.

Many travellers wanting to visit New Zealand now need an electronic authorisation, thanks to new government rules.

The New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) will be required for most people visiting the country and was introduced from 1 October 2019.

As of January 2020, more than 700,000 travellers have applied for an NZeTA since the processing system went live in August 2019, according to Immigration New Zealand policy director Nick Aldous.

How does it all work? who needs one? and how much does it cost?

* International visitors to pay $35 tourism levy to protect tourist hot spots

* Non-official e-visa sites charging New Zealand visitors inflated fees**

Immigration New Zealand says an electronic travel authority will strengthen border security and reduce processing times.

WHO NEEDS ONE?

Anyone from a visa waiver country will need an approved NZeTA before they enter New Zealand. This includes children, citizens not required to have a visa to enter New Zealand and anyone who is only passing through an airport on their way elsewhere.

A list of visa waiver countries and territories is available here on the INZ website.

The NZeTA can be requested online, and most are approved within 10 minutes – although it is best to allow up to 72 hours to be safe as approval is required before commencing travel, according to Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

Those eligible who do not have a NZeTA by the time they check in for their flights or cruise into New Zealand from 1 October 2019 will not be allowed to board.

Anyone who is unsure about whether they need a NZeTA can find out here.

From 1 October about 1.5 million travelers who don't need a visa to visit New Zealand must obtain an electronic travel authority, either online or via a mobile phone app.

WHO DOESN'T NEED ONE?

New Zealand and Australian citizens travelling with a NZ or Australian passport are not required to apply for a NZeTA.

Anyone whose foreign passport has a New Zealand citizen endorsement or who holds a valid visa, including a permanent resident visa, also needn't apply.

HOW MUCH DO THEY COST?

NZeTAs can be requested via the free app downloadable from the Apple Store or Google Play for NZ$9, or from the INZ website for NZ$12.

At the same time, travellers will be charged the new NZ$35 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) introduced in July, which will go towards protecting the country's tourist hot spots, conservation, infrastructure and systems.

The IVL is charged to international visitors staying in New Zealand for less than 12 months and is expected to raise more than $450 million over five years.

The fee won't be required from Australian citizens, permanent residents and people from many Pacific Island nations.

WHY WAS THE NZETA CREATED?

Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said the NZeTA was an important step to help strengthen the country's border security.

The legislation extended the automated decision-making process already implemented by INZ to accommodate the millions of visitors coming to New Zealand from 60 visa-waiving countries, he said.

'The NZeTA will provide us with more information about those travellers before they arrive here and brings New Zealand's border in line with international best practice,' he said.