Australian passport holders travelling to New Zealand do not need a visa under the reciprocal Trans-Tasman travel arrangement terms.
Under this agreement, Australians are deemed to hold resident status on arrival in New Zealand. Therefore, they can visit, live, and work in the country without obtaining a visa.
Australian permanent residents can also enter New Zealand visa-free, however they must have an approved Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) to successfully enter the country.
Travelling from Australia to New Zealand without an Australian passport
Visa requirements for those travelling to New Zealand from Australia who are not Australian depend on several factors. These include:
- Nationality
- Residence status
- Length of stay
- Purpose of visit
Can I travel to New Zealand with an Australian tourist visa?
You cannot enter New Zealand with an Australian tourist visa. The two countries operate with different immigration policies for tourists, therefore you must have a separate New Zealand tourist visa or visa waiver to enter.
Can I visit New Zealand with an Australian residence permit?
Those who have a valid permanent residence permit for Australia do not need a visa to visit New Zealand for tourism.
Nevertheless, Australian permanent residents with a foreign passport must pre-register an eTA before travelling to New Zealand. However, they are exempt from paying the associated tourist levy.
Registering for the NZeTA is necessary for transit passengers en route to a third-country destination and those visiting New Zealand for tourism or business.
You can also work remotely while in New Zealand with a valid eTA, as long as your work is not for a local company. Digital work for a foreign company or client, or for yourself is permitted during your stay.
Those in Australia from abroad without a permanent residency should check the list of visa waiver countries on the NZeTA requirements page to see if their nationality is eligible.
How can I apply for a NZeTA for Australian permanent residents?
If you’re a foreign citizen holding permanent residency in Australia, you must apply for an NZeTA visa waiver before your departure for NZ. You can do this through a simple online form and it just takes a few minutes.
You need to complete the form with basic personal data, passport information, and travel details.
To submit an NZeTA application as an Australian permanent resident,it's necessary to have:
- Passport with a minimum validity of at least 2 months from the expected date of arrival in New Zealand
- Recent photograph, passport-style
- Valid credit or debit card to pay the eTA processing fee
- Current email address at which to receive the approved NZeTA
After filling in the necessary information on the form, answer a few questions regarding health and security matters before submitting the application.
An NZeTA request is usually approved quickly, and once approved, it is electronically linked to the same passport used to complete the application. You can then present the eTA-linked passport at a border control checkpoint to enter New Zealand.