Several travellers can easily apply for the Electronic Travel Authority for New Zealand (NZeTA) instead of a visa when transiting through New Zealand.
A transit passenger is a person who needs to pass through New Zealand on their way to another country. Any traveller that will pass through Auckland International Airport must have a transit NZeTA.
Passengers who meet the transit NZeTA eligibility criteria can apply for the New Zealand Travel Authority. The application process is fully online and quick to complete.
Who needs a visa to transit to New Zealand?
All passengers not eligible for the transit NZeTA need to obtain a transit visa for New Zealand.
Who can obtain an NZeTA for Transit?
Passport holders from one of the following countries are included in New Zealand’s transit waiver agreement.
These citizens are required to carry a Transit NZeTA for stopovers in Auckland International Airport:
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Andorra
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo
- Costa Rica
- Cote D'Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran, Islamic Republic of
- Ireland
- Iraq
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
- Korea, Republic of
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lao People's Democratic Republic
- Latvia
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- Macedonia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia, Federated States of
- Moldova, Republic of
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Palestinian Territory
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Republic of Cyprus
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syrian Arab Republic
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania, United Republic of
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Note: holders of a transit NZeTA cannot exit the New Zealand airport.
Travellers with a long stopover who would like to exit Auckland International Airport to tour the city will need to apply for:
- A Tourism NZeTA if they are from a visa waiver country
- A New Zealand Tourist Visa if they are from a visa-required country
To get a visa to enter New Zealand travellers must go to an embassy or consulate.
Do I require an eTA to transit through New Zealand?
The following travellers may apply for a NZeTA for transit:
- Passport holders from transit visa waiver countries
- Citizens of visa waiver countries
- Australia permanent resident visa holders
- Travellers of all nationalities passing through New Zealand en route to Australia and with an Australian visa
- Transit passengers of all nationalities travelling from Australia
An NZ Transit eTA only allows visitors to pass through Auckland International Airport and remain in the transit area or onboard the aircraft.
The electronic travel authority for New Zealand is valid for a total of 2 years from the date of approval. There is no need to apply for the eTA before each transit through the country.
What do I need to apply for a New Zealand Transit eTA?
Getting a Transit NZeTA for New Zealand is a straightforward process.
Applicants must have the following to hand to apply for a Transit NZeTA:
- An eligible passport that remains valid for at least 3 months past the intended transit date
- A current email address where the applicant will receive notifications about heir NZeTA
- A valid credit or debit card to cover the fees
The New Zealand eTA application instructions are easy to follow.
How do I obtain the NZeTA for transit?
To obtain the NZeTA for transit, eligible applicants should provide the following details:
- Personal: full name, date of birth, gender
- Passport: number, issuing and expiry date
- Travel information
Each traveller must answer a few health and security questions. Afterwards, they should carefully review that their details match those on their passport.
Once the NZeTA application form has been completed, the system will automatically determine that the citizen needs a Transit NZeTA and calculate the applicable fees.
Transit passengers can only travel through Auckland International Airport where they must stay in the transit area of the airport or aboard their aircraft.
Visitors intending to leave the airport and enjoy a stay in New Zealand can apply for an NZeTA for Tourism to enter the country.
Eligible citizens are unable to transit with the eTA New Zealand through Wellington airport or Christchurch airport.
New Zealand Transit eTA application essentials
When applying for an eTA for transit travellers must:
- Complete the eTA NZ form
- Make sure their passport has 3 months of validity remaining from the date(s) of expected arrival in New Zealand
- Pay the eTA fee with a valid debit or credit card
Once the New Zealand application for a transit travel authority is approved, the traveller can download it.
Applicants should go over New Zealand eTA requirements before filling out their application.
Most NZeTA applications are processed in 24 to 48 business hours.
When do I need Transit Visa instead a Transit NZeTA
Transit passengers who can’t apply for a NZeTA must obtain a transit visa for New Zealand.
The transit visa application process requires additional supporting documentation.
Passengers who require a transit visa should apply in advance of the trip to allow time for processing.
People from a visa-exempt country who wish to leave the airport should apply for a transit visa to enter New Zealand.
How do I get a transit visa for New Zealand?
To get a transit visa for New Zealand travellers need the following:
- A completed INZ 1019 Transit Visa Application form
- A copy of their passport page showing their information and photo
- Onward travel arrangements
- Travel itinerary
- A statement explaining the purpose of the trip to the destination country
Do passengers in transit need to complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration?
The Digital Traveller Declaration is optional for transit passengers who do not clear immigration.
If you are passing through New Zealand on the way to another destination and stay in the transit area of the airport between flights, you do not need the declaration.
It is still recommended to complete the quick online declaration form, since this can help speed up the process of transiting through New Zealand airports.
However, if you leave the transit area, you will need a completed declaration. You will need to present this to pass through border control before your onward flight.
The Traveller Declaration is mandatory for all other travellers arriving in New Zealand.