The NZeTA costs NZ$117 once the IVL is included
Most guides quote NZ$17. That is only the request fee — the NZ$100 visitor levy is taken at the same time. Here is what you actually pay, and how to apply through the official channels.
Independent guide · not affiliated with the New Zealand Government · updated 17 August 2026
NZ$117
What you pay
NZ$17 request fee + NZ$100 IVL
2 years
Valid for
Multiple entries allowed
3 months
Stay per visit
6 months on a UK passport
72 hours
Processing time
Often approved in minutes
What is the NZeTA?
The New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority is a pre-travel authorisation, not a visa. If you hold a passport from a visa-waiver country or territory, you need it before you board. It is also required for cruise passengers and for most transit passengers.
It is linked to the passport you apply with, lasts 2 years, and allows multiple entries. Most visitors may stay up to three months per visit; holders of a UK passport may stay up to 6 months. The border officer decides how long you may stay on arrival.
It is not a visa
It is a pre-travel authorisation for visa-waiver passports. If your country is not on the waiver list, you need a visitor visa instead.
Checked before you board
Airlines and cruise lines check it electronically against your passport, so there is nothing to print and nothing to carry.
Two charges, one payment
The request fee (NZ$17 in the app, NZ$23 online) and the NZ$100 IVL are taken in one transaction — about NZ$117 in total.
What it actually costs
Two separate charges are taken in a single transaction, which is where most people go wrong.
| How you apply | Request fee | IVL | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official app | NZ$17 | NZ$100 | NZ$117 |
| Website | NZ$23 | NZ$100 | NZ$123 |
The IVL — the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy — is a separate charge from the NZeTA itself. It rose from NZ$35 to NZ$100 in October 2024 and is still NZ$100 as of 17 August 2026. Sites that advertise only NZ$17 are quoting the request fee alone.
How to apply
STEP 1
Use the official app or website
The NZeTA app costs NZ$17; applying through the Immigration New Zealand website costs NZ$23. Same authorisation — the app is simply cheaper.
STEP 2
Scan your passport and take a photo
The app reads your passport chip, then asks you to take a photo of your face. Your details must match your passport exactly.
STEP 3
Pay the request fee and the IVL together
Both are charged in the same transaction, so the amount you actually see is about NZ$117 (app) or NZ$123 (website).
STEP 4
Wait for the decision by email
Many are approved within minutes, but allow up to 72 hours. Apply before booking anything non-refundable.
At the border
There is nothing to print. Just carry the same passport you applied with — your authorisation is held against it electronically. You will also need to complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration before you arrive, which is separate from the NZeTA and free of charge.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it NZ$117 when the NZeTA is only NZ$17?
Because two charges are collected together: the NZeTA request fee (NZ$17 in the app, NZ$23 on the website) and the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, or IVL, of NZ$100. The IVL is not part of the NZeTA fee — it is a separate levy that funds conservation and tourism infrastructure. Most travellers pay NZ$117–NZ$123 in total.
Is the app really cheaper than the website?
Yes. The request fee is NZ$17 in the official app versus NZ$23 through the website — NZ$6 cheaper for exactly the same authorisation. If you can install the app, use it.
How long does the NZeTA last?
2 years from the date it is issued, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. It allows multiple entries.
How long can I stay in New Zealand?
Up to three months per visit for most travellers. If you hold a UK passport, the limit is 6 months. The NZeTA does not guarantee entry — the border officer decides how long you may stay.
Do I need a new NZeTA if I get a new passport?
Yes. The authorisation is linked to the passport you applied with, so a new passport means a new application.
Do children need their own NZeTA?
Yes. Everyone travelling, including infants, needs their own authorisation.
Is the NZeTA a visa?
No. It is a travel authorisation for people from visa-waiver countries and territories, and for cruise passengers and transit passengers. If you are not from a visa-waiver country, you need a visitor visa instead.
Read more about the NZeTA
What is the NZeTA
The NZeTA is a pre-travel authorisation for visa-waiver passports, not a visa. What it covers, who needs one, and what it does not do.
How to apply
Applying takes about ten minutes in the official app (NZ$17) or on the Immigration NZ website (NZ$23). The steps in order, and what trips people up.
Cost
The NZeTA request fee is NZ$17 in the app or NZ$23 online, plus the NZ$100 IVL — about NZ$117–NZ$123 in total.
What you need
A valid passport, a photo of your face, an email address and a payment card. What the photo has to look like and what else is asked.
Processing time
Most NZeTA requests are decided in minutes, but Immigration New Zealand asks you to allow up to 72 hours. What makes an application take longer.
Validity
An NZeTA lasts 2 years from the date it is issued, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first — and allows multiple entries.
Length of stay
Up to three months per visit for most travellers, and up to 6 months on a UK passport. The border officer decides on arrival.
Check your status
Where the confirmation is sent, how to check an existing NZeTA, and what to do if the email never arrives.
FAQ
Short answers to the questions travellers ask most about the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority.
6 months in any 12
Three months per visit is not the whole story: visa-waiver travellers may spend at most six months in any twelve-month period, however many trips that takes.
Leaving and returning
A short trip to Australia and back does not give you a fresh three months. What resets, what does not, and why repeated entries attract questions.
Extending your stay
The NZeTA itself cannot be extended. What you can do is apply for a visitor visa from inside New Zealand — and the timing of that application matters.
Passport validity
Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave New Zealand — not after you arrive. Renewing mid-trip also invalidates your NZeTA.
Traveller Declaration
Everyone arriving in New Zealand must complete a Traveller Declaration, including New Zealand passport holders. It is free and opens 24 hours before you travel.
Biosecurity
Undeclared risk goods mean an instant NZD $400 fine, even by honest mistake. Deliberate smuggling: up to NZD $100,000 and 5 years in prison.
Customs allowances
Goods over NZD $700, more than 50 cigarettes, and cash of NZD $10,000 or more all have to be declared on arrival.
Bringing medicines
You may bring up to 3 months' supply of prescription medicine, or 1 month of a controlled drug. Both need paperwork and must be declared.
Transit through Auckland
Most passengers transiting through Auckland need an NZeTA even though they never leave the airport. This is the single most missed requirement for New Zealand.
Cruise passengers
The visa-waiver list does not apply to cruise arrivals. Every cruise passenger needs an NZeTA, including nationalities that would otherwise need a visa.
If you are declined
A declined NZeTA is not the end of the trip, but reapplying with the same details will not change the outcome. Here is what actually comes next.
Dual nationals
The NZeTA is linked to one passport, and you must travel on it. A second nationality is not a problem — showing the wrong passport at check-in is.
Children and infants
Yes. Every traveller needs an NZeTA in their own name, including infants who are travelling on a parent's lap and do not have their own seat.
Australians
Australian citizens need neither a visa nor an NZeTA for New Zealand. Australian permanent residents are different: they must hold an NZeTA before boarding.
Work and study
Arriving under the visa waiver lets you study for up to 3 months. It does not let you work. What counts as work is wider than most travellers expect.
Medical treatment
If the purpose of the trip is medical treatment, Immigration New Zealand requires a Medical Treatment Visitor Visa. The NZeTA does not cover it.
NZeTA or visa?
The NZeTA covers short visits from visa-waiver passports. Longer stays, work, study beyond 3 months and medical treatment need a visa instead.
Which one do I need?
Similar names, very different rules. Which scheme applies to which destination, what each one costs, and the mistakes that come from mixing them up.
Arriving in New Zealand
Your NZeTA gets you on the plane. What comes after: eGates, biosecurity, money, driving, phones, health, safety and holidays — from official sources.
eGate at the border
eGates at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown take ePassports from 59 countries and territories, age 10 and over. The NZTD is still required.
Liquids at airport security
International flights from New Zealand: liquids in carry-on in 100 ml containers, one 1-litre bag. Domestic flights have no liquid limits.
Money, cards and tipping
New Zealand uses the NZ dollar. Prices include 15% GST or must say they don't, tipping is not expected, and cash of NZD $10,000 or more must be declared.
GST refund for tourists
New Zealand has no GST refund for visitors. You can only avoid the 15% GST when you buy: duty-free shops, export by the retailer, or airside delivery.
Phones and SIM cards
To use the local network you need a New Zealand SIM. Coverage is good in towns but patchy in rural areas. 111 is free even without credit.
Power plugs and voltage
New Zealand uses Type I plugs with two angled flat pins and the supply is 230 V, 50 Hz. Check your charger is rated up to 240 V before you plug it in.
Public holidays 2026–2027
Official New Zealand public holiday dates for 2026 and 2027, regional anniversary days, and the three and a half days when almost all shops must close.
Emergency numbers and safety
Call 111 for police, fire or ambulance, 105 for police non-emergencies. What to do in an earthquake or tsunami, and before a hike.
Healthcare and ACC
ACC can cover visitors' accident injuries, but not illness, and most visitors pay for care. Reciprocal agreements: UK and Australia only.
Driving in New Zealand
Drive on the left and carry your licence, plus an approved translation or IDP if it is not in English. Drink-drive limits and the November 2026 change.
Smoking, vaping and alcohol
18 to buy alcohol, tobacco or vapes, and a passport is the ID visitors can use. No smoking or vaping indoors in bars, and local liquor bans.
Start your NZeTA application
Applications are made through Immigration New Zealand's own app and website. We are an independent guide and cannot submit an application on your behalf.