Is the NZeTA really NZ$117?
The request fee is NZ$17 in the app or NZ$23 online, and the NZ$100 IVL is charged at the same time — so most travellers pay about NZ$117–NZ$123 in total.
Is the app cheaper than the website?
Yes, by NZ$6, for exactly the same authorisation.
Do children need their own NZeTA?
Yes. Every traveller needs one, including infants, on their own passport.
Do I need one to transit?
Most passengers transiting through Auckland do need an NZeTA, even without leaving the airport.
I have a new passport — is my NZeTA still valid?
No. It is linked to the old passport. Apply again with the new one.
Does an NZeTA guarantee entry?
No. It permits travel; entry is decided by the border officer on arrival.
Can I work in New Zealand on an NZeTA?
No. Business visitor activities such as meetings and conferences are allowed, but not employment with a New Zealand employer.
More on the NZeTA
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.