The decision is sent by email to the address used in the application. There is nothing to print — the authorisation is recorded against your passport.
If the email has not arrived
- Check the spam or promotions folder first
- Confirm the address you typed in the application had no typo
- Check the app: an application made there shows its status in the app
- Allow the full processing window before assuming something went wrong
Checking an older NZeTA
If you applied more than 2 years ago, it has expired. If you are unsure whether yours is still valid, the safest check is the official Immigration New Zealand channel — not a third-party site that asks for your passport number.
Be careful where you enter passport details. Only immigration.govt.nz and the official app are genuine channels.
More on the NZeTA
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.