We enjoy welcoming visitors to New Zealand. Having a valid passport and the right visa is key to a trouble-free entry into New Zealand. Your passport has to be valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure date, and if required, have a valid NEW ZEALAND VISITOR VISA INFORMATION.
On this page, you’ll find helpful information on New Zealand visa options:
- Travel requirements to enter New Zealand
- Visitor visa for a holiday
- Working holiday visa
- Work visa
- Transit visa (through New Zealand or Australia)
New Zealand visa options
Visiting New Zealand for a holiday
You do not need a visa to visit New Zealand if you are:
- A New Zealand citizen travelling on a New Zealand passport or on a foreign passport that has a New Zealand citizen endorsement
- An Australian citizen travelling on an Australian passport
- A foreign passport holder with a valid visa for New Zealand – including a Permanent Resident visa
If you plan to visit New Zealand for a short period, you need request a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority(opens in new window) (NZeTA) before you travel if you are:
- A citizen of a country which has a visa waiver(opens in new window) agreement with New Zealand (you can stay up to three months)
If you don’t meet the above, then you’ll need a visitor visa. The fastest and easiest way to apply for a visitor visa(opens in new window) is online.
Before travelling to New Zealand, you need to make sure your passport is valid for at least three months longer than your expected departure date. If you come from a country that needs a New Zealand visa to enter, please be sure to apply in advance.
If you have a biometric ordinary passport (or electronic passport) and are over 12 years old, you may be able to use NEW ZEALAND VISA TYPES Customs eGate service. This allows you to complete your Customs and Immigration checks faster so you can get on with enjoying your visit to New Zealand.
Working holidays
Working holiday visas(opens in new window) are available to young people, usually aged 18-30 (but 18-35 for a select few nationalities). They let you travel and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months, or 23 months if you’re from the UK. To apply you’ll need to meet the visa requirements, and have:
- A return ticket, or enough money to pay for one; and
- Be coming mainly to holiday, with work being a secondary intention.
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Work visas and staying permanently
If you’re thinking of coming to New Zealand to work for a few years, or maybe even to settle, you’ll need a work or resident visa. To get that – you’re likely to need a job.
For information about working in New Zealand, including industry profiles, tips on job hunting, and a list of job sites to check out, visit New Zealand Now.(opens in new window)
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Transiting through New Zealand or Australia
If you are travelling to New Zealand via an Australian airport, you may also need an Australian visa – consult your travel agent or airline if you are unsure.
Transit visas (opens in new window)will also be needed for all people travelling via New Zealand, unless they are specifically exempted by immigration policy.
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Essential travel information
Upon arrival in New Zealand
Once you have checked your eligibility for travel,(opens in new window) and have met New Zealand’s vaccination requirements(opens in new window), you will need to complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration(opens in new window).
You will also need to complete a Passenger Arrival Card(opens in new window) before passing through Customs Passport Control. A passenger arrival card will be given to you during your flight. If not, cards are available in the arrival area.
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What you can bring into New Zealand
After you’ve cleared passport control, you should collect your baggage and proceed through customs and biosecurity checks. In order to protect New Zealand and its environment, certain items are not allowed to be brought into the country, have restrictions for entry or must be declared if they are deemed to present a biosecurity risk. These include food, plants, animal products and outdoor recreational equipment.
Your baggage may be sniffed by a detector dog and/or x-rayed, and it may be searched to identify any risk goods you might be carrying.
To avoid penalties it is best to familiarise yourself with these guidelines prior to travel. For a detailed list of prohibited, restricted or declarable items, please visit Ministry for Primary Industries(opens in new window) (biosecurity agency).