Which Countries Can Enter New Zealand With an NZeTA Instead of a Visa? Full List 2026

New Zealand's border runs on one simple split. You either hold a passport from a visa waiver country and travel on an NZeTA, or you apply for a visitor visa before you fly. There's no middle ground, and no way to sort it out at the airport.

The list itself gets muddled up with a lot of other things — where you live, where you're flying from, whether you already hold a US or UK visa, whether you're only passing through Auckland for three hours. None of those matter. Your passport nationality decides everything, and it decides it before you book.

This guide gives you the full 2026 list country by country, the current fees in New Zealand dollars, the 2-year validity rule, the transit trap that catches people out at check-in, and a 60-second way to check your own eligibility. It's general information, not immigration advice — always confirm your position with Immigration New Zealand before you pay for flights.

What the NZeTA actually is — and what it isn't

The NZeTA is a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority. It launched on 1 October 2019 for travellers who previously flew to New Zealand with nothing at all.

It is not a visa. Think of it as a pre-travel security check. Immigration New Zealand collects your passport details, a photo of your face, your travel plans and a short set of character and health questions, then runs checks against its own records.

The result is stored electronically against your passport number.

Three things follow from that:

• You must request it before you check in. Airlines flying to New Zealand verify it electronically and will deny boarding without it.
• You cannot buy one on arrival. There's no counter at Auckland Airport that sells NZeTAs to people who forgot.
• It does not guarantee entry. A border officer can still refuse you if you don't meet the visitor requirements.

One useful newer detail: since January 2025, Immigration New Zealand has allowed visitors — including NZeTA holders — to work remotely for an overseas employer while in New Zealand. It's a niche rule and the conditions matter, so check the official page before you plan a working holiday around it.

NZeTA visa waiver countries list: the full list for 2026

Immigration New Zealand publishes a list of 60 visa waiver countries and territories. Nationals of those countries and territories can request an NZeTA instead of applying for a visitor visa.

Here's the full list, grouped the way most travellers think about it. There's a set of footnotes underneath — read those, because a few entries are narrower than they look.

Europe (36 countries and territories)

• Andorra
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• San Marino
• Slovak Republic
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• Vatican City

Portugal includes the Azores and Madeira. Spain includes the Balearic and Canary Islands. If your passport is issued by one of those territories, you're covered by the parent country entry.

Asia-Pacific (8 countries and territories)

• Brunei Darussalam
• Hong Kong (HKSAR passport holders)
• Japan
• Korea (Republic of Korea / South Korea)
• Macau (MSAR passport holders)
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• Taiwan

Note the brackets. Hong Kong appears on the list as HKSAR — you need a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport, not a British National (Overseas) passport or a Document of Identity. Macau works the same way with MSAR passports.

Taiwan is generally restricted to passport holders who have a personal identification number printed in their passport.

Middle East (7 countries)

• Bahrain
• Israel
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates

These seven were added to the waiver list in recent years, which is why a lot of older blog posts still tell Gulf nationals they need a visa. They don't.

Americas (7 countries)

• Argentina
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chile
• Mexico
• United States of America
• Uruguay

Canada and the US are the two biggest source markets for NZeTA applications. Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay are the Latin American entries — and they're the ones people are most surprised by, since most of South America is not on the list.

Africa and the Indian Ocean (2 countries)

• Mauritius
• Seychelles

That's it for Africa. Two countries. Every other African passport requires a visitor visa for New Zealand.

Which nationalities do NOT get an NZeTA

It's just as useful to know who's excluded, because the exclusions include some very large countries.

Nationals of the following — and this is a sample, not the complete list — must apply for a New Zealand visitor visa and cannot use an NZeTA:

• India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal
• China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar
• South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Egypt, Morocco
• Most Pacific Island nations (though several have separate visa-free arrangements — check the official page)
• Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Serbia, Belarus and most of the Western Balkans

If your country isn't in the six regional lists above, assume you need a visitor visa and plan for a longer, more expensive process. A New Zealand visitor visa typically takes weeks rather than minutes and costs considerably more than an NZeTA.

What most guides get wrong about the NZeTA country list

This is the bit that actually causes people to lose money. Three widespread assumptions are wrong, and all three come up constantly.

Myth 1: "I live in the UK, so I can use an NZeTA"

No. The waiver list is built on nationality, not residence. If you hold an Indian, Nigerian, Chinese or South African passport — even with indefinite leave to remain in the UK — you need a New Zealand visitor visa.

The confusion is understandable. The UK's own entry rules do hinge on residence for some categories. New Zealand's don't.

Nothing on your UK or EU residence permit transfers to the New Zealand border.

Myth 2: "I have a US visa, so that counts"

It doesn't. Visas issued by the US, UK, Canada, Australia or the Schengen area have no standing at the New Zealand border. New Zealand assesses you on your passport and its own rules.

Myth 3: "Australian citizens need an NZeTA too"

They don't. Australian citizens are exempt from both the NZeTA and the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. They're granted a resident visa on arrival and can stay indefinitely.

Australian permanent residents are covered by a separate arrangement. If you hold an Australian permanent resident visa but a non-Australian passport, check the exact evidence you'll need on the Immigration New Zealand site before you fly.

NZeTA vs visitor visa: the numbers side by side

If you're on the fence about which route applies to you, this table settles it. Fees are in New Zealand dollars and reflect Immigration New Zealand's published charges following the 1 October 2024 increase.

Those NZeTA and IVL figures are the ones in force since 1 October 2024. Before that date the NZeTA was NZD $9 on the app and NZD $12 on the website, and the levy was NZD $35. If you're reading an older guide quoting $9 or $35, it's out of date.

Fees and thresholds change. Verify current charges on Immigration New Zealand before you pay — this article is general guidance, not a quotation.

How long can you stay in New Zealand on an NZeTA?

Your NZeTA lasts 2 years from the date it's granted. It's a multiple-entry authority, so you can leave and come back as often as you like inside that window, as long as your passport is still valid.

The stay length on each visit is where it gets interesting:

• British citizens: up to 6 months per visit. This is a long-standing special arrangement and it's one of the most generous visitor rules New Zealand offers.
• Everyone else on the waiver list: up to 3 months per visit.
• Australian citizens: no limit — you're treated as a resident on arrival.

Don't confuse validity with stay length. A 2-year NZeTA doesn't mean you can stay two years. It means the authority to travel stays live for two years, and each entry gives you 3 months (or 6 for Brits).

If you want to stay longer than your allowance, you need to apply for a different visa from inside New Zealand before your permitted stay runs out. Overstaying, even by a few days, creates real problems for future travel.

Can you use the same NZeTA for multiple trips?

Yes. That's the main advantage over a single-entry visa. A frequent flyer who visits family in Auckland twice a year applies once and is covered for both trips.

Two catches worth knowing:

1. Your NZeTA is linked to the passport you applied with. If you're issued a new passport before you travel — because the old one expired, or you changed your name — the cleanest move is to request a fresh NZeTA using the new passport number. It's cheap insurance against being stopped at check-in. If you're not sure whether your existing authority carries over, ask Immigration New Zealand directly before you fly.
2. Some nationalities can't use it for everything. Medical treatment, paid work for a New Zealand employer and study beyond short courses all sit outside the visitor rules. Check before you assume.

Transiting New Zealand: the rule that catches people out

This is the single most misunderstood part of the whole system. Here's the decision rule, stated plainly:

If your journey passes through a New Zealand airport, you need either a transit NZeTA or a transit visa — even if you never leave the transit area and never pass through border control.

New Zealand doesn't operate fully sterile transit for all nationalities. You're briefly in the New Zealand immigration system the moment your plane lands at Auckland or Christchurch, and that means paperwork.

The practical split looks like this:

• Visa waiver nationals in transit: request a transit NZeTA. It costs NZD $17 on the app or NZD $23 on the website, and you're not charged the NZD $100 levy.
• Nationals on New Zealand's transit visa list: you need a transit visa, not a transit NZeTA, even for an airside connection. This list is separate from the visa waiver list, and it's shorter — check it on the official site.
• Australian citizens:
exempt, as always.

A real example. You're flying London → Auckland → Sydney with a 2-hour connection. You never clear New Zealand customs.

You still need a transit NZeTA. Airlines check this at Heathrow and will refuse boarding without it.

If you're planning a connection through Auckland, our guide to the NZeTA transit visa walks through the airside-versus-landside split in detail, including what happens if you want to leave the airport for a few hours.

Arriving by cruise ship — yes, you still need one

Sea arrivals are covered by the same rules. If you're boarding a cruise that calls at a New Zealand port, you need an NZeTA before you sail, not before you dock.

That catches people out because the booking process for cruises focuses on the ship, not the immigration side. You'll usually get a reminder from the cruise line a few weeks out. Don't leave it to the last week.

You can request an NZeTA up to 2 years before you travel, so there's no reason to cut it fine.

How to request an NZeTA: what the app and form actually ask

Two routes exist: the official NZeTA mobile app, or the web form. The app is cheaper by NZD $6 and faster because it scans your passport chip.

Here's the flow, in the order the app presents it. Screens can be tweaked from time to time, but this is the shape of it.

1. Download the official NZeTA app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Be careful here — there are lookalike apps and third-party sites that charge a big markup. The official one is free to download.
2. Scan your passport photo page. The app uses your phone's camera or NFC reader to pull your details automatically. This is where most people get stuck: hold the phone flat against the passport and keep it still for a few seconds.
3. Check the auto-filled details. Name spelling, passport number, expiry date, place of birth. Fix anything the scan got wrong. A mis-typed passport number is the number one reason an NZeTA fails to match at check-in.
4. Take a selfie. Plain background, no sunglasses, neutral expression. It doesn't need to be a studio shot, but it does need to look like you.
5. Enter your travel details. Arrival date, departure date, and the flight number or vessel name for your inbound leg.
6. Answer the character and health questions. Criminal convictions, previous deportations, tuberculosis risk, whether you've been refused a visa before. Answer honestly — these are checked.
7. Confirm whether you're visiting or transiting. This determines whether the NZD $100 levy is added.
8. Add your email address. This is where your confirmation and reference number go. Typos here are painful.
9. Pay by credit or debit card. The total shows as either NZD $117 (app, visitor) or NZD $23 (app, transit) before checkout.

Then you wait. Most decisions come back within minutes. Immigration New Zealand asks you to allow up to 72 hours, and occasionally it takes longer if a manual check is triggered.

You'll get an email with a reference number. You don't need to print it — it's linked electronically to your passport — but screenshot it anyway. If you want the full walkthrough with screenshots and troubleshooting, here's how to apply for NZeTA step by step.

What happens at check-in and at the border

At check-in, the airline sends your passport number to New Zealand's systems and gets a yes or no. If it's a no, you don't board. There is no appeal at the gate.

On arrival in New Zealand, you'll go through immigration like any other traveller. Border officers can ask for:

• Your onward or return ticket — you need to have one
• Proof you can fund your stay. Immigration New Zealand's visitor guidance uses roughly NZD $1,000 per person per month, or NZD $400 per month if your accommodation is already paid for
• An address where you're staying for the first night or two
• Travel insurance details, if asked

Will you be turned away? Realistically, no, if your paperwork is straight. NZeTA holders are refused entry only in a small minority of cases — usually where someone has an undeclared conviction, no onward ticket, or is clearly intending to work for a New Zealand employer.

Answer questions honestly and briefly. Border officers deal with hundreds of travellers a day and they're quick to spot a rehearsed story that doesn't match the booking.

If your NZeTA is declined

An NZeTA can be refused. It's not common, but it happens — most often because of a criminal conviction, a prior deportation, or a mismatch between the details on the application and the passport.

If you're refused, the NZeTA fee isn't automatically refunded, and the NZD $100 levy adds up to real money. What you can and can't recover is covered in our guide to NZeTA refund declined applications, including how to request a review.

Your practical options after a refusal are:

1. Request a reconsideration if you believe the decision was based on wrong information. This is free but slow.
2. Apply for a visitor visa through the standard process, where you can submit supporting documents and a character waiver if needed.
3. Change your plans if you don't meet the character requirements and can't get a waiver.

Don't reapply for an NZeTA hoping for a different answer. The same information produces the same result.

Three travellers, three different outcomes

Abstract rules are hard to apply to yourself. These real-shaped scenarios show how the country list works in practice.

Priya — Indian passport, lives in Manchester

Priya holds an Indian passport and a UK skilled worker visa. She books flights to Auckland for a two-week holiday, assumes she can use the NZeTA because she lives in the UK, and pays NZD $117 on the app.

Her application is refused — not because of anything on her record, but because India isn't on the visa waiver list. She loses the fee and the levy, and now has roughly three weeks to get a visitor visa before her flights. That's tight.

Visitor visas are usually measured in weeks, not days.

The lesson: check the list before you book flights, not after.

Tom — British citizen, transiting Auckland

Tom flies London → Auckland → Sydney. He stays airside for the whole two-hour connection and never sets foot in New Zealand proper.

He still needs a transit NZeTA. It costs him NZD $23 on the website — no levy, because he's transiting. Without it, he'd have been stopped at Heathrow check-in.

The lesson: airside still counts.

Mariana — Brazilian passport, 14-day campervan trip

Mariana applies five weeks before departure and is approved in 11 minutes. Total cost: NZD $117 on the app. She's set for two years and multiple trips.

Three months later she renews her passport. When she books a second trip, she requests a new NZeTA against the new passport number rather than relying on the old one. It costs her another NZD $117, but it removes any chance of a mismatch at check-in.

The lesson: the NZeTA follows the passport, not the person.

Check your own eligibility in 60 seconds

Here's the fastest reliable way to settle the question.

1. Open your passport to the photo page. Find the nationality field — not your place of birth, not your country of residence.
2. Go to Immigration New Zealand's visa waiver countries and territories page.
3. Search the page for your country name. Use the browser's find function — the list is long.
4. If it appears, you can use an NZeTA. If it doesn't, you need a visitor visa.
5. If your country appears with a bracket or footnote — Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan — read the footnote. Your passport type matters.
6. Check whether you're arriving as a visitor or a transit passenger. That decides which NZeTA you request and whether the levy applies.

Two minutes of checking beats a refused application and a rebooked flight.

Practical timing: when to request your NZeTA

Officially, you can request an NZeTA up to 2 years before you travel, and it's valid for 2 years once granted. In practice, here's a sensible schedule:

• At least 2 weeks before departure. This gives you a buffer if something triggers a manual check or a refusal, and time to pivot to a visa application if needed.
• After you've booked flights but before you've paid for anything non-refundable — accommodation, tours, internal transfers.
• Before check-in opens. Non-negotiable. Airlines won't board you without it.

There's no advantage to applying at the last minute, and a meaningful downside if anything goes wrong.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for official advice. Always verify current requirements with official sources before you travel.

Key takeaways

• Sixty countries and territories are on New Zealand's visa waiver list. Their nationals can enter on an NZeTA instead of a visitor visa.
• Eligibility is based on passport nationality. Where you live, what other visas you hold and where you're flying from are all irrelevant.
• The NZeTA costs NZD $17 on the app or NZD $23 on the website, plus a NZD $100 levy for most visitors — NZD $117 or NZD $123 in total. Transit NZeTAs skip the levy.
• It's valid 2 years, multiple entry, 3 months per visit — 6 months for British citizens.
• Transiting through a New Zealand airport still requires a transit NZeTA or transit visa, even if you stay airside.
• Australian citizens need neither an NZeTA nor a levy.
• Check the official list before booking, and verify current fees and rules with Immigration New Zealand before you travel.

See also: the New Zealand ETA explained