Visa Waiver Visitor Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Visa Waiver Visitor Visa
Stay	3 months; UK citizens 6 months
Cost	NZD $0 visa fee
Eligibility timing	NZeTA before travel
Processing	Granted at New Zealand border
Work rights	No local work; remote work allowed
Study	Up to 3 months
Healthcare	Pay healthcare; insurance recommended
Travel facility	Single entry only
Citizenship	Visa-waiver passport required
Family	Each member needs own NZeTA
Sponsorship	Not permitted under visa waiver
Visa record	Not stated in the source

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Purpose

This visa is issued at the New Zealand border to eligible visa-waiver travellers who receive entry permission. It allows you to:

• Holiday in New Zealand.
• Visit family and friends.
• Study for a limited period.
• Travel without applying for a visitor visa beforehand.

You must be a genuine visitor and intend to leave at the end of your stay.

Eligibility

You must:

• Hold an NZeTA before travel, unless exempt.
• Travel on a passport from a visa-waiver country or territory; or
• Travel from Australia on a Chinese or Pacific Islands Forum passport with an eligible Australian visa.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Have a genuine reason for visiting.
• Have enough money for your stay.
• Show you can leave New Zealand.

Passport-specific rules

• Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania: citizen passports only.
• Hong Kong: residents using a Hong Kong SAR or British National (Overseas) passport.
• Macao: residents using a Macao SAR passport.
• Portugal: must have permanent right to live in Portugal.
• Taiwan: permanent residents using a Taiwan passport.
• USA nationals may travel visa waiver.

Australian citizens and permanent residents receive an Australian Resident Visa at the border. Australian permanent residents must still obtain an NZeTA before travel.

Stay and travel

You can stay:

• Up to 3 months; or
• Up to 6 months if you are from the United Kingdom.

You may visit New Zealand for no more than 6 months in any 12-month period. If you have already reached this limit, apply for a visitor visa before travelling.

The visa has single-entry conditions. It expires when you leave New Zealand or at the end of your permitted stay, whichever happens first.

Cost

There is no fee for the Visa Waiver Visitor Visa issued on arrival.

You must pay the NZeTA fee and International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) when requesting the NZeTA. NZeTA fees are not refunded if you are refused a visa at the border.

Work and study rights

Work

You cannot work in New Zealand under this visa.

You may be able to:

• Volunteer.
• Work remotely for an employer or client based outside New Zealand.

Study

You may study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.

School-aged children may study for up to 3 months in any calendar year. If studying for more than 2 weeks, their education provider must be a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.

Money and healthcare

You must have at least:

• NZD $1,000 per month; or
• NZD $400 per month if accommodation is prepaid.

Evidence may include prepaid accommodation receipts, bank statements, credit-card statements, bank drafts or traveller's cheques.

You must pay for any healthcare or medical assistance needed in New Zealand. Full medical insurance is recommended. Some people may be eligible for public healthcare.

You cannot use a sponsor to pay your expenses under visa-waiver travel. Apply for a visa before travelling if you need sponsorship.

Evidence and documents

For the NZeTA

Provide:

• Your passport.
• One acceptable photo.

At check-in and arrival

Carry:

• The passport used for your NZeTA request.
• NZeTA confirmation email.
• A paid ticket out of New Zealand.
• Evidence of sufficient funds, if requested.
• Completed New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD).

Your passport must remain valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure from New Zealand.

Your onward ticket must be to a country you have a right to enter. If departing by private craft or cruise ship, a craft-owner letter or cruise itinerary may be accepted.

Provide certified English translations and scanned originals for documents not in English where possible.

Application steps

1. Check eligibility before travelling.
2. Request an NZeTA before departing. Allow up to 72 hours for processing.
3. Gather evidence of identity, funds, accommodation and onward travel.
4. Complete the NZTD to apply for entry permission. You may submit a digital declaration from 24 hours before travel; paper forms are available.
5. Arrive at the border. Immigration assesses your identity and eligibility.
6. Receive the visa if entry permission is granted.

Family provisions

Your partner and dependent children may travel with you only if each person:

• Has their own NZeTA.
• Is eligible for visa-waiver travel.
• Meets health, character, genuine-intentions, funds and departure requirements.

Family members who do not meet these requirements should apply for a visa before travelling.

Important warnings

You may be stopped at check-in or refused entry permission if you:

• Do not meet health or character requirements.
• Have a criminal conviction.
• Have been deported, removed or excluded elsewhere.
• Are considered a security, public-order or public-interest risk.
• Are not a genuine visitor.
• Have breached visa conditions on a previous New Zealand visit.
• Cannot show onward travel or sufficient funds.
• Refuse a photo, fingerprints or iris scan.
• Have NZeTA details that do not match your travel passport.

If travelling for medical consultation or treatment, apply for a Medical Treatment Visitor Visa before travel. If unsure whether you meet character requirements, apply for a visa before travelling.