NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) visa is a requirement if you are passing through New Zealand as a Transit passenger. Before you start travelling to New Zealand, you need to apply for a transit visa.
In some cases, you don't even need to have a visa but you should have an New Zealand eTA visa.
The first case is when you are travelling to Australia, while the second is if you are from a visa waiver country, in both cases, you don't need a transit visa.
If you are from a visa waiver country, you also do not require a visa.
Who Must Have a New Zealand Visa?
You must apply for a transit permission before you travel. If its a visa or just the NZeTA, an entry permission is needed.
If you are any of the following, only an NZeTA is needed to transit:
- An Australian permanent resident.
- From a visa waiver country.
Who Must Apply for NZeTA?
If you plan to visit NZ as a tourist, or if you have a plan to travel to any country by passing through Auckland International Airport, then you must apply for NZeTA if you:
- Have a passport from the list of transit visa waiver country.
- Are a permanent Australian resident and have a resident visa that allows you to travel Australia from any other country.
- Are a current citizen of any country listed in visa waiver countries.
Who Doesn't Need NZeTA?
If you are
- A New Zealand Citizen.
- Having a foreign passport that has a New Zealand citizen endorsement.
- An Australian citizen and traveling on an Australian passport.
- Holding a valid visa for New Zealand (include a Permanent Resident Visa).
Important Things You Must Do
- You have to pass through Auckland International airport as a transit passenger.
- You have to stay in the transit area of the airport all the time.
- Have to include your partner and dependent children aged 19 or less than 19 in your visa application.
Important Things To Note
- You must hold NZeTA if you are from a transit visa waiver country, an Australian resident or from a visa waiver country.
- It can take very little time, but the time allowed for processing is up to 72 hours.
- NZD $35 is paid by a passenger as an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IvL) at the same time when they pay for NZeTA.
- On the free app, the NZeTA request costs NZD $9.
- Online completion of NZeTA request costs NZD $12.
- You can see the status of your NZeTA once you have requested for NZeTA.
Importance of NZeTA
NZeTA for transit is of great importance because, without it, you can't travel to or from the Auckland International airport.
If you have a visa but you don't have NZeTA, you can't travel to any other country through New Zealand. You need an approved NZeTA to depart.
Transit Visa Waiver Countries
As a transit passenger, citizens of some countries mentioned by New Zealand do not need to apply for NZ visa but must hold NZeTA before passing through New Zealand.
Summarizing What It Means to Transit Through New Zealand?
An international traveler who is on his/her way to another country and passes through New Zealand without any plans to stay in the country is considered a transit passenger.
Foreign passengers can only transit through Auckland International Airport and have to remain in the dedicated transit area or on board their flight.
At present, they can spend less than 24 hours in New Zealand without a visa.
Only citizens and permanent residents of New Zealand and citizens of Australia are not required to have a visa and NZeTA to transit through the country.
Citizens of all other nations need either a NZeTA or a transit visa to pass through New Zealand.
A foreign traveler from visa waiver countries or Australian permanent resident card holders can apply for an NZeTA to transit through the country.
All other foreign travelers have to get a transit visa. For this, they have to fill out an online application form, sign it and submit it along with all other supporting documents at the nearest New Zealand embassy or consulate.
Foreign nationals applying for a transit visa can include his/her partner and children under 19 years in their visa application. There is no need for separate visa applications.
All transiting passengers should remain in the transit/ transfer area and will have to undergo security checks.
They are encouraged to be aware of restricted objects including items purchased duty free from other airports that will be screened at Auckland airport.
After the checks they can go to the departure area for their next flight.
The airport offers 24/7 customer care services and travelers can reach out to officers by dialing 0 or 98777 in case of emergencies or for other services.
The airport also has free Wi-Fi hotspots and other facilities.
