Do Israel Citizens Need a New Zealand ETA (NZeTA)?

Israeli passport holders can stay in New Zealand for up to 90 days per visit. This 90-day limit resets with each new entry into New Zealand, allowing multiple trips of up to 90 days each during the 2-year validity window of the NZeTA.

The NZeTA is valid for 2 years from the date it is granted. During this period you may enter New Zealand as many times as you wish, with each individual stay not exceeding 90 days. There is no requirement to use the NZeTA immediately after it is issued.

Israeli travellers who are planning extended road trips or trekking journeys covering both islands should ensure they account for the 90-day limit when planning their itinerary. New Zealand's South Island alone can easily absorb several weeks of exploration, and the North Island adds further attractions — both are covered by the same NZeTA.

If you wish to remain in New Zealand beyond 90 days, you must apply for an appropriate visa extension through Immigration New Zealand before your allowed stay expires.

The NZeTA application process for Israeli citizens is fully online — there is no embassy appointment, no form to print, and no documents to post. You can complete the entire process from anywhere with an internet connection. Here is how it works:

1. Go to the online application form — available via our secure application portal.
2. Enter your Israeli passport details — passport number, date of issue, expiry date, and personal biographical details.
3. Complete the health and character declaration — answer questions about health conditions and any criminal history honestly. Most Israeli applicants pass this step without difficulty.
4. Pay the NZeTA application fee — this includes the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). Payment is accepted by credit or debit card.
5. Await your approval email — most applications are decided within 24–72 hours. Your NZeTA approval will arrive at the email address you provided.

Keep your approval email accessible — you may be asked to show it at airline check-in. The NZeTA is also verified electronically, but the email serves as your proof of authorisation.

The NZeTA requires far fewer documents than a traditional visa application. Israeli passport holders need to have the following ready:

• Valid Israeli passport — must remain valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure date from New Zealand. Biometric Israeli passports are standard and are accepted.
• Email address — your approval notification is sent exclusively by email. Use an address you monitor regularly.
• Credit or debit card — to pay the application fee. Visa and Mastercard are accepted. The fee is non-refundable.
• Health and character declaration answers — honest responses to questions about health and criminal history.

You do not need to submit photographs, financial statements, employment letters, hotel bookings, or return flight tickets as part of the NZeTA application. However, you should be prepared to show evidence of onward travel and sufficient funds at the New Zealand border on arrival.

Yes, absolutely. A single NZeTA covers travel across the entire country of New Zealand — including both the North Island and the South Island, as well as Stewart Island (Rakiura) and New Zealand's other domestic islands. There is no need to apply for separate authorisations, permits, or additional visas to travel between islands.

Internal travel within New Zealand — including domestic flights, inter-island ferries (such as the Interislander or Bluebridge across Cook Strait), and ground transport — is entirely unrestricted once you have entered the country on your NZeTA. Many Israeli travellers plan itineraries that encompass both islands in a single trip: for example, starting in Auckland on the North Island, travelling south to Wellington, crossing to Picton, and then exploring the South Island's Marlborough Sounds, Abel Tasman, Franz Josef, Queenstown, Fiordland, and Milford Sound.

The key constraint is that your total time in New Zealand during any single entry must not exceed 90 days. Whether you spend those 90 days entirely on one island or split them between both, the same NZeTA applies throughout.

Most NZeTA applications submitted by Israeli passport holders are processed and approved within 24–72 hours. The majority of applicants receive a decision within 24 hours, though processing can take up to 72 hours during busy periods or if an application requires additional review.

Express processing options are available if you need a faster result. See our processing times and fees page for current options and pricing.

We recommend applying at least one week before your departure date. This is particularly important for Israeli travellers whose routing to New Zealand — typically via Singapore, Bangkok, or another Southeast Asian hub — involves long-haul connections. Missing your flight due to an unapproved NZeTA at check-in is an avoidable disruption; advance applications eliminate this risk.