Tourist, Business, Transit, Cruise Ship & Crew — find the right New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority for your journey and apply online in minutes.
Select your travel purpose to jump to the right NZeTA type:
New Zealand issues five types of Electronic Travel Authority. All are applied for through the same secure online form — simply select your travel purpose.
For holidays, sightseeing, visiting friends or family, and general leisure travel to New Zealand.
For business meetings, conferences, seminars, and short-term professional visits without employment.
For passengers connecting through Auckland International Airport en route to a third country.
Mandatory for every cruise passenger — regardless of nationality — before the vessel enters New Zealand waters.
For commercial airline personnel and maritime vessel crew travelling to or through New Zealand in an official capacity.
All NZeTA types use the same secure online form. Apply in under 10 minutes.
Apply for NZeTA NowUse the table below to quickly compare all NZeTA types and confirm which one matches your travel purpose and nationality.
| Feature | Tourist | Business | Transit | Cruise | Crew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Validity Period | 2 Years | 2 Years | 2 Years | 2 Years | 5 Years |
| Max Stay per Visit | 90 days UK: 6 months |
90 days UK: 6 months |
Transit only | Port stay only | Duty periods |
| Multiple Entries | |||||
| Tourism / Sightseeing | |||||
| Business Meetings | |||||
| Paid Employment | Crew duties only | ||||
| Who Must Apply | Visa-waiver countries | Visa-waiver countries | Visa-waiver countries | All nationalities | Airline & maritime crew |
| Apply Online |
The New Zealand Tourist ETA is the most common type of NZeTA and is designed for travellers visiting New Zealand for leisure, holidays, sightseeing, or to visit friends and family. It is ideal for exploring iconic destinations such as Milford Sound, Rotorua's geothermal parks, the Bay of Islands, Queenstown's adventure activities, and Auckland's vibrant waterfront.
Citizens from 60+ visa-waiver countries — including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Japan, Singapore, and UAE — are eligible to apply for the Tourist NZeTA. The authorization is valid for 2 years from the date of approval and permits multiple entries, making it convenient for repeat visits.
Most nationalities may stay up to 90 days per visit. However, UK citizens benefit from a special bilateral arrangement and may stay for up to 6 months per visit under the New Zealand Tourist ETA.
The New Zealand Business ETA is designed for professionals and corporate travellers from visa-waiver countries who need to attend business meetings, conferences, trade fairs, seminars, or negotiations in New Zealand without intending to take up employment.
Whether you're an executive attending the Fieldays agricultural conference, a delegate at a technology summit in Auckland, or a legal professional conducting negotiations in Wellington, the Business NZeTA provides a fast, hassle-free route for entry without a traditional business visa.
Like the Tourist NZeTA, the Business NZeTA is valid for 2 years from approval and allows multiple entries. Each individual visit may last up to 90 days (or 6 months for UK citizens). It does not authorise paid work — for employment purposes, a New Zealand work visa must be obtained.
If you are travelling internationally and have a connecting flight through Auckland International Airport, you are required to hold a valid New Zealand Transit NZeTA — even if you do not plan to leave the airport's transit zone. Auckland is a major hub for transpacific and trans-Tasman routes, meaning thousands of travellers transit through New Zealand each year on their way to Australia, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
The NZeTA transit requirement applies to all eligible travellers from visa-waiver countries, regardless of how short the layover is or whether the passenger clears New Zealand immigration. This is an important point often missed by travellers — not having a Transit NZeTA can result in being denied boarding by the airline at your departure airport.
The Transit NZeTA is valid for 2 years and allows multiple transit entries through Auckland Airport during that period, making it convenient for frequent business travellers who regularly route through New Zealand.
Unlike most other NZeTA types, the Cruise Ship NZeTA is mandatory for ALL passengers — regardless of nationality — before any vessel arrives in New Zealand waters. This includes passengers on round-world cruises, transpacific voyages, and Australasian cruises calling at ports such as Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch (Lyttelton), Dunedin (Port Chalmers), and Tauranga.
Even passengers who do not intend to disembark at any New Zealand port are legally required to hold a valid NZeTA for cruise travel. Failure to obtain one before departure can result in the cruise line denying boarding at the vessel's origin port.
The Cruise Ship NZeTA allows passengers to take shore excursions, explore New Zealand's ports independently, and re-board their vessel. It is valid for 2 years, meaning one approval covers multiple cruises to New Zealand within that period. Read the full cruise ETA guide →
The Airline and Maritime Crew NZeTA is specifically designed for commercial airline personnel and cruise or maritime vessel crew members who travel to or transit through New Zealand as part of their official duties. This type of NZeTA acknowledges the frequent and regular nature of crew travel and therefore carries a significantly longer validity period.
Unlike passenger NZeTAs which are valid for 2 years, the Crew NZeTA is valid for up to 5 years from the date of approval, covering multiple duty periods to New Zealand during that time. This reduces the administrative burden on crew members who travel to New Zealand regularly as part of their employment schedule.
Commercial airline crew operating on routes to Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch, as well as crew members on cruise ships visiting New Zealand ports, must each hold their own valid Crew NZeTA before their first entry into New Zealand waters or airspace.
Answers to the most common questions about choosing the right New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority type.