Skip to content

New Zealand · Entry rules

Who needs a visa for New Zealand?

Entry rules for New Zealand by nationality, for short tourist or business visits, from Immigration New Zealand (MBIE), checked .

In brief

Citizens of 1 countries and territories can visit New Zealand without a visa. 60 can apply for an eVisa or ETA online. Everyone else, 137 nationalities, needs a visa; some have another route with a residence permit or another visa, shown below.

Visa-free
1
On arrival
0
eVisa or ETA
60
Visa required
137

About 6.5 bn people (80% of the world's other nationalities by population) need a visa arranged before they travel to New Zealand: a visa, an eVisa or a visa only with another permit.

Checked 31 Oct 2026Source: Immigration New ZealandReport a change

Most commonIndiaUnited StatesHong KongPakistanVietnamSaudi ArabiaAll passports

New Zealand entry rules at a glance

GroupStayNationalitiesExamplesSource
Free movementNot stated1AustraliaImmigration New Zealand
ETA, with conditions3 months59United States, Brazil, Mexico, JapanImmigration New Zealand
ETA, with conditions6 months1United KingdomImmigration New Zealand
Visa requiredAs granted137India, China, Indonesia, PakistanImmigration New Zealand

Free movement: Australia

1 nationality

No visa and no NZeTA (Operational Manual E12.1.5). INZ grants an Australian Resident Visa on arrival.

Source: Immigration New Zealand (MBIE), checked A visa waiver applies to, but is not limited to, the following people: citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia

ETA for 3 months with conditions: the US, Brazil, Mexico and 56 more

59 nationalities

NZeTA before travel; not for medical treatment. Portugal: only with the right to live permanently in Portugal. Taiwan: permanent residents (ID number in the passport). Hong Kong and Macau: residents on SAR passports. Greece: passports issued from 1 Jan 2006. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania: not alien's passports.

Source: Immigration New Zealand (MBIE), checked A person travelling to New Zealand visa waiver is required to hold an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) unless exempt (see E12 Electronic Travel Authority).

ETA for 6 months with conditions: the UK

1 nationality

NZeTA before travel; not for medical treatment.

Source: Immigration New Zealand (MBIE), checked British citizens, and other British passport holders who produce evidence of the right to reside permanently in the United Kingdom, but only if the person concerned is seeking a visitor visa current for not more than six months

Visa required: India, China, Indonesia and 134 more

137 nationalities

Apply before you travel at an embassy or consulate of New Zealand, or the visa centre it names.

Nationalities not listed above: the official source says so in as many words.

Source: Immigration New Zealand (MBIE), checked A person who is not a New Zealand citizen may travel to New Zealand only if the person: is the holder of a visa and the travel is consistent with the conditions of the visa; or is a person to whom a visa waiver applies and holds a valid Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)

Or, for 13 of them: NZeTA instead of a visa only when travelling from Australia and holding an eligible Australian visa (e.g. Visitor 600, eVisitor 651, Student 500, Skills in Demand 482). Stay: 3 months.

Source: Immigration New Zealand (MBIE), checked the person is travelling from Australia; and the person holds one of the eligible Australian visa types as set out at E2.1.1 below.

Or, for all of them: Cruise ship passengers of any nationality: NZeTA instead of a visa (visa waiver under Operational Manual E2.1). Stay: while the ship is in New Zealand, up to 28 days.

Source: Immigration New Zealand (MBIE), checked Cruise ship passengers, who hold an ETA or Cruise ship crew travelling in the ordinary course of business of the ship who hold an ETA will, upon arrival in New Zealand, be deemed to have been granted entry permission and hold a visitor (for passengers) or work (for crew) visa

Or, for all of them: NZeTA instead of a visa with a current Australian permanent residence visa or resident return visa.

Source: Immigration New Zealand (MBIE), checked people who hold: a current permanent residence visa issued by the Government of Australia; or a current resident return visa issued by the Government of Australia

Where to apply

Apply for the ETA only on the official site, nzeta.immigration.govt.nz. Look-alike sites charge extra for the same form. A visa is applied for at an embassy or consulate of New Zealand, or the visa centre it names, in the country where you live.

These rules cover ordinary passports and short visits; work, study and transit have their own rules. Our guides: NZeTA: who needs one, the fee and the official app.

Most searched passports

FAQ

Do I need a visa to visit New Zealand?

It depends on your passport: 1 nationalities are visa-free, 60 can use an eVisa or ETA and 137 need a visa. Choose your passport above.

Do Indian citizens need a visa for New Zealand?

Yes. Indian citizens need a visa before they travel to New Zealand (Immigration New Zealand (MBIE), checked 31 Oct 2026). Or Cruise ship passengers of any nationality: NZeTA instead of a visa (visa waiver under Operational Manual E2.1). Stay: while the ship is in New Zealand, up to 28 days.

Do US citizens need a visa for New Zealand?

Yes, but online: US citizens apply for an ETA before they travel (3 months); NZeTA before travel; not for medical treatment. Portugal: only with the right to live permanently in Portugal. Taiwan: permanent residents (ID number in the passport). Hong Kong and Macau: residents on SAR passports. Greece: passports issued from 1 Jan 2006. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania: not alien's passports. (Immigration New Zealand (MBIE), checked 31 Oct 2026).

Can I apply for a New Zealand visa online?

Yes, if you are eligible: 60 nationalities can apply online for an eVisa or ETA, and some others through a residence permit or another visa. Apply only at nzeta.immigration.govt.nz.

Sources and changes

  1. INZ Operational Manual E2.1: people to whom a visa waiver appliesimmigration.govt.nz · checked 31 Oct 2026
  2. Immigration New Zealand (MBIE)immigration.govt.nz · checked 31 Oct 2026
  3. Immigration New Zealand (MBIE)immigration.govt.nz · checked 31 Oct 2026
  4. Visa waiver countries and territories (Immigration NZ)immigration.govt.nz · checked 31 Oct 2026
  5. NZeTA (Immigration NZ)immigration.govt.nz · checked 31 Oct 2026
  6. Official application site (nzeta.immigration.govt.nz)nzeta.immigration.govt.nz · checked 31 Oct 2026
  1. All groups checked against Immigration New Zealand (MBIE). No change since.

Something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it against the official source.

Visa Almanac is an independent reference, not a government website. We don't issue visas or sell visa services.

Rules change without notice. Always confirm with the official source linked on each page before you travel.