Following in the footsteps of the United States’ ESTA, Canada’s eTA and the upcoming ETIAS (You remember that one, right? It’s a visa! No it’s not!) for the European countries in the Schengen Zone, another country is going to start a visa waiver program on October 1, but registration can begin this month.
New Zealand is tossing its hat into the visa waiver ring, and as of October 1, 2019, visitors to New Zealand will be required to have an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before entering the country.
Citizens of the following 60 countries will not need visas to enter New Zealand, but will need to complete an NZeTA form, and get clearance from same, before entering the country:
| Andorra Argentina Austria Bahrain Belgium Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Canada Chile Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia (citizens only) Finland France Germany Greece Hong Kong — residents with HKSAR or British National–Overseas passports only Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Japan Korea — South Kuwait Latvia — citizens only Liechtenstein Lithuania — citizens only Luxembourg |
Macau — Macau Special Administrative Region passports only Malaysia Malta Mauritius Mexico Monaco Netherlands Norway Oman Poland Portugal — with the right to live permanently in Portugal Qatar Romania San Marino Saudi Arabia Seychelles Singapore Slovak Republic Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan — permanent residents only United Arab Emirates United Kingdom — must have the right to reside permanently in the United Kingdom United States of America — includes USA nationals Uruguay Vatican City |
Citizens of all other countries, except Australia and, of course, New Zealand, will need a visa.
You’ll need an NZeTA if you are traveling from a visa waiver country, or in transit from a visa waiver country and using Auckland International Airport’s transit lounge en route to your final destination. Cruise ship passengers from visa waiver countries must also hold an NZeTA.
The cost of the NZeTA will be NZ $9 (U.S. $6) on their free app, or NZ $12 (U.S. $8) if completed online. Heads up that you may also have to pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). The IVL costs NZD $35 (U.S. $23.35) and is paid at the same time as the NZeTA.
The NZeTA will be required as of October 1, 2019, but the form can be filled out effective later this month. Go to this page of the New Zealand government’s website for more information about requirements, costs, etc.
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
8 comments
It all sounds great in theory but in reality if you’re paying a fee to enter another country it’s a visa. They might as well just remove “visas” and “visa waivers” and just call it “Country Travel Fee”
Did you not see all the flack I got when I called the ETIAS waiver a visa? LOLOL! Nope, nope and nope 😉
(Seriously, a visa and a visa waiver are VERY different. But yes, “country travel fee” works for me)
Outrageous, I’ve applied for the Canadian and the US electronic travel authorizations and neither cost half of what this one costs (not to mention that the Australian one is free).
If you’re not a transit passenger you have to pay 44 NZD! (roughly 30 USD, and even more if you do it online and not trough the app).
I played around on the site and understand what you mean. The actual waiver isn’t much – just NZ $9 or $12 (depending if you use the app or not). The rest is the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy and that costs another NZD $35.
I suppose the only way to get around it is to not go to NZ. Personally, I’ve never been but we may consider it in conjunction with when we go to Australia next time. Granted, it’s more than what other countries cost, but in comparison to what the rest of the trip will cost, an extra $30 US is not a big deal, in my mind. Your mileage may vary.
Something important to add, the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy started yesterday…
https://www.mbie.govt.nz/immigration-and-tourism/tourism/tourism-funding/international-visitor-conservation-and-tourism-levy/
If they charge that conservation fee to in transit passengers like from the US to Australia via NZ, I am boycotting NZ. $30 is not cheap.
And if that isn’t enough, there’re plans to introduce similar taxes in Queenstown…
http://www.traveller.com.au/queenstown-new-zealand-tourist-tax-locals-vote-for-bed-tax-to-help-with-overcrowding-h1f7uq
The latest in the money-grab fest. So glad I’ve been to NZ three times and seen the length and breadth of both islands. Maybe again in the next life!