Yes. US passport holders need a visa for New Zealand. To enter New Zealand you need: a valid passport, ETA required, New Zealand Traveller Declaration, International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), Passport or travel document validity requirement, Evidence you can meet the conditions of your visa / NZeTA, NZeTA for transit passengers.
New Zealand ETA Fees & Cost
New Zealand visa fees vary by passport nationality and visa type. The government fee is set by New Zealand and paid to them; our service fee is separate and covers expert review of your application before it is submitted. Fees below are for a US passport.
Visa type
Government fee
Max stay
Our service from
Visitor Visa — for stays over 90 days
$249.00
90 days
$79.00
NZeTA
$23.00
90 days
$79.00
International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL)
$56.50
90 days
$69.00
NZeTA for transit passengers
$9.60
90 days
$69.00
New Zealand ETA Processing Time
New Zealand asks travellers to apply at least 0 days before arrival. Government processing usually takes 0–3 days, but governments do not guarantee a decision date, so apply as early as you can — applications are accepted well ahead of travel.
Our Standard, Rush and Emergency options set how quickly we review and file your application; the decision itself remains with the New Zealand government. Whichever you choose, we tell you the date your visa is guaranteed by — on time or your money back.
How It Works
How to Get Your New Zealand ETA — Step by Step
1
Apply online in 5–10 min
Guided form with real-time photo and passport validation.
2
Specialist reviews first
We catch the errors that cause most rejections — including photo specs, passport validity, and name mismatches.
3
We submit and track daily
Submitted to New Zealand Immigration. Email updates throughout.
4
Visa by email
Approved e-visa PDF in your inbox. Print, present, done.
Full Requirements — VIE Intelligence Engine
New Zealand ETA Requirements
Select a category below. All New Zealand visa data is updated daily from official government and embassy sources via our VIE Intelligence Engine.
New Zealand requires 8 documents for this application. Our system validates all of these automatically before submission.
📷
Passport-style photo
Required▼
📄
Valid US passport (minimum 3 months validity beyond departure date)
Required▼
📄
Digital passport photo
Required▼
📄
Valid email address
Required▼
📄
Return or onward ticket
Required▼
📄
Proof of sufficient funds (NZD $1,000 per month or NZD $400 per month if accommodation prepaid)
Required▼
📄
Proof of accommodation
Required▼
📄
Credit/debit card for payment
Required▼
🛂
Passport valid 3+ months past entry
Critical▼
Passport validity, blank pages, dual nationality, and special rules — what New Zealand immigration checks before letting you in.
⏰
Passport valid 3+ months past entry
Critical▼
🛂
Dual nationality rules
If applicable▼
✅
Emergency and damaged passports
FYI▼
🇮🇱
Israeli stamp in passport
Not an issue for New Zealand▼
⚖️
Criminal record impact
May affect▼
Entry ports, biometrics, wait times, and intel from our VIE border intelligence database.
✈️
New Zealand e-Visa: designated entry ports only
Restricted▼
🖐️
Biometrics on arrival
Not required▼
📱
Social media screening
Not reported▼
⏱️
Typical immigration wait times
VIE Data▼
🏨
Accommodation registration within 24 hours
Required by law▼
🛫
Airline pre-board document checks
Varies by airline▼
Vaccinations, health insurance, and New Zealand's medication import rules.
💉
Yellow fever certificate
Not required from US▼
💊
Banned and restricted medications
Check before travel▼
🏥
Travel health insurance
Strongly recommended▼
🧬
HIV test requirement
Not required▼
🌡️
Health screening on arrival
Not active▼
Proof of funds, cash declaration limits, and duty-free allowances.
💵
Proof of sufficient funds
May be checked▼
💱
Cash declaration threshold: $10,000 USD
Declare if over limit▼
🛍️
Duty-free customs allowances
FYI▼
🚫
Prohibited import items
Know before you pack▼
Essential laws and cultural rules from VIE practical intelligence data.
🚁
Drone LawsBanned
🌐
VPN UsageIllegal
🍺
AlcoholRestricted
🌿
CannabisIllegal — severe
🎰
GamblingIllegal
📷
PhotographyMilitary areas banned
🏳️🌈
LGBTQ+ safety and legal status
Legal, exercise discretion▼
🚁
Drone rules
Registration required▼
💰
Tipping culture
Optional▼
🚨
Emergency numbers & US Embassy
Save before you go▼
If you're connecting through another country on the way to New Zealand, check your transit visa requirements here.
Transit Country
Airside
Landside
US Visa Needed?
🇦🇪 UAE (Dubai/Abu Dhabi)
✓ Free
✓ Free
No
🇶🇦 Qatar (Doha)
✓ Free
✓ Free
No
🇸🇬 Singapore
✓ Free
✓ Free
No
🇯🇵 Japan
✓ Free
✓ Free
No
🇰🇷 South Korea
✓ Free
✓ Free
No
🇹🇭 Thailand
✓ Free
✓ Free
No
🇨🇳 China
⚠️ Varies
⚠️ 144hr only
Check first
⚠️ Transit rules change frequently. Always verify with your airline before booking.
What New Zealand requires when you depart — and the overstay penalties you really don't want to trigger.
✅
Exit visa required?
No — standard tourists▼
💸
Departure tax
Included in ticket▼
🚫
Exit ban for unpaid fines
Know this▼
⚠️ Overstay Consequences
$8
Per day fine
24h
Grace period
3yr
Max ban
Possible
Deportation risk
🌏 Digital Nomad Status — VIE Data
Digital Nomad Visa
Not yet available
Remote-work authorisation
No dedicated category
Avg internet speed
—
Monthly cost of living
—
Coworking scene
—
In-country extension
Not permitted
🛂
Best visa strategy for digital nomads
Strategy▼
💰
Tax implications for remote workers
Important▼
Avoid These Mistakes
Why New Zealand ETA Applications Get Rejected — And How We Prevent It
Our document review catches these before submission. Applications rejected due to our error are resubmitted at no charge.
⏰
Passport expires within 6 months of entry
Airlines deny boarding and immigration refuses entry. The #1 cause of rejections.
✓ We verify passport validity before submitting
⚠️
Details don't exactly match your passport
A single character difference in name, DOB, or passport number causes rejection.
✓ We verify all fields match your passport scan
🔄
Prior overstay or visa violation
Prior overstays are on record and may trigger automatic rejection. Tell us — we can advise.
✓ We guide you through handling prior violations
Why Choose Us
New Zealand ETA: Expert Help vs Applying Directly
You can apply on the government portal for free. Here's why 500,000+ travelers paid us instead.
🔍
Never rejected for a preventable mistake
73% of rejections are caused by 4 fixable errors. We check every application first. Rejected due to our error? We resubmit free.
📡
Government portal monitored 24/7
New Zealand's application system goes offline without warning. We watch it around the clock and submit the moment it returns — you never have to keep checking.
👨👩👧
Get your whole family right first time
Inconsistencies between family applications are a top rejection trigger. We manage all applications together.
🙋
Human help for complex cases
Prior overstay? Dual nationality? A specialist handles your case personally. Avg response under 2 hours.
🛡️
30 years in business
Since 1992. 500,000+ customers. 11,700+ reviews on Trustpilot.
Official Advisories
Current Travel Advisories for New Zealand
🇺🇸
US State Dept
Exercise Normal Precautions
🇬🇧
UK FCDO
No special precautions
🇨🇦
Canada DFATD
Take normal precautions
🇦🇺
Australia DFAT
Exercise normal safety precautions
Quick Reference
New Zealand ETA Requirements by Nationality
Select your passport above to personalise this table.
Most travellers need either an NZeTA (if from a visa waiver country/territory) or a Visitor Visa (if not) before travelling to New Zealand. Australian citizens and permanent residents do not need either.
How long can I stay in New Zealand on an NZeTA?
▼
An NZeTA allows a stay of up to 3 months per visit, or up to 6 months for UK citizens, and is valid for 2 years for multiple visits.
Do Australian citizens need a visa or NZeTA for New Zealand?
▼
No — Australian citizens can usually live, work and study in New Zealand without applying for a visa or NZeTA beforehand, and are normally given an Australian Resident Visa on arrival if they meet character requirements.
Can I use an NZeTA if I'm arriving by cruise ship?
▼
Yes — if you are arriving by sea as a cruise ship or cargo ship passenger you must have an NZeTA, which must be requested before the ship departs for New Zealand.
What is the NZeTA and how much does it cost?
▼
The NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) is an online travel authorisation for visa waiver country citizens. It costs NZD $17 via the mobile app or NZD $23 via the website, plus the NZD $100 International Visitor Levy.
What is the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL)?
▼
The IVL is a non-refundable NZD $100 charge paid by most international visitors applying for a visa or NZeTA, used to help fund conservation and tourism infrastructure.
How much does a New Zealand Visitor Visa cost and how long does it take?
▼
The Visitor Visa costs from NZD $441 (including the IVL), and Immigration New Zealand decides 80% of applications within about 2 weeks.
Do Pacific nationals pay a reduced Visitor Visa fee?
▼
Yes — eligible Pacific nationals (including Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Marshall Islands, Samoa and Micronesia) applying from outside New Zealand pay a temporarily reduced total of NZD $161 instead of NZD $441, and do not pay the IVL.
How much does the New Zealand NZeTA cost?
▼
The government charge has two parts: the NZeTA itself (NZ$17 if requested through the official app, NZ$23 on the website) and the International Visitor Levy of NZ$100 per person, paid in the same transaction. That's NZ$117–NZ$123 in government fees per traveller. PassportsAndVisas.com can handle the whole request, levy included, so it's done right the first time.
What is the International Visitor Levy (IVL) and who has to pay it?
▼
The IVL is a NZ$100 per-person levy that funds New Zealand's conservation and tourism infrastructure. Most visitors pay it together with their NZeTA or inside their Visitor Visa fee. It covers you for the life of your NZeTA, which is up to two years. Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and citizens of Pacific countries don't pay it. When PassportsAndVisas.com prepares your NZeTA or visa, the levy is included.
Social Proof
What Travelers Say About Our New Zealand ETA Service
11,700+
reviews on Trustpilot
Common themes from New Zealand visa customers:
✓ Fast processing✓ Easy application✓ Caught my photo error✓ Approved first try✓ On-time delivery
PassportsAndVisas.com relies exclusively on official government sources for visa requirements. Our VIE Intelligence Engine cross-references multiple official sources daily to ensure accuracy.
▶New Zealand Official Immigration Portal. (Web). Official government portal
▶U.S. Department of State — New Zealand Travel Information. (Web). travel.state.gov
▶IATA Timatic — Visa & Health Requirements Database. (Web). iatatravelcentre.com
