Travellers to New Zealand will need to hold an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) before travelling here from 1 October 2019.
Imnmigration New Zealand says travellers will be able to request an ETA from July 2019, and it will be mandatory for travel from 1 October.
This applies to all air travellers from 60 visa waiver countries, and all cruise travellers.
An ETA will last up to 2 years and cost NZ$9.00 for mobile application requests and NZ$12.00 for web browser requests.
All airline crew and cruise line crew will need to hold a Crew ETA before travelling to New Zealand. A Crew ETA will last up to 5 years and cost NZ$9.00.
New Zealand citizens and holders of valid New Zealand visas (both resident visas and temporary visas) will continue to be able to enter New Zealand without an ETA provided they travel on their New Zealand passports.
Passengers from a visa waiver country or a transit visa waiver country, who are transiting through New Zealand, are also required to hold an ETA from 1 October 2019, even if New Zealand is not their final destination.
Exemptions
Australian citizens will be exempt, but Australian permanent residents will need to hold an ETA but will not be required to pay for an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL).
Other exemptions include:
- crew and passengers on a non-cruise vessel;
- crew on a foreign ship carrying cargo;
- guests of the government;
- people travelling under The Antarctic Treaty;
- members of a visiting force and associated crew members.
International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy
This will be introduced alongside the ETA. It will cost NZ$35.00. Once paid, the IVL will last as long as the ETA is valid.