Updated August 5, 2019
There have been some changes to New Zealand travel regulations, which we will detail here. This is the best information we have available at this time; please refer to Immigration NZ’s website for verification and further details. We will update this post with further information as it becomes available.
From 1 October 2019, visitors to New Zealand will be required to hold either a visa or a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA). As the United States is a visa-waiver country, US passport holders will be required to hold an NZeTA when traveling to New Zealand for the types of short-term travel experiences we provide. The NZeTA must be obtained by individuals before leaving for New Zealand. As part of the registration process, New Zealand’s new International Visitor Conservation Tourism Levy (IVL) will also be charged. This levy will contribute to maintaining the facilities and natural environment that visitors enjoy here in New Zealand.
Visitors travelling to both New Zealand and Australia will now need separate ETAs to enter each respective country. Like the ETA for Australia, the NZeTA will be electronically associated with the registrant’s passport, so it is essential that all details submitted match the passport exactly; we also recommend bringing a record of any confirmations received. During travel, officials may also request to see proof of confirmed travel out of New Zealand (that is, a departure air ticket).
The information we have currently is that the total cost of the NZeTA and the IVL is NZ$47 or NZ$44, depending on how they are requested. The NZeTA is either NZ$12 if completed online or NZ$9 if purchased through New Zealand Immigration’s free app. In both cases, the IVL is NZ$35. Fees are payable by either debit or credit card. Considering exchange rate fluctuation, $35 USD may be a good figure to advise students to budget for this additional program expense.
We have been advised by STA Travel that they will continue to arrange Australian ETAs for their clients, but students and faculty will need to arrange the NZeTA themselves for entry into New Zealand. We are not able to include the cost of the NZeTA in our program fee.
Apply for your NZeTA at
https://nzeta.immigration.govt.nz/.
This is the only official website to request your NZeTA online. The free mobile phone apps will be available as soon as Google and Apple have verified the products.
We also suggest that you visit NZ Immigration’s webpages for up-to-the-minute information on cost and terms and conditions prior to purchasing your NZeTA: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/about-visa/nzeta.
The NZeTA and IVL will be valid for two years and for multiple visits to New Zealand during that time, provided conditions are met, passport details do not change, and maximum times in country are not exceeded.
Non-US citizens will need to review the Immigration New Zealand information to determine eligibility, nationality-specific conditions, and whether a visa is required instead of the NZeTA.
If we can assist in connecting you to further resources or answer questions specific to your program, please contact us at info@auip.com. We hope this will be a smooth implementation process for everyone!
