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New Zealand visa for US passport holders

Entry requirements for a typical one-week tourist stay. Plan your trip with your exact dates for a personalised result.

Checklist for a tourist trip

• No visa, but an NZeTA is required before you travel

  mandatory stepDoneVerified on Oct 28, 2026

  Your nationality is on the official list of visa waiver countries, but the NZeTA electronic authorisation is required before you travel, even for a stopover. It is valid for 2 years, allows multiple entries and stays of 3 months each time (6 months on a British passport), up to 6 months in any 12. You request it on the official website or app (the app is cheaper) with the passport you will travel on, and the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) is paid with the request. Each traveller, children included, has their own request; allow up to 3 days for checks. A Portuguese passport only qualifies if its holder has the right to live permanently in Portugal. A digital declaration must also be completed before arrival.

  Details

  Your nationality is on the official list of visa waiver countries, but the NZeTA electronic authorisation is required before you travel, even for a stopover. It is valid for 2 years, allows multiple entries and stays of 3 months each time (6 months on a British passport), up to 6 months in any 12. You request it on the official website or app (the app is cheaper) with the passport you will travel on, and the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) is paid with the request. Each traveller, children included, has their own request; allow up to 3 days for checks. A Portuguese passport only qualifies if its holder has the right to live permanently in Portugal. A digital declaration must also be completed before arrival.

  Request the NZeTA on the official site· nzeta.immigration.govt.nz(opens in a new tab)

  The official website is nzeta.immigration.govt.nz. Intermediary sites imitate official ones and add fees: if the address is not exactly this one, do not enter any information.

  Step by step

  1. Apply on the official website (nzeta.immigration.govt.nz) or with the NZeTA app, which can scan your passport and payment card.
  2. Pay the NZeTA: NZD 23 on the web, NZD 17 with the app, plus the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), paid at the same time.
  3. Make sure the details match your passport exactly, otherwise you may not be able to travel.

  Usual processing time: Most requests are processed within 72 hours: apply early. An approved NZeTA is valid for 2 years.

  Expected cost:official amount not provided for this procedure. Check the fee on the official website before paying.

  Official fee not confirmed: check with the embassy or consulate of the country before paying.

  Why this result?

  This requirement is based on the rule “No visa, but an NZeTA is required before you travel”. Verified on Oct 28, 2026

  6 sources

  • Nouvelle-Zélande (Immigration New Zealand)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • Nouvelle-Zélande (Immigration New Zealand)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • France (ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni (FCDO)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • Gouvernement du Canada (Affaires mondiales)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • Immigration New Zealand(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 28, 2026

  * TripWise adds no service fee: you only pay the official fees, to the authority.

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• Passport valid 3 months after departure

  to prepareDoneVerified on Oct 29, 2026

  Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you leave New Zealand, and be the one named in the NZeTA or visa. An airline may refuse boarding if your passport is close to expiring. According to Nouvelle-Zélande (Immigration New Zealand): "Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave New Zealand." According to Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni (FCDO): "To enter New Zealand, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave."

  Details

  Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you leave New Zealand, and be the one named in the NZeTA or visa. An airline may refuse boarding if your passport is close to expiring. According to Nouvelle-Zélande (Immigration New Zealand): "Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave New Zealand." According to Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni (FCDO): "To enter New Zealand, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave."

  Why this result?

  This requirement is based on the rule “Passport valid 3 months after departure”. Verified on Oct 29, 2026

  3 sources

  • Nouvelle-Zélande (Immigration New Zealand)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni (FCDO)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • Gouvernement du Canada (Affaires mondiales)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026

  Report an error

• Funds, onward ticket and strict biosecurity

  to prepareDoneVerified on Oct 28, 2026

  At the border you may be asked for proof of sufficient funds (at least NZ$1,000 a month, or NZ$400 if accommodation is paid) and an onward or return ticket. Importing most food products is illegal: declare anything doubtful to Biosecurity officials or dispose of it in the airport bins, or face a fine of up to NZ$100,000 or prison, with on-the-spot fines of NZ$400.

  Details

  At the border you may be asked for proof of sufficient funds (at least NZ$1,000 a month, or NZ$400 if accommodation is paid) and an onward or return ticket. Importing most food products is illegal: declare anything doubtful to Biosecurity officials or dispose of it in the airport bins, or face a fine of up to NZ$100,000 or prison, with on-the-spot fines of NZ$400.

  Why this result?

  This requirement is based on the rule “Funds, onward ticket and strict biosecurity”. Verified on Oct 28, 2026

  4 sources

  • Nouvelle-Zélande (Immigration New Zealand)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni (FCDO)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • Gouvernement du Canada (Affaires mondiales)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • France (ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026

  Report an error

Guidance based on the cited official sources; only the competent authorities are authoritative.