Visit Auckland in a Visa-Free Way with New Zealand eTA
Your wait to visit the gorgeous locations of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, just becomes shorter if you plan to begin your trip with an eTA for New Zealand. NZeTA or Online Visa for New Zealand is an electronic travel authorisation which allows visitors to stay in the country for a short period of time for tourism in Auckland or other related purposes.
Unlike a traditional visa, e-visa is an all-online application process taking only 1 to 2 business days to process.
If you are a foreign visitor wanting to explore the vibrant city of Auckland without wanting to go through the complex application process for a traditional visa, then travelling with an e-visa is the best way forward.
Find out more in this article about all that you will need to visit Auckland with a NZeTA or an e-visa.
New Zealand Visa (NZeTA)
New Zealand eTA Application Form now allows visitors from all nationalities to obtain New Zealand eTA (NZETA) by email without visiting New Zealand Embassy. New Zealand Visa application process is automated, simple, and completely online. New Zealand Immigration now officially recommends Online New Zealand Visa or New Zealand ETA online rather than sending paper documents. You can obtain New Zealand eTA by filling out a form on this website and making the payment using a Debit or Credit Card. You will also require a valid email id as New Zealand eTA information will be sent to your email id. You do not need visit an embassy or consulate or to send your passport for Visa stamping. If you are arriving to New Zealand by the Cruise Ship route, you should check the New Zealand ETA eligibility conditions for Cruise Ship arrival to New Zealand.
Best Places to Explore in Auckland
Explore the biggest city of New Zealand with some of the popular locations which are famous among foreign tourists but also catch the glimpse of many amazing naturally rich places that this city has to offer.
Known as the ‘most livable city in the world’, and many more titles, Auckland will surely not be your usual big city experience giving only urban culture vibes, but there will be a lot to explore beyond its skyscrapers and popular city attractions.
Hunua Falls
Situated on the Wairoa River, the falls are in the Hunua Ranges Regional Park and is one of the most picturesque locations near Auckland.
Located amidst the Hunua range mountains, this beautiful waterfall by the city is one of the top visiting spots in Auckland for both tourists and locals alike.
Proximity to spectacular locations like these makes Auckland one of the most unique metro cities of the world.
Waitemata Harbour
If you are reaching the city of Auckland via sea route then you will meet this city’s first glimpse at the Waitemata Harbour or the Auckland Harbour, as the place is famously called.
Once you get the glimpse of this fascinating place in Auckland you will know why the city is also called the ‘city of sails’ where the surrounding volcanoes, numerous islands, the Tasman Sea stretching in the west, the Hauraki Gulf spreading to the east, and the large number of yachts sailing in the harbour, all give an astonishing view of this water rich city.
Auckland Harbour is also the best place to explore numerous restaurants, cafés, museums and much more spread all along the harbour.
Sky Tower Auckland
This iconic city landmark is a must visit place for all foreign tourists visiting Auckland for the first time. The tower was first built between 1994 to 1997 and today thousands of visitors greet this place each day!
The upper levels of the Sky Tower are accessible to the public and provide a city wide view through a rooftop fine dining restaurant. Sky Tower acts as one of the most recognisable landmarks of New Zealand’s biggest city.
Rangitoto Island
A symmetrical volcanic Island on the coast of Hauraki Gulf, the magnificent view of the perfect Island peak dramatically appearing in the shadow of the setting sun; a view like this would simply win your heart.
Located at a short distance from Auckland, this spectacular Island is the youngest and the largest among 48 other volcanic islands spread around Auckland.
For panoramic views of the island, you can take a trek along the Rangitoto Summit track, which will take you on a walk along the world’s largest pohutukawa forest.
Who Can Apply for an Online Visa to Visit Auckland?
If you are a foreign citizen wanting to visit your dream locations in Auckland, New Zealand, then you can apply for an e-visa to plan your trip.
Citizens from over 60 nationalities can apply for NZeTA given that they qualify for e-visa conditions.
As a foreign citizen, applying for NZeTA would give the following benefits:
- NZeTA would allow you to stay in Auckland or any other city of New Zealand for upto 3 months. For UK citizens, the stay period with NZeTA is upto 6 months.
- You can use your e-visa of New Zealand for the purpose of tourism in Auckland or other places in New Zealand. The same e-visa can also be used for business trips or other related purposes.
- Your e-visa allows you to enter New Zealand multiple times over a two year time and acts as a multiple entry permit to the country. NZeTA in general remains valid upto 2 years or the date of expiry of passport; whichever is earlier.
To avoid last minute delays, it is always better to apply for NZeTA well in advance of your trip.
All passengers need to present either an approved e-visa or a traditional visa for New Zealand at the point of arrival in the country.
NZeTA for UK Citizens
All UK citizens who want to visit New Zealand for tourism or business-related visits can avail the benefit of using an e-visa for New Zealand instead of a traditional visa.
The UK falls under the category of visa waiver country of New Zealand and is among one of the 60 countries whose citizens can use an e-visa instead of a traditional visa to visit Auckland or any other place in New Zealand.
Documents needed for NZeTA Application
Applying for NZeTA is an easy application process. All you need is a few minutes to fill the eTA application form.
The eTA application form is a quick application process, but you must know the accurate list of documents which are needed to fill the NZeTA application.
You must need the following documents to fill NZeTA application form:
A valid passport with expiry extending up to 3 months from the date departure from New Zealand.
- If you are a passport holder with Australian citizenship then you can travel with your Australian passport without needing to apply for NZeTA.
- Australian citizens are automatically granted residency status on arrival to New Zealand.
- A valid email address where all your information regarding eTA application processing and other details will be conveyed by e-visa issuing authority.
- You must keep checking your email so that in case any correction is needed in your application form you could be contacted through officials.
- Applicants will need to pay through a debit or credit card. At the payments sections an applicant for NZeTA is charged the basic application fee as well as the IVL payment.
How to fill NZeTA Application Form to Visit Auckland?
You can fill your e-visa application form in 3 easy steps.
Travelling with NZeTA would save a great amount of your time from making any physical appearance at any embassy office.
Follow the 3 steps below to quickly get your e-visa to visit Auckland:
- Visit the NZeTA application page and apply as an applicant for e-visa to New Zealand.
- Pay the fees for e-visa application. After processing your application, you will only need to follow the third step.
- The third step of getting your e-visa is to download the emailed pdf e-visa document from the email address provided at the time of filling the application.
You can show this copy of your e-visa in the printed format to the authorities at the time of arrival in New Zealand.
Information Required for Online New Zealand Visa to Visit Auckland
All applicants must provide the necessary information asked in NZeTA application process.
The following basic information is asked to all applicants in the online eTA application form:
- Applicant’s full name, date and year of birth, citizenship or nationality.
- Passport related information like passport number, date of issue and expiry date of passport.
- Applicant’s email address and other contact details.
You must fill your NZeTA application form carefully with all the accurate information.
Any discrepancy in the information provided in the application form will result in unnecessary delays in processing of e-visa application.
At the end of application form, applicants are asked to pay the general visa waiver application fee as well as the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL).
The required NZeTA application fee can only be paid using a valid credit or debit card.
All the above information is asked equally to all applicants without any age, gender or caste related bias.
All information provided in the NZeTA application form is solely collected for the purpose of e-visa processing and is not sold to any third party for any other use than mentioned above.
When Should I Apply for NZeTA to Visit Auckland?
New Zealand eTA application process takes only 1 business day to process. In order to avoid any last-minute delays, make sure to apply for eTA at least 3 business days in advance from your intended date of departure.
You will not need to visit any office to receive your eTA for New Zealand. All applicants will be emailed their NZeTA on the email address provided in the application form.
It is best to get the print of your eTA to be presented to border officials at the point of arrival.
At the point of arrival in New Zealand, passengers travelling with NZeTA need to present their passport to the officials.
Make sure that the same passport that is filled in the NZeTA application is provided to the officials at the port.
How to Reach Auckland by Air?
The most convenient way to reach Auckland is via Auckland International Airport (AKL).
All major cities around the world are connected via direct flight to Auckland International Airport.
Before reaching your point in Auckland, it is important to make sure that you follow all the guidelines of foreign travellers visiting New Zealand.
All foreign travellers must present either their traditional visa for New Zealand or an approved NZeTA upon reaching Auckland.
At the point of security check at the airport, all passengers are screened for the validity of their documents, which if found incomplete or suspicious might result in restriction in entering Auckland or any other city of New Zealand.
How to Reach Auckland by Cruise Ship?
Foreign citizens can choose to visit New Zealand via cruise ship with NZeTA. Travelling with an e-visa by cruise is also an option if you want to reach Auckland.
There are two main cruise terminal at the port of Auckland:
- Queens Wharf
- Princess Wharf
Foreign travelers visiting Auckland via cruise ship with NZeTA are allowed to stay within New Zealand upto 28 days period. If you are planning to stay in Auckland for more than 28 days then you need to apply for a traditional visa for New Zealand.
Transit through Auckland with NZeTA
NZeTA can also be used as an authorisation for passengers transiting through Auckland.
Transit passengers need to present either a transit visa or a NZeTA at the time of transit in Auckland.
If you do not belong to a transit visa waiver country of New Zealand then you must apply for a transit visa instead of an e-visa for New Zealand for the purpose of transit.
All transit passengers must follow the following rules while transiting through Auckland:
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- All transit passengers are required to remain within the international transit area of Auckland International Airport.
Or
- all transit passengers must remain onboard on the flight.
Transit passengers transiting through Auckland can spend up to 24 hours in the designated transit area of Auckland International Airport.
When to Apply for a traditional visa for Auckland?
Foreign nationals who do not belong to one of the 60 visa waiver countries of New Zealand would need a traditional visa to enter Auckland.
A traditional visa for Auckland is required in all of the following cases:
- A traveller does not belong to one of the visa waiver countries of New Zealand.
- A traveller does not meet the requirements for e-visa or NZeTA
- Visiting Auckland for purposes other than tourism, business or transit. An e-visa can only be used for tourism, business or transit related purposes.
- Need to stay in Auckland for a period of more than 90 days ( or more than 6 months in case of UK citizens.) In case a visitor wants to stay in Auckland longer than the duration allowed under an e-visa, it is best recommended to apply for a traditional visa for New Zealand.
Visitors must start their traditional visa application well in advance of their trip to Auckland since a traditional visa for New Zealand takes more time than an e-visa to get processed.
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Citizen of any nationality can apply for an NZeTA if arriving New Zealand by a cruise ship. However, if traveller is arriving by air, then the traveller must be from a Visa Waiver or Visa Free country, then only will NZeTA (New Zealand eTA) be valid for the passenger arriving into the country. Learn more at New Zealand Visa Waiver Countries.