Two separate charges are collected in a single payment. This is where most of the confusion about the price comes from.
The two charges
- NZeTA request fee: NZ$17 in the official app, NZ$23 on the website
- International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL): NZ$100
- Total paid: about NZ$117 (app) or NZ$123 (website)
What the IVL is
The IVL is not part of the NZeTA. It is a separate levy that funds conservation and tourism infrastructure, and it rose from NZ$35 to NZ$100 in October 2024. It is still NZ$100 as of 17 August 2026.
Who does not pay the IVL
Some travellers are exempt from the levy — for example Australian citizens and permanent residents, and passengers from most Pacific Island Forum countries. The application asks the questions that determine this; you do not need to claim it separately.
If a website quotes only NZ$17, it is quoting the request fee alone. If it quotes much more than NZ$123, the difference is its own service charge.
More on the NZeTA
What is the NZeTA
The NZeTA is a pre-travel authorisation for visa-waiver passports, not a visa. What it covers, who needs one, and what it does not do.
How to apply
Applying takes about ten minutes in the official app (NZ$17) or on the Immigration New Zealand website (NZ$23). Here is the order of the steps and what trips people up.
What you need
A valid passport, a photo of your face, an email address and a payment card. What the photo has to look like and what else is asked.
Processing time
Most NZeTA requests are decided in minutes, but Immigration New Zealand asks you to allow up to 72 hours. What makes an application take longer.
Validity
An NZeTA lasts 2 years from the date it is issued, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first — and allows multiple entries.
Length of stay
Up to three months per visit for most travellers, and up to 6 months on a UK passport. The border officer decides on arrival.