passport free travel nz

New Zealander Passport

The citizens of New Zealand can visit 144 countries without a visa.

New Zealander passport holders also have access to get 36 e-visas or 23 visas on arrival .

New Zealand has a population of 5.1M people and the capital is Wellington 🇳🇿.

Visa-free map

Nearby countries.

The nearest visa free countries to visit for New Zealander passport holders are New Caledonia, Fiji, Vanuatu, Niue, Wallis and Futuna and Cook Islands .

Visa free countries

So, where can New Zealanders travel without a visa? We have listed all the countries where New Zealand citizens can travel visa-free, eliminating the hassle of visa paperwork.

• 🇦🇱 Albania (90 days)
• 🇦🇩 Andorra (N/A)
• 🇦🇹 Austria (90 days)
• 🇧🇾 Belarus (30 days)
• 🇧🇪 Belgium (90 days)
• 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina (90 days)
• 🇧🇬 Bulgaria (90 days)
• 🇭🇷 Croatia (90 days)
• 🇨🇾 Cyprus (90 days)
• 🇩🇰 Denmark (90 days)
• 🇪🇪 Estonia (90 days)
• 🇫🇮 Finland (90 days)
• 🇫🇷 France (90 days)
• 🇩🇪 Germany (90 days)
• 🇬🇷 Greece (90 days)
• 🇭🇺 Hungary (90 days)
• 🇮🇸 Iceland (90 days)
• 🇮🇪 Ireland (3 months)
• 🇮🇹 Italy (90 days)
• 🇱🇻 Latvia (90 days)
• 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein (90 days)
• 🇱🇹 Lithuania (90 days)
• 🇱🇺 Luxembourg (90 days)
• 🇲🇹 Malta (90 days)
• 🇲🇩 Moldova (90 days)
• 🇲🇨 Monaco (N/A)
• 🇲🇪 Montenegro (90 days)
• 🇳🇱 Netherlands (90 days)
• 🇲🇰 North Macedonia (90 days)
• 🇳🇴 Norway (90 days)
• 🇵🇱 Poland (90 days)
• 🇵🇹 Portugal (90 days)
• 🇷🇴 Romania (90 days)
• 🇸🇲 San Marino (N/A)
• 🇷🇸 Serbia (90 days)
• 🇸🇰 Slovakia (90 days)
• 🇸🇮 Slovenia (90 days)
• 🇪🇸 Spain (90 days)
• 🇸🇪 Sweden (90 days)
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland (90 days)
• 🇺🇦 Ukraine (90 days)
• 🇬🇧 United Kingdom (6 months)
• 🇻🇦 Vatican City (N/A)
• 🇽🇰 Kosovo (90 days)
• 🇫🇴 Faroe Islands (N/A)
• 🇬🇮 Gibraltar (N/A)
• 🇦🇴 Angola (30 days)
• 🇧🇼 Botswana (90 days)
• 🇸🇿 Eswatini (30 days)
• 🇬🇲 Gambia (90 days)
• 🇱🇸 Lesotho (14 days)
• 🇲🇼 Malawi (30 days)
• 🇲🇺 Mauritius (90 days)
• 🇲🇦 Morocco (3 months)
• 🇳🇦 Namibia (3 months)
• 🇷🇼 Rwanda (30 days)
• 🇿🇦 South Africa (90 days)
• 🇹🇳 Tunisia (3 months)
• 🇿🇲 Zambia (30 days)
• 🇾🇹 Mayotte (3 months)
• 🇷🇪 Réunion (3 months)
• 🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda (6 months)
• 🇦🇷 Argentina (90 days)
• 🇧🇸 Bahamas (3 months)
• 🇧🇧 Barbados (6 months)
• 🇧🇿 Belize (N/A)
• 🇧🇴 Bolivia (90 days)
• 🇧🇷 Brazil (90 days)
• 🇨🇦 Canada (6 months)
• 🇨🇱 Chile (90 days)
• 🇨🇴 Colombia (90 days)
• 🇨🇷 Costa Rica (90 days)
• 🇩🇲 Dominica (6 months)
• 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic (90 days)
• 🇪🇨 Ecuador (90 days)
• 🇸🇻 El Salvador (3 months)
• 🇬🇩 Grenada (3 months)
• 🇬🇹 Guatemala (90 days)
• 🇬🇾 Guyana (3 months)
• 🇭🇹 Haiti (3 months)
• 🇭🇳 Honduras (3 months)
• 🇯🇲 Jamaica (N/A)
• 🇲🇽 Mexico (180 days)
• 🇳🇮 Nicaragua (90 days)
• 🇵🇦 Panama (90 days)
• 🇵🇾 Paraguay (90 days)
• 🇵🇪 Peru (183 days)
• 🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis (3 months)
• 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia (6 weeks)
• 🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (3 month)
• 🇸🇷 Suriname (90 days)
• 🇺🇸 United States (90 days)
• 🇺🇾 Uruguay (3 months)
• 🇻🇪 Venezuela (90 days)
• 🇬🇱 Greenland (N/A)
• 🇬🇫 French Guiana (3 months)
• 🇵🇲 Saint Pierre and Miquelon (3 months)
• 🇦🇼 Aruba (30 days, extendable to 180 days)
• Caribbean Netherlands (90 days. Includes Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba.)
• 🇨🇼 Curaçao (90 days)
• 🇸🇽 Sint Maarten (90 days)
• 🇦🇮 Anguilla (3 months)
• 🇧🇲 Bermuda (Up to 6 months, decided on arrival)
• 🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands (30 days, extensions possible)
• 🇰🇾 Cayman Islands (6 months)
• 🇫🇰 Falkland Islands (A visitor permit is normally issued as a stamp in the passport on arrival, The maximum validity period is 1 month.)
• 🇲🇸 Montserrat (6 months)
• 🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands (90 days)
• 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico (Under the Visa Waiver Program, for 90 days on arrival from overseas for 2 years. ESTA required.)
• 🇦🇲 Armenia (180 days)
• 🇧🇳 Brunei (30 days)
• 🇬🇪 Georgia (1 year)
• 🇮🇱 Israel (3 months)
• 🇯🇵 Japan (90 days)
• 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan (30 days)
• 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan (60 days)
• 🇲🇾 Malaysia (3 months)
• 🇲🇳 Mongolia (30 days)
• 🇴🇲 Oman (14 days / 90 days)
• 🇵🇭 Philippines (30 days)
• 🇶🇦 Qatar (30 days)
• 🇸🇬 Singapore (90 days)
• 🇹🇯 Tajikistan (30 days)
• 🇹🇭 Thailand (30 days)
• 🇹🇷 Turkey (3 months)
• 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates (30 days)
• 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan (30 days)
• 🇵🇸 Palestine (Arrival by sea to Gaza Strip not allowed.)
• 🇹🇼 Taiwan (90 days)
• 🇭🇰 Hong Kong (90 days)
• 🇲🇴 Macau (90 days)
• 🇦🇺 Australia (Indefinitely)
• 🇫🇯 Fiji (4 months)
• 🇰🇮 Kiribati (30 days)
• 🇫🇲 Micronesia (30 days)
• 🇻🇺 Vanuatu (30 days)
• 🇨🇰 Cook Islands (90 days)
• 🇳🇺 Niue (30 days)
• 🇵🇫 French Polynesia (90 days within 180 days)
• 🇳🇨 New Caledonia (3 months)
• 🇼🇫 Wallis and Futuna (3 months)
• 🇵🇳 Pitcairn Islands (14 days visa free and landing fee US$35 or tax of US$5 if not going ashore.)
• 🇬🇺 Guam (45 days)
• 🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands (45 days)

This data has been sourced from Wikipedia and was last updated on 5/1/2024.

• Fiji visa free countries
• Tonga visa free countries
• Vanuatu visa free countries

• Before you travel to New Zealand

To board your flight or cruise to New Zealand you need a valid passport or travel document, and have the right visa or an NZeTA.

Your journey to New Zealand

Protect yourself from immigration scams, new zealand electronic travel authority (nzeta), check if you need an nzeta or visa, travellers who do not need an nzeta, arriving by cruise ship, transit passengers, visa waiver countries and territories, transit visa waiver countries, paying the international visitor conservation and tourism levy (ivl).

Arriving in New Zealand

• If you are a premium loyalty programme member
• Visiting New Zealand on business

Checking in for your trip

When you check in you must show that you:

• have a valid passport or travel document, and
• hold the right visa or an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority).

Check your passport

You may not be allowed to check in if your passport is not valid for travel to New Zealand. Check that it will not expire until:

• 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand, or
• 1 month after the date you plan to leave New Zealand — if your passport was issued by a country that has a New Zealand embassy or consulate that issues passports of that country.

Embassies - Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade

If you live in New Zealand permanently — for example, if you have a resident visa — your passport only needs to be valid for travel to New Zealand.

Make sure that your passport has not been:

• reported as lost or stolen, or
• invalidated by the government that issued it.

If you need an NZeTA

You must hold an NZeTA if you are boarding a flight or cruise that leaves for New Zealand, and you:

• are visiting on a passport from a visa waiver country — that is, a country whose passport holders do not need to get a visa before they travel to New Zealand
• are a cruise ship passenger
• are passing through Auckland International Airport to another country and travelling on a passport from a visa waiver country or a transit visa waiver country
• are passing through Auckland International Airport as a transit passenger to or from Australia, or
• have a permanent resident visa for Australia that lets you return to Australia from another country. 

If you do not need an NZeTA

You do not need an NZeTA if you:

• hold a visa for New Zealand
• are an Australian or New Zealand citizen travelling on an Australian or New Zealand passport, or
• are a New Zealand citizen travelling on a passport that has a New Zealand citizen endorsement.

Permanent residents of visa waiver countries

Holding a permanent resident visa for a visa waiver country is not evidence of your citizenship.

If you hold a Permanent Resident Card (green card) for the USA (a visa waiver country) you would still need a visa to travel to New Zealand — unless the passport you hold is from a visa waiver country. Your eligibility to travel to New Zealand without a visa depends on the passport that you are travelling on.

If you intend to travel to New Zealand on a passport issued by a visa waiver country you:

• may travel to New Zealand without applying for a visa first
• still must get an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before you travel.

If you are going to travel to New Zealand on a passport from a country not on the visa waiver list, you need a visa before you travel.

Requesting an NZeTA

You request an NZeTA using our mobile app or online form. You may also need to pay an International Visitor Tourism and Conservation Levy (IVL).

Information about NZeTA

Paying the International Visitor Tourism and Conservation Levy

Correct errors on your NZeTA

After your NZeTA is approved, you can only correct some of the details such as your:

• passport number — for example, if you had to replace your passport
• email address, or
• small spelling mistakes or numerical errors.

Use our online form to request these changes to your NZeTA.

How to request a change to your NZeTA

If you want to make other changes, you must request a new NZeTA.

If you have a visa to come to New Zealand

If you have a visa for New Zealand, before you leave, check that:

• your passport details match the details on your eVisa (if you have an eVisa), and
• you have the right visa for what you plan to do in New Zealand.

Contact us immediately if there is an error in the details listed in your eVisa.

If you travel on a different passport

If you do not plan to use the same passport to travel to New Zealand that you used when you applied for your visa, you must apply to transfer your visa to the new passport before you travel. Your visa details are linked to the passport you used to apply so if they do not match, your travel may be delayed.

Transfer your visa to a new passport

I'm a New Zealand citizen but travel on my foreign passport

Check your visa conditions

Check your visa to find out what the conditions are. You may not be allowed to enter New Zealand if you cannot provide evidence that you meet the conditions of your visa. For example, the money you must have to live on in New Zealand can vary depending on the visa you have.

Check the conditions of your visa

Bring evidence to support your travel

Gather the documents you need. Bring with you:

• a copy of your eVisa letter (unless you have a visa label in the passport you are travelling on), and
• evidence that you can meet the conditions of your visa — for example you can use:
• your travel ticket to show that you are planning to leave New Zealand, and
• bank statements to show that you have enough money to live on while you are here.

Do not buy your ticket before we grant you a visa or your application is approved in principle. You may lose the cost of your ticket or have to rearrange your travel if there is a delay in processing your application or we do not grant you a visa.

Checks we need to do 

As well as checking your passport and visa, there are other things we need to check.

Before you board your plane or cruise ship

When you check in to travel to New Zealand, we receive information from your airline or cruise line that we use to check our records to make sure you are allowed to travel here. 

How we collect and use information about people flying in and out of NZ

We may need to ask you some questions before you board or when you arrive. This applies to everyone, including people who already hold a visa, an NZeTA or are in transit.

Checking your reasons for travelling

As well as checking your passport and visa, we check that you have a genuine reason for coming to New Zealand.

Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in New Zealand

If you do not answer the questions truthfully, you may not be allowed to come here.

If you are refused entry to New Zealand

Onward travel

We may want to see your ticket showing when you will leave New Zealand. We may ask to see other travel tickets or visas if you leave to go to a country that you:

• need to have a visa or onward travel ticket for, or
• are not a citizen of — you need to show that you have the right to enter that country.

We do not need to see this if:

• your eVisa says 'return/onward travel not required'
• your eVisa says 'the holder of this visa is sponsored', or
• you hold a current resident or permanent resident visa for New Zealand.

Supporting yourself in New Zealand

We may want to see evidence of how you will support yourself financially while you are in New Zealand.

Your character

We may want to check that you are of good character and will comply with the conditions of your visa. This could include questions about any convictions you have or whether you have been deported from another country.

Good character for temporary visas

Good character for residence visas

Your health

We may ask for evidence about your health. Before you can enter New Zealand you must be in good health or be granted a medical waiver.

Who needs an x-ray or medical examination

Medical waivers for visa applications

If you are coming to New Zealand on a Medical Treatment Visitor Visa we may ask to see evidence about your health.

Medical Treatment Visitor Visa

Immigration scams to watch out for, and how to protect yourself from these scams and visa fraud.

Some people can use an NZeTA to travel to New Zealand without applying for a visa first. This depends on your passport and if you are visiting or only transiting.

Some people can use an NZeTA to travel to New Zealand, and others need to get a visa.

Visa holders and some other travellers do not need an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before they travel to New Zealand.

If you plan to arrive in New Zealand by cruise ship and do not have a visa, you must hold an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority).

Information about transit visas and criteria for passing through New Zealand to another country.

Passport holders of some countries and territories do not have to apply for a visa before they travel to NZ but must hold an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority).

Citizens of some countries do not have to apply for a visa before passing through New Zealand as a transit passenger but must request an NZeTA.

Many tourists, people on working holidays, and some students and workers coming to New Zealand must pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) of NZD $35.

Before you travel I mua i tō haerenga

Get organised before you travel to make your arrival into New Zealand as easy as possible.

New Zealand entry requirements

Check that you have the right documentation to enter New Zealand, including a valid passport and visa or NZeTA, if required.

Valid passport

You must have a valid passport to enter New Zealand. Check its expiry date to make sure it meets the rules for acceptable travel documents. If you are a New Zealand citizen and you need to renew your passport, make sure you allow plenty of time before you travel.

Renew or replace your adult passport – Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa New Zealand Government

Before you travel to New Zealand – Immigration New Zealand

Visa or NZeTA, if required

If you are not a New Zealand or Australian citizen, you may need to apply for a visa or an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) to enter New Zealand.

Check if you need a visitor visa or an NZeTA – Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa New Zealand Government

Information about NZeTA – Immigration New Zealand

Travel insurance

When coming to New Zealand to visit, study or work, you are strongly encouraged to get travel insurance. Some visa categories require you to hold insurance as a condition of your visa.

Before you buy travel insurance, check what cover it provides. New Zealand has reciprocal health agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom.

Reciprocal health agreements – Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand

What you can't bring into New Zealand

There are strict rules for what you can and cannot bring into New Zealand. If you do not declare prohibited or restricted items, you could be fined or prosecuted. This includes items in your checked in luggage and carry-on bags.

Check if you can bring or send an item to NZ – Mānatu Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries

Prohibited and restricted items – Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa New Zealand Customs Service

Check to see if items or products you are bringing into NZ need a CITES permit (CITES protects many plants and animals globally) – Te Papa Atawhai Department of Conservation 

Travel restrictions for New Zealand

There are no longer any COVID-19 related travel restrictions for New Zealand. You do not need to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter New Zealand.

Unite against COVID-19

New Zealand Traveller Declaration: Before you travel

Kia ora, Travellers arriving into Aotearoa New Zealand by air need to complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration. Children and infants need their own declaration too. It’s free, takes about 10 minutes, and you can do it on your mobile device or computer. You can complete your digital declaration within 24 hours of starting your trip to New Zealand.

Go to TravellerDeclaration.govt.nz or download the NZTD app.

Remember, check if you need a visa or NZeTA to enter New Zealand.

Support and resources in other languages .

Last updated: 10th July 2023

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Page updated:7/2/23 Print page

A passport is required for travel to all countries, including Australia. If you are planning to travel and your passport is due to expire in less than a year, you may need to renew your passport. Some countries require that your passport has at least six months validity remaining after your intended departure from the country you are visiting. Check with Embassies of the countries you are planning to visit for validity requirements. You should also make sure you have at least one clear visa page in your passport for immigration stamps. Your passport should be signed. Signatures are not required if the passport holder is unable to sign or is a child under 10 years.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not issue passports.

How do I get a passport in New Zealand?

The Department of Internal Affairs issues passports. Their website provides information about passports, and application forms .

How do I get a passport overseas?

Only the Passport Offices in London, Sydney or New Zealand can issue a passport.

In an emergency, a New Zealand Embassy overseas may be able to issue an Emergency Travel Document (ETD).  Please note this service is not available through our offices in Austria, Barbados, Iraq, Niue, New Caledonia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia or Poland.   People requiring assistance in those locations should go to http://www.passports.govt.nz/ for further information on applying for a standard New Zealand passport.

In addition our offices in Guangzhou and Honolulu are not able to issue Emergency Travel Documents, however an ETD can be obtained from Beijing and Los Angeles.

How do I get a visa for another country?

You should check with your travel agent or with the Embassy or High Commissions of the countries you intend to visit or transit to find out their visa / entry requirements and if you need to apply for a visa. You should do this well before your planned departure date to ensure you have the correct visa. The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade can not provide this information. If you do not have the required visa, you may be refused entry to a country. Having a visa does not necessarily guarantee entry into another country; this decision rests with immigration officials.

How do I get a visa for New Zealand?

Check Immigration New Zealand for information .

Tips for keeping your passport secure

Make a note of your passport number, take a photocopy of the personal details page, and keep this separately from the passport.

• keep your passport in a secure place
• don’t carry your passport in your pocket
• have an additional means of photo identification to carry with you
• never hand your passport over as a guarantee
• if your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it to the police and then contact the nearest New Zealand Embassy.

Working Holiday Schemes

Working Holiday Schemes are reciprocal arrangements that allow people aged 18 to 30 years, who are not accompanied by children, to spend up to 12 months on holiday in the host country. You can find more details on Working Holiday Schemes from the Embassy or High Commissions of the countries you intend to visit or from the relevant country pages in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's main website .  

Top of page

Related links

• Foreign embassies in New Zealand
• Immigration New Zealand
• Working holiday schemes

Other pages in this section:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade 195 Lambton Quay Private Bag 18 901 Wellington 5045 New Zealand

• About this site
• Accessibility

• Passports Office

Get or renew a New Zealand passport

Renew or replace your adult passport.

Renewing an adult New Zealand passport costs $206. Adult passports are valid for 10 years.

Apply for your first adult passport

If you are 16 or older, you need an adult passport. Adult passports cost $206 and are valid for 10 years.

Renew or replace a child passport

Renewing a child's passport costs $120. Child passports are valid for 5 years. Once a child turns 16 their passport is valid until it expires or is cancelled. After that, they must renew their passport as an adult.

Apply for a child's first passport

Child passports are for children aged 15 and under. They cost $120 and are valid for 5 years. When a child turns 16, their passport is still valid until it expires or is cancelled.

Get your child a New Zealand passport when born overseas

If you are a New Zealand citizen by birth or grant and have a child overseas, you can register them as a citizen by descent and get them a New Zealand passport.

Get yourself a New Zealand passport when born overseas

If you were born overseas and at least 1 of your parents was a New Zealand citizen by birth or grant when you were born, you can register as a citizen by descent and get a New Zealand passport.

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Date printed 17 May 2024

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What came out of first day talks between Anthony Albanese and NZ PM Chris Hipkins?

Passport-free travel between Australia and New Zealand is still at least a year off, after talks between prime ministers Anthony Albanese and Chris Hipkins in Wellington.

Key points:

• Anthony Albanese sat down with New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins in Wellington on Wednesday
• The pair looked at possible trans-Tasman travel and visa options to create "seamless" movement between the two countries
• Mr Hipkins offered his views on the Australia's Voice to Parliament proposal

The annual leader's summit in the Kiwi capital coincided with the 50th anniversary of the trans-Tasman travel arrangement, allowing freedom of movement between the two countries for its citizens. 

But removing restrictions altogether is a way off, despite the leaders committing to trying to streamline the travel process.

"We haven't looked at a trans-Tasman passport. What we are looking at is making a seamless experience of going through from country to country," Mr Albanese said.

"So, that might look at, for example, how smart gates could operate and be complimentary, our systems, so that before you get on a plane, in either country, it's already recognised that you're OK to come in and therefore, can just go through smart gates in a seamless way and in a timely way."

Earlier in the year, Australia announced new pathways to citizenship for Kiwis living in the country, and there has already been a surge in applications.

"There have already been thousands take up — more than 10,000 — and I expect that there will be many thousands more," the Australian prime minister said.

"This brings into a lot of alignment with what New Zealand does for Australians.

"That's why it's the right thing to do."

'Part of the Pacific family'

While focusing on the trans-Tasman relationship, the two leaders also lifted their gaze towards the broader Pacific and tried to steer small island states away from China's overtures.

"When Australia provides aid and support to our neighbours there aren't strings attached," Mr Albanese said.

"We do that because we are part of the Pacific family and that's important.

"So we'll continue to work constructively. And that work is aided if we're working together in the region, which we certainly will continue to do, and I think in an even more concerted than we have in the past."

The two leaders discussed the AUKUS defence and security pact between Australia, the US and the UK, which is allowing Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

Whether the New Zealand government joins the agreement in some way, shape or form in the future remains a topic of consideration.

"I think there's no question that we have a different position around nuclear, nuclear propulsion is also covered by New Zealand's nuclear-free arrangements," Mr Hipkins said.

 "But in terms of military, we were open to conversations with the AUKUS partners around what New Zealand's involvement in some of those things might look like."

NZ PM weighs in on Voice to Parliament

While reluctant to delve into matters of Australia's domestic politics, Mr Hipkins did offer some views on the recognition and respect of New Zealand's First Nations and suggested it could be instructive for Australia as the Voice to Parliament debate continues.

"The debates in New Zealand and Australia are very different starting points. And I certainly respect the fact that the referendum in Australia is a matter for the Australian people, and I don't intend to proffer a comment on that," Mr Hipkins said.

"I can certainly speak to the New Zealand experience.

"I'm firmly of the view that the process of reconciliation that New Zealand has been going through for a number of decades has been overwhelmingly positive for New Zealand.

"That doesn't mean that there haven't been bumps on the road. It doesn't mean they haven't been periods where it's been very controversial.

"But when I look back on some of those controversies … many people look back on them and wonder what was so controversial about them."

'Incredible welcome': Albanese

Earlier, the prime minister was formally welcomed to New Zealand's parliament in central Wellington with a traditional Maori Pōwhiri ceremony.

A solemn-faced Mr Albanese was challenged by a Maori warrior as to whether he came to the building in peace, before following him into the parliament's ballroom.

On social media, the prime minister described the welcome as "incredible".

After signing the official guest book, Mr Albanese was escorted into the House of Representatives by Mr Hipkins and Speaker Adrian Rurawhe.

"Welcome Prime Minister Albanese, it's good to see you here," New Zealand's Opposition Leader Christopher Luxon told the chamber.

"It's a very special relationship that we have with Australia, and it's great that you're here in New Zealand."

Mr Albanese and Mr Hipkins travelled to an official Women's World Cup fan site on the edge of Wellington's harbour after their meeting, before an official dinner at Government House on Wednesday.

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Get or renew a New Zealand passport

Renew or replace your adult passport.

Renewing an adult New Zealand passport costs $206. Adult passports are valid for 10 years.

Apply for your first adult passport

If you are 16 or older, you need an adult passport. Adult passports cost $206 and are valid for 10 years.

Renew or replace a child passport

Renewing a child's passport costs $120. Child passports are valid for 5 years. Once a child turns 16 their passport is valid until it expires or is cancelled. After that, they must renew their passport as an adult.

Apply for a child's first passport

Child passports are for children aged 15 and under. They cost $120 and are valid for 5 years. When a child turns 16, their passport is still valid until it expires or is cancelled.

Get your child a New Zealand passport when born overseas

If you are a New Zealand citizen by birth or grant and have a child overseas, you can register them as a citizen by descent and get them a New Zealand passport.

Get yourself a New Zealand passport when born overseas

If you were born overseas and at least 1 of your parents was a New Zealand citizen by birth or grant when you were born, you can register as a citizen by descent and get a New Zealand passport.

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Date printed 17 May 2024

New Zealand

New zealand passport ranking.

The New Zealand passport currently ranked 5th place on the Guide Passport Index. It provides visa-free access to 190 countries. With a high mobility score it is one of the most desirable passports in the world. New Zealand passport holders have visa-free access and visas on arrival to countries such as Japan, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, USA and the entire European Union. This allows almost instant travel opportunities. New Zealand passport holders do however require a visa to enter about 39 destinations in the world. Some countries where visa is required are China, India, Russia and Cuba.

New Zealand Passport Ranking

The New Zealand passport ranking relative to other global passports is calculated by adding up the number of countries that allow New Zealand passport holders to enter without a visa (i.e. visa-free countries) and those that allow New Zealand passport holders to enter by obtaining a visa on arrival (i.e. visa-on-arrival countries) or an electronic travel authorization (eTA). There are currently a total of 143 New Zealand passport visa-free countries, 39 New Zealand visa-on-arrival countries, and 8 eTA destinations.

Altogether, New Zealand passport holders can enter a total of 190 destinations—either without a visa, through a visa on arrival, or via an eTA. As a result, the New Zealand passport ranks 5 in the world.

Separate from these New Zealand visa-free countries and visa-on-arrival countries, there are 39 additional destinations which New Zealand passport holders either need a physical visa to enter or an eVisa (i.e. visa required countries).

About New Zealand

The island nation of New Zealand is a former British colony consisting of 16 regions. The most important regions are Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington and Waikato. The country is situated in Oceania, South Pacific Ocean, just southeast of Australia. New Zealand is the 4th largest country in Oceania with a surface area of 268,021 square kilometers. Its climate is mostly temperate with some regional differences. The terrain is characterized by mountains with vast coastal plains.

The overall population is over 5 million people. The capital of the country is Wellington. The most populous city is however Auckland with 1.4 million inhabitants. Other major cities are Christchurch and Hamilton. The largest airport is Auckland Airport (AKL) with over 21 million annual passengers. Followed by Christchurch (CHC) with more than 6.9 million yearly passengers. Together they provide flight connections to most destinations in the region and beyond.

New Zealand’s culture is dominated by the history of immigration waves that occurred over the past centuries. There is a multi-cultural and religious mix present in most of the country. The official languages are English and Maori. The legal system is a federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. The chief of state is King Charles III. The head of government is the elected Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

The official currency is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) with the current exchange rate being NZD 1.57 to the USD. The country has an open economy, generating a GDP of approximately $193 billion, making it the 2nd largest economy in Oceania. Its citizens have a per capita income of $41,072. The GDP is mostly made up of 2 key sectors, which are services and industry. Some of the main export products are timber, minerals, dairy products, meat, vegetables and wine. New Zealand signed a variety of trading agreements in order to grow trade. China is their most important export partner. Furthermore, tourism plays a large role economically for certain key regions.

New Zealand is filled with a variety of urban and natural tourism destinations and attractions. It is known for its vast wildlife and various national parks. Some of the major destinations include the Fiordland National Park, the Bay of Islands, Queenstown, Lake Taupo, Rotorua and Auckland. The nation has a total of approximately 3.8 million tourists visiting every year with the majority originating from China and Australia.

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Passport processing is taking longer than usual. Please allow around 10 weeks plus delivery for a standard passport. If you need it sooner, consider using our urgent service . We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Mac/iPhone/iPad users: Some people are having problems using Safari to access this website. Please use a different internet browser while we fix the issue.

Our online passport service will be unavailable from 9pm on Friday 24 May until 1.40am on Saturday 25 May (NZST) due to system updates. Please save your application and log off before 9pm on 24 May.

Passport costs

Delivery fees

• Passport timeframes

Find out how much you need to pay for a passport. It costs more to get an urgent passport or to use the after-hours call out service.

Online applications

You can apply online from anywhere in the world.

Standard passport

• Adult passport: NZD$206.00 (includes $26.87 GST)
• Child passport:  NZD$120.00 (includes $15.65 GST)

Urgent passport

• Adult passport: NZD$412.00 (includes $53.74 GST)
• Child passport: NZD$326.00 (includes $42.52 GST)

Applying online from outside New Zealand

If you are a non-resident for New Zealand tax purposes and apply online, GST is not included in your fee. You may have to pay a delivery fee.

Find out if you are a non-resident for tax purposes 

Paper applications processed in NZ

After-hours call out service in nz.

If you need a passport urgently between 5pm and 10pm on a weekday, or 8am to 10pm on the weekend or a public holiday, you can use this service. You need to call us.

Freephone: 0800 22 50 50 (NZ only)

Phone: +64 (4) 463 9360 (outside NZ)

• Adult passport: NZD$837.00 (GST inclusive)
• Child passport: NZD$751.00 (GST inclusive)

Paper applications processed in Australia

• Adult passport: AUD$242.00
• Child passport: AUD$142.00
• Adult passport: AUD$484.00
• Child passport: AUD$384.00

You may have to pay a courier fee if you want your passport delivered to an address outside of Australia.

After-hours call out service in Australia

Freephone: 1300 559 535 (Australia only)

Phone:  +61 (2) 9225 2300

• Adult passport: AUD$928.00
• Child passport: AUD$828.00

Paper applications processed in the UK

• Adult passport: GBP£137.00
• Child passport: GBP£80.00
• Adult GBP£274.00
• Child GBP£217.00

After-hours call out service in the UK

If you need a passport urgently between 5pm and 10pm on a weekday, or 8am to 10pm on the weekend or a bank holiday, you can use this service. You need to call us.

Phone: +44 (20) 7968 2730

• Adult passport: GBP£525.00
• Child passport: GBP£468.00

Last Updated

Page last updated: 28 November 2023

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Call for passports to be ditched for NZ-Aus travel by next year

NZ passport.

Tourism industry representatives think it’s time for passports to be ditched for people travelling between Australia and New Zealand.

Chief executive of Australia’s Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF), Margy Osmond, said it’s time to upgrade measures at airports on both sides of the Tasman, meaning people could enter without passports.

"We should use the trans-Tasman border as a test case so we can trial more efficient entry and screening technologies to process incoming passengers," she said.

"These tools are already being used successfully in other countries to simplify air travel, slash travel times and boost security."

It comes as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepares to travel to New Zealand at the end of the week to meet with Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.

When announcing the trip, Hipkins said, "I believe that the trans-Tasman relationship is the strongest it has been in decades".

"In both Australia and Prime Minister Albanese, New Zealand has a close friend and ally, so I'm very pleased to host him here during this year of milestone anniversaries.

"Prime Minister Albanese’s visit is a chance to recognise our past achievements, to celebrate the progress we have made this year and to set ambition for where Australia and New Zealand want to go next."

However, the TTF wants immediate action, calling for a taskforce before the end of August, with the goal of trialling a seamless border by the end of the year.

"Australia was one of the first countries to introduce smart gates and e-passports, but progress has stalled," Osmund said.

The organisation believes formalities at the border could be reduced to just facial recognition technology in order to stop people producing passports, travel documents or boarding passes.

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How long does it take to get a new NZ passport? New system causes 10-week wait time

T he Department of Internal Affairs said it aims to get passport wait times down to two weeks despite Kiwis currently facing 10-week waits.

A system update in March pushed passport processing times from four weeks to 10 weeks; the delay caused headaches for travellers across the country and families abroad .

The Department said the update was more disruptive than it had anticipated and apologised for the stress caused.

Passport processing usually takes four weeks and the update was designed to increase efficiency by allowing customers to complete more steps online. Instead, the update prompted wait times to more than double to 10 weeks.

What’s causing passport delays in New Zealand?

The department said the “sharp increase” in average wait times was because the update involved “significant changes” to how staff processed applications.

While they anticipated the upgrade to temporarily affect productivity and timeframes, they admitted the impact was “sharper and more prolonged than expected”.

What is the department doing to fix things?

The department said reducing wait times was a priority and several interventions had been established to resolve the issues.

Key actions included forming a dedicated team to work on delays, fine-tuning the new system to increase efficiency, providing extra support and training to staff as they adjust to the new system and fast-tracking recruitment of additional front-line staff.

The department said the interventions and other actions were improving wait times.

“Last week, 56 per cent of applications issued were within 15 working days which is a 7 per cent increase on the previous week,” the DIA stated, adding that 74 per cent of applications had been issued within 30 working days.

When will passport wait times return to normal?

The department said they expected the new system to be working at full efficiency by the end of May and by the end of August, it wants to issue 90 per cent of passports within two weeks.

However, currently, Kiwis are still waiting more than 10 weeks.

“Currently, the department is advising customers to allow up to 10 weeks plus delivery to receive their passport.”

This has caught out families such as Nick and Dani Potts from Hāwea, who applied before the system update when the timeframe was four weeks. The couple applied for new passports in March for themselves and their children ahead of a holiday in May.

I’m still waiting for my passport and I need to travel soon, what do I do?

If your passport application is still being processed but a trip is fast approaching, DIA recommends contacting them as soon as possible.

How can I speed up a passport being processed?

Unless you pay an additional $206 per passport for “urgent” passport processing, there is little one can do to speed up their passport processing.

The one thing you can do, according to the DIA, is ensure all application information is totally correct.

“Prospective customers can support faster turn-around by ensuring that they have the correct information when they apply,” they stated, adding that incorrect passport photos submitted can extend the processing time.

How will the new system improve things?

Families and groups will be far better off using the new system, as they will be able to apply at the same time online. Previously, groups had to use paper forms but now you can save time and do it altogether at home.

If your passport was lost, stolen or damaged, things will also be easier, as you’ll no longer need to supply a previous passport number, contact the Department or submit paper forms. Instead, you can complete an application online, as 2603 people already have.

Passport processing is taking longer than usual. Please allow around 10 weeks plus delivery for a standard passport. If you need it sooner, consider using our urgent service . We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Mac/iPhone/iPad users: Some people are having problems using Safari to access this website. Please use a different internet browser while we fix the issue.

Our online passport service will be unavailable from 9pm on Friday 24 May until 1.40am on Saturday 25 May (NZST) due to system updates. Please save your application and log off before 9pm on 24 May.

What you need for your application

• Identity referee or witness
• Parental consent for children
• Document translations

Certificate of identity or refugee travel document

If you need to travel and you cannot get a passport from your country of citizenship, you may be able to apply for a New Zealand certificate of identity or refugee travel document.

Certificate of identity

A certificate of identity may be issued to a person who is not a New Zealand citizen and cannot get a passport from their country of citizenship. You must be physically present in New Zealand to qualify for a certificate of identity.

A certificate of identity is valid for a maximum of 2 years.

Refugee travel document

A refugee travel document may be issued to a person who is not a New Zealand citizen and who has refugee status confirmed by Immigration New Zealand. You must be physically present in New Zealand to qualify for a refugee travel document.

A refugee travel document is valid for a maximum of 5 years.

A certificate of identity or refugee travel document application costs NZD$120.00.

Allow a minimum of 20 working days for your application to be processed.

Download an application form

Application for a certificate of identity or refugee travel document (PDF 357KB)

Last Updated

Page last updated: 25 May 2023

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Thailand, Sri Lanka, Mauritius: List of visa-free countries for Indians

Thailand and sri lanka have extended the visa-free entry facilities for visitors from india.

Thailand. Photo: Shutterstock

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First Published: May 08 2024 | 9:38 AM IST

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