Most cruise passengers visiting New Zealand need an NZeTA plus the International Visitor Levy before boarding - even for a single day ashore. Australian citizens are exempt. Always carry your passport ashore.
Yes. Cruise ship passengers arriving in New Zealand generally require an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority), even if they only step ashore for the day. Unlike air transit passengers, cruise arrivals count as visitors, so when requesting the NZeTA you must state that you are 'visiting' rather than transiting. Australian citizens are the main exception and do not need one, though Australian permanent residents still do.
Use only the official Immigration New Zealand channels: the NZeTA mobile app (iOS and Android) or nzeta.immigration.govt.nz. The app is cheaper and lets you lodge requests for up to 10 people at once, while the online form requires a separate request per person. You will need your passport and one acceptable photo, and the details must exactly match the passport you travel on.
The NZeTA request fee is NZD $17 via the app or NZD $23 via the website. On top of that, the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) of NZD $100 is charged at the same time, so most cruise passengers pay either NZD $117 (app) or NZD $123 (website) in total. Fees are non-refundable, including if the request is declined, and are subject to periodic government review.
An NZeTA is valid for two years from approval and can be used for multiple visits within that period. Immigration New Zealand advises allowing up to 72 hours for processing, so request it well before your cruise departs its last overseas port rather than at the last minute. The validity was reduced from five years to two years for most travellers, so re-check the official page if relying on an older authority.
The IVL is currently NZD $100 and is bundled into the NZeTA request, so there is no separate payment step. It funds conservation and tourism infrastructure. Travellers on an Australian or New Zealand passport, holders of an Australian Resident Visa, and passport holders from many Pacific Island nations are exempt.
Citizens of visa-waiver countries and territories can travel on an NZeTA instead of a full visitor visa. Citizens of countries not on the visa-waiver list must apply for a visitor visa before travelling. Australian citizens need neither a visa nor an NZeTA, but should still carry a valid passport; anyone with a criminal conviction or prior deportation should apply for a visa rather than rely on an NZeTA.
Every traveller must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD), which by sea can be submitted from 24 hours before the ship departs its last overseas port. Immigration, Customs and biosecurity clearance for cruises is typically handled at the first New Zealand port, and NZeTA-holding passengers are treated as holding a visitor visa granted for 28 days from that first port. You must still gain entry permission on arrival.
Carry your passport and NZeTA confirmation when you check in and disembark, and be ready to show proof of onward travel (such as the cruise itinerary) and sufficient funds. Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure from New Zealand. Officials may ask for evidence of funds of at least NZD $1,000 per month, or NZD $400 per month if accommodation is pre-paid.
The most frequent errors are assuming a day visit needs no NZeTA, selecting 'transit' instead of 'visiting' when requesting one, and using unofficial third-party websites that charge inflated fees. Ensure NZeTA details exactly match your travel passport, as mismatches can prevent boarding, and never leave the request to the last day given the up-to-72-hour processing window.