The New Zealand NZeTA visa is valid for an unlimited number of trips within the two-year validity period of the visa. This validity period starts immediately upon issuance of the visa. Each stay in New Zealand must not exceed three or six consecutive months. You are not allowed to stay in the country for more than six months in total in a period of 365 days.

Your New Zealand visa is valid for two years

The validity of your NZeTA starts as soon as your application is approved and the New Zealand visa is granted. From the date of issuance, you may travel to New Zealand an unlimited number of times for two years. Are you travelling to New Zealand again on a visa you have used before? If this is the case, ensure that your next trip meets all the New Zealand visa requirements.

Keep in mind that the validity of your visa expires immediately when you start using a new passport. Do you have a new passport? Then you will need to apply for a completely new visa with it.

The length of stay allowed is three or six months

The fact that the New Zealand visa is valid for two years does not mean that you can stay in the country for two years. In most cases, each separate stay may last up to three months. An exception applies to travellers with a UK passport. They may stay up to six consecutive months in New Zealand. The entire stay must take place within the validity period of your visa. You always have to leave the country before the 2-year validity period has expired, and you are never allowed to spend more than three or six consecutive months in the country.

It is not possible to extend the allowed duration of stay. However, it is allowed to leave the country for a short period of time, travel back with the same visa and stay in New Zealand for an additional three months or six months for British travellers. Keep in mind that after your visa has expired, you are not allowed to stay in the country. Additionally, you have to keep in mind that, within a period of 12 months, you are not allowed to spend more than six months in New Zealand. This is not allowed and will lead to your NZeTA travel authorisation being revoked.

New Zealand is known for its beautiful nature.

Extending the validity of your New Zealand visa

Will the validity period of your visa expire soon? It is not possible to extend the period of validity of your NZeTA visa. However, you can apply for a new visa for New Zealand in advance. You can submit a new application at any time, even if you still have a valid visa. A new application overwrites all previously granted New Zealand visas. It is advisable to always submit your visa application well before departure.

Is your passport due to expire soon?
Your passport must still be valid for at least three more months on the day of your departure from New Zealand. Make sure your passport is still valid for long enough so that you do not run into problems on arrival in New Zealand.

In the New Zealand visa application form, you have to enter your passport number. This will electronically link the NZeTA to your passport. If your passport expires, or if the passport number does not match, your visa will be invalid. If you apply for a new passport, your old passport will no longer be valid. You will therefore no longer be allowed to travel with the old passport and the NZeTA linked to it.

Situations that cause the validity of your visa to expire

In these cases, your New Zealand visa may lose its validity in less than two years:

• You cannot prove that you have sufficient financial resources for your stay in New Zealand.
• You do not possess a return or transit ticket upon arrival in New Zealand.
• You have a serious, contagious disease that may put you at risk for public health.
• You have been sentenced to imprisonment.
• You are suspected of a crime that may result in a prison sentence.
• You are joining an organisation in New Zealand and performing paid or unpaid work.
• You are travelling to New Zealand for medical treatment.
• Your passport is not valid long enough (read more about the passport requirements).

In all the situations above, the validity of your visa expires immediately. You can always reapply for a New Zealand visa. To do so, you must meet all the visa requirements once more.