Did you know that New Zealand is one of the few countries which experience nearly as many visitors as it has citizens?
Each year nearly four million travellers descend upon the South Pacific paradise of New Zealand, also known as one of the Top five destinations for adventure seekers, beachgoers and foodies alike. However, for a nation that shines on the international stage due to its phenomenal natural beauty, accommodating millions of travellers while ensuring conservation of the natural environment has proven to be quite a challenge.
In an effort to make tourists directly contribute to replenishing the resources they drain; the country has officially launched a new ETA, effective October 1st, 2019. The ETA also aims to improve the way travellers are assessed before they arrive in New Zealand, and help reduce the time needed for border clearance and strengthen border security.
Essentially, those traveling to New Zealand any time after October 1st, 2019, must either apply for an actual visa, or an ETA if you’re from a “visa waiver country” which may take up to a maximum of 72 hours to process, while most ETA’s should be approved within hours.
The fee to enter New Zealand on an ETA is $9NZD if you use the New Zealand tourism mobile app, or $12NZD online with your browser. You’ll also pay the IVL fee at the same time, which covers tourism infrastructure for New Zealand which is $35NZD. All in, that comes to about $30USD.
Since the ETA is electronic, there wont’ be any hassle, and as long as your passport remains the same, it’ll apply for two years allowing multiple visits. It’s also worth noting that even if you do have an ETA, you must be able to show a ticket not only arriving, but also departing New Zealand.
Though the New Zealand ETA seems to be an extra step for travellers at first, the process is quick, affordable, and completely hassle-free. Discover everything you need to know about your visa requirements to New Zealand, and enjoy your journey abroad!
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