What is a UK ETA for New Zealand Citizens?

The UK ETA system is a digital permission scheme that was launched by the British government in October 2023. It is not too dissimilar to the ESTA system that is operational in the USA and is applicable to all New Zealand passport holders (and citizens of many other countries).

On 8th January 2025, the British government will extend its electronic travel authorization scheme to citizens of New Zealand.

This means that passport holders who were previously traveling to the UK from NZ visa-free will now be required to apply for what is commonly referred to as a UK ETA.

Applications were officially open on 27 November 2024 for any travels planned on or after 8th January 2025. Up until 7th January, they will continue to be able to enjoy visa-free travel to the United Kingdom.

Overall, the UK ETA for NZ citizens allows New Zealanders to stay in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales for a maximum of six months at a time for the purposes of:

  • Traveling around England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales for the purposes of tourism (up to 6 months).
  • Visiting family and friends (up to 6 months).
  • Business purposes (up to 6 months).
  • Short-term study (up to 6 months).
  • Traveling on the Creative Worker visa concession (up to 3 months).
  • Traveling for a Permitted paid engagement, e.g., conference speaker or entertainer.

It is valid for a period of two years, during which time they can enjoy multiple visits to the United Kingdom.

The ETA is intended for short stays only and not for frequent extended stays that resemble a residency. Travelers returning to the UK after leaving the country on an ETA may be allowed re-entry. However, repeated ETA validity breaches may lead to questioning and possibly refusal of entry.

The ETA for the UK scheme is in line with the launch of several other global travel authorization systems that have been introduced by other countries around the world, including the NZETA initiative that currently operates in New Zealand.

These systems have been established to strengthen global border security and streamline the travel process.

New Zealand Visitor Statistics to the United Kingdom

According to the website visitbritain.org, over 3.5 million outbound visits from New Zealand were made for the purposes of tourism in 2023. Overall, their total international tourist spend was around 4 billion US dollars.

In terms of visitors specifically to the UK, 265,000 travelers from New Zealand visited the UK whether England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, or Wales.

Their total spend was revealed to be £346.9 million, with an average of £1,307 being spent per visit.

Benefits of the UK ETA for New Zealand Citizens

For New Zealanders who want to visit any or all of the countries of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the new ETA for the UK scheme provides them with several benefits. They include, but are not limited to, the following:

Quick and easy application process

The application process for obtaining a UK ETA from New Zealand is straight forward and you can do it directly through our website.

You will need a valid biometric passport, a passport-sized photo of yourself, and to answer a few simple questions to complete your application, which you should be able to do in a matter of minutes.

Cost-effective

For those who want to visit the United Kingdom regularly over its two-year validity period, a successful UK ETA application provides you with a much more cost-effective way of doing so.

It is far less expensive, for example, than other options for a UK Visa for New Zealand citizens, such as a Skilled Worker, Student Visa, or Family Visa.

Quick Approval Time

Unlike some of the traditional visas the British government offers, The Home Office will process your UK ETA from New Zealand application and inform you of their decision, typically, within three working days.

No Visa Needed

If the ETA application is approved, New Zealanders will not need to get a UK visa from NZ for the purposes of tourism, visiting loved ones, conducting business, or short-term study if they intend to stay in the United Kingdom for up to six months. They can simply use their ETA instead.

UK ETA Eligibility Criteria for New Zealand Citizens

From 8th January 2025, one of the mandatory UK entry requirements for NZ citizens to the United Kingdom who don’t have a valid visa will be to hold an approved UK ETA.

In order to receive one, there are certain eligibility criteria that need to be met. Including the following:

  • The applicant must be a citizen of New Zealand One of the main UK ETA requirements for New Zealand travelers is that they are citizens of New Zealand or another ETA-eligible country. This applies to people of all ages.
  • Applicants are planning to stay in the UK for no more than six months You will be eligible for an ETA if you do not want to stay in the United Kingdom for more than six months. If you do, you will have to apply for one of the many different types of visas the British Government offers New Zealanders.
  • Applicants have no criminal record If you have a prior criminal conviction that has resulted in you being incarcerated for more than a year, then you might be deemed as high risk to be able to apply for an ETA. (Although you might be eligible to apply for a UK visa).
  • Valid Passport As the ETA is linked to your passport, all applicants must possess a valid biometric passport. Since the ETA is digitally linked to your passport, you will need to use the same passport you applied with during your travel to the UK.

UK ETA Validity and Duration of Stay

If your application for an ETA is successful, you will be able to visit England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales for a maximum of six months at a time.

However, the ETA is valid for a period of two years in total from the date it was approved, or until your passport runs out, whichever is sooner. During that time, you can visit the United Kingdom as often as you want.

The UK ETA is digitally linked to your passport. That is why you will need to apply for a new ETA if your passport expires before the two-year period ends.

UK ETA Requirements for New Zealand Nationals

If you want to apply for a UK ETA there are several documents you need to have available when you are filling out the application form. All of them need to be valid and up to date. Here is an overview of what you need.

Passport

You will need to provide the UK government with a valid passport. To do this you must upload a copy of the biographic page of your passport with your application.

What you upload must be original, have not been altered by filters or other effects and should not be a photocopy or a screenshot. Additionally, all of the four corners must be clear, visible, and in focus.

As your ETA will be digitally linked to this passport, it has to be the one that you intend to travel to the UK with. If it is not, you will be refused entry upon arrival at border control.

Passport

Photo

You will need to send a recent passport-sized photo of yourself that is less than three months old and has a neutral expression.

Again, the photo must be original and not enhanced by filters or other effects. It should also have a light, plain background with no people or objects behind it.

The photo needs to show your face, shoulders, and upper body, and you must not wear a hat or any type of glasses.

Photo

Payment method

When submitting your ETA application, you will need to pay a fee to do so.

To facilitate this online payment, you will need to have a valid credit or debit card. Alternatively, you can use Google Pay or Apple Pay.

Once you have made the payment you will receive a notification that it has successfully gone through.

Payment method

Email address

Any correspondence in relation to your ETA application will be sent to you via email whether approved or rejected.

Therefore, you must supply a valid email address with enough storage in its inbox to receive the emails.

Email address

Applying for a UK ETA for New Zealand Citizens

New Zealand citizens will need to provide certain biographic details and documents when applying for an ETA. They will also be required to answer questions that will help the UK government assess their suitability for visiting the UK and their predisposition to criminality.  Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for a UK ETA.

1

Fill Out the Application Form

First of all, you will need to fill out the application form.

This is a fairly straightforward process that shouldn’t take you too long. But it will involve you inputting personal details, such as full name, home address, date of birth, and phone number, as well as other information, such as your nationality, passport number, and your expected date of arrival in the UK. 

You will also have to answer a series of questions about your work status if you have a criminal conviction, and if you have been involved in war crimes, terrorism, or hate crimes.

Lastly, you will need to check three boxes that confirm you have filled the form out honestly, have read the terms of conditions and privacy policy, and that your date of arrival in the UK is not less than three business days away.

2

Attach Required Documents

While filling out the form, you will need to upload a copy of your passport and a personal photo of your face, as per the guidelines you will be advised of.

You can choose to upload them as either a JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or PDF, and the maximum file size is 5MB for each one.

3

Pay the Application Fee

The next stage of the ETA application process is where you will have to pay the required fees of £79 which include both the government fees and our professional service fees.

This payment can be processed via a range of methods, including credit or debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

4

Submit the Application

Once you have made the payment you can then submit the application. However, before you do, take the time to double-check that you have accurately filled out all sections and uploaded the correct documentation.

Even one small error can result in your application being rejected.

5

Receive Your ETA

The UK Government’s Home Office will process all ETA applications and inform New Zealand applicants of their decision typically within three business days.

If they are approved for a UK ETA, the applicant will be sent an official confirmation via email. Likewise, if their application is rejected or refused, they will be notified of the reasons why in the same way.

If a New Zealand citizen’s application has been rejected, it is usually because the form was not filled out correctly or the wrong type of documents were uploaded. In such circumstances, you can reapply for an ETA if you address these issues.

However, if the application is refused, it typically means you have been found to be ineligible for the ETA on the basis of security concerns or not meeting the criteria for being granted one.

This decision is final and cannot be appealed. If this happens to you, then you must pursue alternative options, such as applying for the appropriate visa.

UK ETA Processing Time and Fees for New Zealand Citizens

One of the questions we get asked regularly is, ‘How long does the UK ETA take to process for New Zealand citizens?’

As mentioned, the UK Home Office will process and make a decision on all applications within three working days. The outcome of which will be confirmed via email.

The UK ETA cost is £79. This UK ETA fee includes the application fees and our professional service fees.

Traveling to the UK from NZ with an ETA: Key Details

Once you have been approved for an ETA, you will be granted permission to enter the UK. Here are some things you should know about traveling to England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, or Wales with this type of travel permission.

  • Just because you have an ETA does not mean you are automatically guaranteed entry into the United Kingdom. Upon arriving at border control, all New Zealand citizens must show and scan the passport that is digitally linked to the ETA. If they don’t, they will be refused entry.
  • New Zealand ETA holders will also have to go through security checks and border control.
  • Should you hold two passports due to dual nationality, you are only allowed to enter the UK with the one that the ETA is linked to.
  • Every time you visit the UK during the ETA’s two-year validity period, you will need to go through Border Control, and just because you have previously been allowed entry to the United Kingdom on an ETA does not mean you are guaranteed to be allowed entry on future visits.
  • When you are in the UK, you must adhere to the laws of the country. Breaking them may lead to your arrest, deportation, and even a permanent ban from visiting the UK.

FAQs about the UK ETA for NZ Citizens

The UK ETA is not a visa. It is a digital permission issued by the UK government that New Zealand nationals will need to be able to travel to the UK starting 8th January 2025 if they do not already have valid UK immigration status.

As per changes to border security measures from the UK government, all New Zealand citizens who want to go to the UK for less than six months for specific purposes such as tourism or business will need an ETA for any travels planned on or after 8th January 2025.

If you intend to visit the UK on or after the 8th January 2025, you will need an ETA. Applications were open from 27th November 2024.

The ETA allows New Zealand citizens to visit the UK for certain purposes for a period of up to six months.

It is valid for two years and allows you to visit the countries of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales as many times as you want within that period (assuming your passport is still valid).

Depending on the purpose and intended length of their visit, New Zealand citizens might not need to get a visa to visit the UK. The ETA may be sufficient should they want to go to the UK for less than six months to visit family and friends, conduct business, travel, or study.

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Apply for your UK Electronic Travel Authorization today. Simply fill out the online form to get started.

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