eTA New Zealand benefits

Benefits of New Zealand’s Electronic Travel Authority

The Electronic Travel Authority system intends to streamline the New Zealand entry process. Almost as many visitors enter New Zealand’s borders annually as numbers its permanent residents. Many such travellers are currently exempt from having to apply for a travel visa to enter New Zealand which means that a significant percentage of visitors do not have to provide the vital information required of visa-holders. New Zealand authorities have seen the necessity to better manage national arrivals and border security.

Through the eTA, authorities will have opportunity to pre-screen people before they even reach New Zealand’s borders. The immigration system will thereby implement additional security measures, reducing current immigration risks and fast-tracking border procedures. Border officials will have significantly more information on travellers through this mechanism to collect information, viably improving the travel experience through this pre-registration requirement.

Requirements to Enter New Zealand

Applications for eTA are considered or denied using the following requirements:

New Zealand General Entry Requirements:

  • A valid passport
  • Required travel documents
  • If required, a printed copy of a relevant visa
  • Sufficient funds for duration of visit according to travel visa restrictions
  • A return ticket or onward ticket to next country. Immigration officer must check validity of visa for entry to next destination country
  • Good overall health, no medical threat to persons in New Zealand
  • No risk of financial burden to the New Zealand Health Service or upon special education.

Good Character Requirements:

Visa and travel authority may not be granted under any of the following circumstances:

  • if forbidden entry into New Zealand;
  • where a criminal offense committed led to a prison sentence of over 5 years;
  • where an offense during the last 10 years led to a prison sentence exceeding 12 months;
  • where a security threat is posed or a potential threat to public order and to the general order;
  • if capable of committing an offense;
  • following deportation, exclusion or removal from another country

The United Kingdom is a Visa Waiver country, and as such travellers from this country entering New Zealand must have the following:

  • proof of sufficient funds for the duration of stay in New Zealand
  • visa for a period of up to three months which specifically states the visit is for “lawful purpose”, and to be determined by immigration officials on entry
  • a return or onward-travel ticket or sufficient funds to purchase a return ticket

Important Information for Travelers visiting New Zealand from the United Kingdom

Around 200,000 British nationals visit New Zealand every year, making the United Kingdom New Zealand’s fourth largest international visitor market. Approximately 73 percent of British travellers visit regions outside of the main tourist centres. The Cook Islands do not have British representation, nor do the islands of Niue or Tokelau. Consular assistance on Tokelau can be sought through the British High Commission in Wellington, and for the other two islands, assistance is available through the New Zealand High Commission.

British visitors to New Zealand are covered by the country’s Accident Compensation Commission (ACC) no-fault scheme if they’re injured in an accident. The ACC covers children, beneficiaries and students, whether they work in New Zealand, are unemployed or retired or visiting New Zealand. The ACC only covers the cost of treatment in New Zealand. Costs regarding delayed travel or loss of income in another country are not covered and adequate travel and accident insurance is therefore a must.

New Zealand strictly enforces its bio-security regulations through possible imprisonment or penalties of up to £76 000. Contraventions include bringing in most foodstuffs, including dairy produce, honey fruit, meat and meat products. Contraband items should be discarded in the bins provided at the airport, alternatively they may be declared to a Ministry of Agriculture officer. Other items to check against the immigration arrivals card when crossing borders are:

  • animal skin products
  • wooden products
  • tents, and fishing equipment
  • golf clubs

Prescription medicines must be declared on the passenger arrival card before disembarking into New Zealand. Restrictions on medication can be checked on The New Zealand Customs website.

Visitors to the island of Niue may require a yellow fever certificate. Clarification on this is available on the National Travel Health Network.

Information of importance regarding New Zealand’s Electronic Travel Authority

  • eTA is not a visa
  • travellers with an eTA do not need a visa but must meet the basic visa requirements
  • no need to be processed by a consulate or to visit an embassy
  • the online application is quick and should take 5 to 10 minutes from completion to submission
  • approval is submitted almost immediately, and in rare cases may be delayed or require additional information
  • eTA is paid for by credit or debit card
  • eTA is valid for two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
  • validity may be compromised by changes in applicant’s circumstances which result in changes to answers to questions supplied on application
  • possible complications can be avoided by reviewing data provided before submitting applications as possible errors and omissions could cause delays or result in refusals
  • applicants must have a passport for one of the 60 waiver-free countries, and those holding more than one passport must enter New Zealand using the passport to which the eTA is applied

Reasons to Visit New Zealand

The sovereign island country of New Zealand in the southwestern Pacific Ocean geographically encompasses two main land masses and approximately 600 small islands. The land masses are known as the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui), and the South Island (Te Wahipounamu). Along with Te Wahipounamu, New Zealand boasts three UNESCO World Heritage sites: Tongariro National Park and the Sub Antarctic Islands.

New Zealand is the birthplace of wellies, home of the Hobbits and land of the long white cloud. It offers visitors awesome natural scenery, laid-back locals, the fascinating Maori people, cultural intrigues and great weather, but also unusual adventures:

Paeroa’s Giant Lemon & Paeroa. L&P is the soft drink Kiwis love so much, they built a seven metres high rendition of it just 90 minutes outside of Auckland.

Springfield’s The Simpson’s Doughnut is Springfield, New Zealand’s answer to the series playing out in American Springfield. Kiwi’s seem to celebrate using giants.

Taihape’s wellies celebrates the nation’s invention: Wellington boots. Residents of UK might depend on wellies during the festival season, but they are more or less a wardrobe staple in New Zealand. Easter is celebrated in Taihape with a gumboot festival. And, yes, there is a giant wellie with which visitors can forever remember their visit with a pic!

The Rotorua hot springs are in no way related to the Lord of the Rings, but they are known to have healing powers.

Talking of The Lord of The Rings, a sector of New Zealand tourism does revolve around the movies following J. R. R. Tolkien’s books, The Hobbits and The Lord of the Rings. The phenomena that is Tolkien tourism allows fans this fictional universe to visit locations seen in the movies. Peter Jackson’s movies undoubtedly led to an increase in annual tourism numbers on the islands. “Experience New Zealand, Home of Middle Earth” offers a free “Middle Earth map” to locate film locations, which include Mount Olympus, Mount Sunday, Hobbiton, Piopio, Putangirua Pinnacles Scenic Reserve and the Pelorus River in Nelson near the top of the South Island.

Handy Guide to Tour New Zealand

The land of Kiwi birds and also the Kiwi fruit has been the favorite tourist destination among many. Whether you are a solo traveler or traveling in a group, New Zealand has something new to offer to everyone. New Zealand is laced with immense natural and surreal beauty. The place harbors natural wonders of snow-capped mountains, sparkling waters, exotic beaches, beautiful landmarks, and much more.

The dynamic topography of this place makes this a hotspot among tourists. Whether you are looking for a destination to relax or a place that can help you make your adrenalin gush high, New Zealand will offer everything to you. The country is home to some of the popular adventure sports like mountain biking, jet boating, bungee jumping, and others. So, if you are all set to take a trip into a wonderful world, it’s time that you hit this place today.

Planning a trip to New Zealand

Touring different nations requires some piece of information handy with you. This information ranges from traveling tips to flight information and places to visit. The crux of the matter is that this information will be helping you make the most while you are on your bon voyage. Let’s have a quick tour of the tips that will make your trip to New Zealand an awesome and memorable experience.

How much time do I need

New Zealand is a blissful place filled with a lot of places to visit and explore. Whether you are fond of nature or adventure, the place will have everything stored in for you. So, if you are planning a trip to New Zealand and want to explore the country nicely, then probably you should keep at least 14 days with you. The duration of your trip in New Zealand depends on what all you wish to cover, and which areas you would like to explore. The place boasts of its natural beauty and scenic views, so if you are fond of these, at least spare 14 days from your schedule for this.

Weather and seasons

  • Summer- December to February- Traveling in summer is good. The summer extends from December to February in New Zealand. But since this is the busiest time of the year, you will find both local tourists and the international tourists flooding this place in this time of the year. So, if you are ready to take the challenge to explore the city in the hustle bustle, you can opt for this time of the season.
  • Fall – March to May- If you want to explore nature at its best, then Fall is the best time. You will enjoy different hues of nature, and the best place to drop the anchor of your journey would be at Wanaka and the Otago region.
  • Winter- June to August- This part of the season is best for those who are willing to explore the snow filled areas. In this season, New Zealand will offer ski grounds to you where you can enjoy a wide range of winter sports.

Visas and ETA travel authorization

If you are traveling to New Zealand, then you would need Visa. There are certain nations which don’t need Visa, since they have signed visa waiver agreement with New Zealand. – check here.

You can refer to New Zealand’s official website for more information on this. As per the new rule, visitors from the visa-waiver nation must request for ETA or Electronic Travel Authority before they come to New Zealand. Make sure that your passport is valid for at least three months before your desired date of departure from New Zealand. If you don’t have a visa, then you can apply for the same online. However, it is advised to plan the trip in advance.

Currency and costs

Whenever you are traveling to New Zealand or some different nation, then you must make sure to exchange the local currency. The currency of New Zealand is New Zealand Dollars, written as NZ$. In New Zealand, you can easily exchange currency at banks, hotels, or Bureau de Change kiosks. All of them can be easily spotted at international airports and city centers.

Accommodation

New Zealand offers exciting places to stay where you can enjoy nature and also indulge in a luxury experience. Pricing of accommodation may vary as per season, for example, if you are traveling during the summer, then probably you may face a price hike. Since this is the most popular time of the year for tourists, the prices often shoot up. Hence, you must make a booking prior to your arrival.

Here is the price range –

  1. If you opt to live in the campsite, then you need to spend between NZ$10-$35 per person per night
  2. If you choose to rent a dorm bed in a hostel, then the cost may range between NZ$17-$35 per night
  3. A three-star motel or hotel room would demand you to spend between NZ$80 to $250 per night

Health & Safety

New Zealand is a safe place for the tourists, but after the Christchurch attack on 15 March 2019, it is advisable to seek assistance from their government. Things have been sorted, and flights are running normally, but the authorities have taken some stringent screening protocol to ensure that there are no loopholes when it comes to the security of people.

Make sure that you have the list of emergency numbers handy with you. In addition to this, you must have a copy of all your documents; the best thing is to keep a soft copy of all your important documents in your smartphone. Lock all your valuables and always keep the phone with you. Don’t hesitate to call emergency number 111.

New Zealand is a place which is lined by beautiful coastlines. These give you ample opportunities to plunge in the water, but make sure that you do it safely.

The beaches are marked with flags which demarcate swimming and danger areas. Make sure you swim within the safe range. Don’t swim alone or when it is cold.

Also, keep sunscreen handy with you if you are visiting the place during the summer season.

Transportation

New Zealand is laced with a good public transit system. You can rent a taxi or make use of public transport. If you wish to explore the city your way, then renting a car is a good option. Cost of renting a car may vary, here is a representation of the same:

  • One needs to pay between NZ$20-60 per day

for an economy car hire

  • If you opt for public transport, then traveling between cities may cost  NZ$10-$100
  • If you opt for public transport, then travel within the city may cost NZ$10-$100

Domestic flights

For quick and easy traveling without investing too much time, you can go for domestic flights in New Zealand. The cities are well connected with each other with domestic flights, as they are well-connected to many major towns. Here are the popular domestic airports in New Zealand.

  1. Christchurch Airport
  2. Dunedin Airport
  3. Auckland Airport
  4. Queenstown Airport
  5. Wellington Airport

Travel tours

New Zealand is an ultimate tourist destination which harbors scenic beauty, adventure sports, and everything that a traveler might desire. It is always advisable to check the weather forecast before you decide to make a move to this place. Since the weather is dynamic, you must plan your trip accordingly. In addition to this, you can also consult with travel and tours companies to get a complete insight into traveling to this place.

You can start your trip from Auckland and then head in the southwesterly direction to reach Tauranga located on the Bay of Plenty. If you would like to explore the Kiwis, then your next stop should be Mt Maunganui which lies adjacent to Tauranga.

Your next destination should be Rotorua where you get to explore Maori culture and also head for adventure sports. Your visit to North Island will be a mix of culture and adventure. Don’t miss to enjoy thermal springs and spa here.

Another spot that you must add to your list is the Tongariro National Park. Continue your trip to Wellington and reach Nelson, which is famous for the Abel Tasman National Park. If you are fond of wine, don’t forget to take a halt at the Marlborough wine regions where you can fetch some of the best wineries.

Your next stop should be Kaikoura, which garners the attention of the visitors because of its beautiful views and whales. Yes, you can enjoy watching the biggest mammal on the earth here.

Continuing your journey to the South, you can enjoy beautiful parks, snow-clad mountains and lush green, which is surely going to leave you mesmerized. Down South, you will reach Queenstown where you can explore your adventurous side by diving into some cool adventure sports like bungee jumping, water rafting, mountain biking, para-gliding, etc.

You may also go for a wine tour, nature cruise or adventure trip arranged by many tour operators out there.

New Zealand is a heavenly place, and a must visit if you are looking to explore nature’s beauty. The guides mentioned above and tips will help you make the most and best of your trip to this place.