Activities Permitted on NZeTA

Understanding what you are and are not permitted to do on an NZeTA is essential before you travel to New Zealand. The NZeTA is designed for short-term visitors — it covers a wide range of tourism, business, and recreational activities, but it does not permit work, long-term study, or medical treatment. Holding a valid NZeTA and arriving with the correct documentation will ensure a smooth entry at the New Zealand border. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your expected departure date from New Zealand.

The primary purpose of any NZeTA visit must be tourism, recreation, or short-term business. If you plan to work, study long-term, or undergo medical treatment, you will need to apply for the appropriate New Zealand visa category instead. For full eligibility information, see our NZeTA Information page.

What You Can Do on an NZeTA

The following activities are permitted under the NZeTA for all eligible visa-waiver nationals:

Tourism and Recreation

• Holiday travel, sightseeing, and general tourism throughout New Zealand
• Visiting national parks, attractions, beaches, and natural landmarks
• Adventure activities including bungee jumping, skydiving, hiking, skiing, kayaking, and jet boating
• Attending concerts, festivals, sporting events, and cultural performances as a spectator
• Visiting family members or friends living in New Zealand
• Transit through New Zealand airports to or from another destination (visa-waiver and transit visa-waiver nationals)
• Arriving in New Zealand by cruise ship (any nationality)

Business Activities

• Attending business meetings, conferences, seminars, and trade shows
• Negotiating contracts and conducting business discussions
• Attending training sessions or professional development events
• Scouting business opportunities or conducting market research
• Meeting with clients, partners, or colleagues

Important: Business activities are permitted only where no payment or income is received from a New Zealand source. If you will be performing paid work during your visit, you must hold a valid New Zealand work visa.

Study and Short Courses

• Attending short courses, workshops, or language classes of up to 3 months duration
• Participating in academic exchanges or research visits that do not involve paid employment
• Attending a single educational programme not exceeding the NZeTA stay limit

Sports and Cultural Activities

• Participating in unpaid amateur sporting competitions and events
• Performing in unpaid cultural, artistic, or musical events
• Volunteering for charitable or community organisations on an unpaid basis
• Participating in cultural exchange programmes

What You Cannot Do on an NZeTA

The following activities are not permitted under the NZeTA. Engaging in any of these activities without the correct visa may result in deportation and future travel bans:

Work and Employment

• Taking paid or unpaid employment with a New Zealand employer
• Performing any work that generates income from a New Zealand source
• Working as a journalist, filmmaker, or media professional in a paid capacity
• Working as a performing artist in a paid capacity
• Undertaking any form of self-employment or freelance work for New Zealand clients

Long-Term Study

• Enrolling in courses or academic programmes exceeding 3 months in duration
• Studying at a New Zealand educational institution for longer than the NZeTA's permitted stay

Medical and Other Restricted Activities

• Undergoing planned medical treatment — a Medical Treatment Visit Visa is required
• Running or operating a business in New Zealand
• Making investments or financial transactions with the purpose of obtaining residence
• Overstaying beyond the permitted 90-day stay (or 6 months for UK nationals)

Note: Purchasing property in New Zealand as a foreign national is subject to New Zealand's overseas investment rules and is governed by separate legislation — it is not a matter covered by the NZeTA.

Passport and Entry Requirements

To ensure smooth entry to New Zealand on your NZeTA, make sure the following requirements are met before you travel:

• Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended departure date from New Zealand.
• The passport you travel with must be the same passport used when applying for your NZeTA — the NZeTA is electronically linked to your passport number.
• You must have a return or onward ticket booked before arrival.
• You must have sufficient funds for the duration of your stay — immigration officers may request evidence of this.
• Your NZeTA must be approved before check-in — airlines verify NZeTA status electronically at the point of check-in.

An approved NZeTA authorises you to travel to New Zealand but does not guarantee entry. New Zealand border officials retain the right to refuse entry if requirements are not met. For a step-by-step guide to your first NZeTA application, see our First-Time Visitor Guide.