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In exciting news for regional connectivity, New Zealand has launched a new initiative making short-term travel significantly easier for citizens of 12 Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) countries.

Effective November 3, 2025, travellers from these countries can now visit New Zealand from Australia without needing a full visitor visa, provided they hold a valid Australian visa and successfully apply for the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).

This initiative begins as a 12-month pilot program, aimed at fostering closer regional ties and simplifying border processes.

Who Qualifies? Eligibility and Duration

This simplified travel arrangement is available to passport holders from the following 12 Pacific Islands Forum countries:

• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

Note: Citizens of the Cook Islands and Niue already enjoy visa-free entry to New Zealand and are therefore unaffected by this new policy.

Eligible travellers can use the NZeTA to stay in New Zealand for up to three months at a time for tourism, visiting family, or non-work related activities.

The Four Mandatory Requirements for Visa-Free Entry

To qualify for this streamlined entry, a traveller must meet four strict conditions at the time of check-in for their flight to New Zealand:

1. The traveller must be flying directly from Australia. (Transiting through Australia is not sufficient).
2. They must possess a valid passport from one of the 12 eligible Pacific Islands Forum countries.
3. They must hold an eligible, valid Australian visa.
4. They must secure a valid New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).

Eligible Australian Visas

The rule is specific: not all Australian visas qualify. The traveller’s current Australian visa must be one of the many eligible temporary and provisional visa categories, which include a wide array of Visitor, Work, Student, and Family subclasses.

Key Australian Visa Categories That Qualify (Examples):

• Visitor Visas: Visitor (Subclass 600), eVisitor (Subclass 651)
• Work & Holiday Visas: Working Holiday (Subclass 417), Work and Holiday (Subclass 462), Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) (Subclass 400)
• Study Visas: Student (Subclass 500), Student Guardian (Subclass 590), Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485)
• Provisional/Other Visas: Skilled Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491), Partner (Temporary) (Subclass 820), Sponsored Parent (Subclass 870), Retirement (Subclass 410).

Travellers should always verify their Australian visa name and subclass using their visa grant notification letter or the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service.

Understanding the NZeTA and Application Process

The NZeTA is an electronic travel authorisation that grants permission to travel to New Zealand without a visa.

Key Benefits of the NZeTA Pathway

• Visa-Free Travel: Eliminates the need for a separate, often lengthy, visitor visa application for New Zealand.
• Multiple Entries: Allows the holder to travel to New Zealand multiple times during the NZeTA’s standard two-year validity (provided they travel from Australia each time).
• Transit: Permits transit through Auckland International Airport for up to 24 hours.

Crucial Limitation: Entry on an NZeTA is for visiting purposes only. It does not permit the holder to work for any New Zealand-based employer.

NZeTA General Requirements

To secure an NZeTA, applicants must satisfy standard requirements:

• Be of good health and good character.
• Have a genuine reason for visiting (tourism, family).
• Demonstrate sufficient funds to cover all expenses during the stay (NZD $1,000 per month, or $400 if accommodation is pre-paid).
• Have plans and tickets to leave New Zealand at the end of the approved stay.

How to Apply

The NZeTA is quick to request and is best done via the free official app (available for Apple and Android) or the official Immigration New Zealand (INZ) website.

• Timing: Requests should be submitted at least 72 hours before travel.
• Fees: Applicants must pay the NZeTA processing fee and the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) simultaneously.
• Accuracy: It is vital that all information is correct and perfectly matches the passport being used for travel. Submitting multiple requests should be avoided to prevent duplicate charges.

The Final Step: The New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD)

In addition to the NZeTA, every person arriving in New Zealand must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD). This can be completed online 24 hours before departure and covers customs and biosecurity requirements.

This new visa-free option significantly streamlines travel, reinforcing the close regional partnership between New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands Forum countries, offering travellers a much simpler and faster way to explore New Zealand.