© 2026 Evisa Rocket. All rights reserved.
© 2026 Evisa Rocket. All rights reserved.
Yes — whenever you fly. New Zealand is on Canada's visa-exempt list, which means New Zealand nationals can visit for up to 6 months without a visitor visa. What they cannot skip is the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): any traveller flying into Canada, or stopping over at a Canadian airport in transit, must have an approved eTA before stepping on the plane. The airline confirms it electronically when you check in, and a missing eTA can mean being turned away at the gate.
There is one practical exception, and it depends on how you arrive. If you reach Canada purely by land or sea — for example arriving by cruise ship — an eTA is not required. Since almost every New Zealand traveller arrives by air, though, the eTA is effectively mandatory. You can explore the destination on our Canada travel hub or head directly to the Canada eTA page.
Thanks to New Zealand citizens' visa-exempt status, the overwhelming majority of short tourism, business and transit trips fall under the eTA rather than a full visa. Use the table below to pin down which document fits your journey:
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| Tourism, visiting relatives or friends, business meetings, transit — by air, up to 6 months | eTA |
| Entering Canada only by land or sea | No eTA (valid passport only) |
| Working, studying for more than 6 months, or immigrating | Work / study permit or visa |
| Staying beyond 6 months as a visitor | Visitor visa (TRV) |
New Zealand is a fully visa-exempt country for Canada, so New Zealand citizens apply for the eTA directly. There is no requirement to already hold a US visa or a previous Canadian visa to qualify — a condition that applies to travellers from some other nations but not to New Zealanders. The eTA covers tourism, visiting family or friends, attending business meetings or conferences, and transiting through Canada to another destination.
To be eligible you must travel on your New Zealand passport, plan to stay for less than 6 months, and have nothing in your background that makes you inadmissible (for example certain criminal or immigration matters). Anyone intending to work, study long term, or settle in Canada needs the appropriate permit or visa instead of an eTA.
A real strength of the Canada eTA is how little paperwork it demands. Before you begin, gather the following:
There is no need for a photo, biometrics or supporting documents to obtain the eTA itself.
From start to finish the form usually takes just a few minutes. Most New Zealanders fly to Canada from Auckland, arriving at Vancouver and Toronto.
The majority of New Zealand applicants are approved within minutes, with confirmation emailed as a PDF. Now and then additional checks push the wait to as much as 72 hours, so it is wise to apply at least 3 days ahead of your flight rather than at the airport. If the system asks for more information, reply quickly to keep things moving.
After approval, the eTA remains valid for 5 years (or until your passport expires, whichever comes first). It is a multiple-entry authorization, so New Zealanders can return to Canada as often as they like within that window without applying again. Each separate stay may last up to 6 months, with the precise duration set by the border officer when you arrive. If you renew or replace your passport, you must request a fresh eTA linked to the new document.
The eTA is needed even when you are merely transiting through a Canadian airport on the way to somewhere else — say, connecting via Toronto or Vancouver. Because New Zealand citizens are visa-exempt, an ordinary eTA covers these layovers and there is no separate transit visa to arrange. Just make sure the eTA is approved before you depart, since it is verified at your starting airport.
An approved eTA lets you board your flight, but whether you actually enter Canada is decided by a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer on arrival. Bring the valid passport linked to your eTA and be prepared to explain the purpose and length of your visit, where you will be staying, and that you can support yourself during the trip. There is nothing to print — the eTA lives electronically against your passport.
Each traveller must have their own eTA, children and infants included, because every authorization is tied to an individual passport. A parent or guardian can complete the application on a child's behalf. When travelling as a family, simply lodge a separate application for each New Zealand passport holder.
New Zealand is visa-exempt, so New Zealanders do not need a visitor visa for stays of up to 6 months. They do need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to or transit through a Canadian airport. A full visitor visa is only required for stays longer than 6 months or for purposes the eTA does not cover.
A small government fee applies to the eTA. If you apply through an assisted service, a service fee may be added on top for help completing the form, error checks and support.
An approved eTA is valid for 5 years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. It permits multiple entries, with each stay of up to 6 months.
Most applications are approved within minutes and the result is emailed to you as a PDF. Occasionally checks can take up to 72 hours, so it is best to apply at least 3 days before departure.
No. The eTA is only required when flying to, or transiting through, a Canadian airport. If you enter Canada by land or sea you do not need an eTA, though you must still carry a valid passport.
Yes. Every traveller needs an individual eTA linked to their own passport, including children and infants. A parent or guardian can apply on a child's behalf.
No. The eTA is linked to the specific passport used in the application. If you obtain a new passport, you must apply for a new eTA before travelling.
No. An eTA authorises you to board a flight to Canada, but the final decision is made by a border services officer on arrival. Be ready to show you meet the conditions of your visit (valid passport, purpose of trip, and means of support).
New Zealand passport holders can apply online in minutes. Choose your eTA type below and start your application.