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 extended its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme to citizens of New Zealand.
This means that passport holders who were previously traveling to the UK from New Zealand visa-free are now required to apply for what is commonly referred to as a UK ETA.
Applications officially opened on 27 November 2024 for any travel planned on or after 8 January 2025. Up until 7 January, travelers continued to enjoy visa-free entry 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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Since 8th January 2025, one of the mandatory UK entry requirements for New Zealand citizens without a valid visa has been to hold an approved UK ETA.
In order to receive one, there are certain eligibility criteria that need to be met. Including the following:
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1
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
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
The next stage of the ETA application process is where you will have to pay the required fees of £97 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
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
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.
Apply for your UK Electronic Travel Authorization today.
Simply fill out the online form to get started.
This website is designed to provide travelers with information and assistance in completing the necessary steps for the online Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) application, at additional professional fees. YOYO Travels L.L.C is a travel and tourism agency based in Dubai, UAE, licensed by the Government of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism. We are not affiliated with the United Kingdom government in any way. Applicants still have the option to apply for the UK ETA on their own via the official government portal at gov.uk without paying any additional professional fees.
© 2025 UKETA.com. All rights reserved.