The short answer for Dutch travellers
The Netherlands is on New Zealand's list of visa-waiver countries. That means Dutch citizens don't need to visit an embassy or apply for a visitor visa for a holiday, a family visit or a short business trip. What you do need is an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority). It has been compulsory since 1 October 2019 for everyone travelling on a visa-waiver passport, whether you arrive by plane or on a cruise ship.
The NZeTA is not a visa. It is a pre-travel check that links an approval to your passport number. Your airline reads it electronically at check-in, so there is no paper document to carry, although it is sensible to keep a copy of your approval email on your phone.
One approval, many trips. Once approved, your NZeTA is valid for up to 2 years, or until your passport expires if that comes first. You can visit New Zealand several times in that period.
Passport, ID card and name format
Most mistakes on Dutch applications come from the passport and name fields. A few points are worth checking before you start.
Accepted
A Dutch passport (paspoort) valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand. Passports issued in Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten or the Caribbean Netherlands are Dutch passports and are accepted in the same way.
Not accepted
The Dutch identity card (identiteitskaart), a driving licence or an emergency travel document that is not a full passport. These cannot be linked to an NZeTA for travel to New Zealand.
Surnames with a tussenvoegsel
Many Dutch surnames include a prefix such as van, de, van den or ter. Enter the full surname with its prefix exactly as printed on your passport, for example "van der Berg" rather than "Berg". If your passport also shows a married name (for instance "echtgenote van…"), use the name that appears in the machine-readable zone, the two lines of letters and chevrons at the bottom of the photo page. Your airline compares your booking against that zone, so it is the safest reference.
Dual nationals
If you hold Dutch citizenship and another nationality, apply with the passport you will actually use to board. If your other passport is from a country that needs a visa for New Zealand, travelling on your Dutch passport is usually simpler. Never mix passports between the NZeTA and the flight booking.
Trips the NZeTA covers
Dutch visitors use the NZeTA for a wide range of short trips:
- Touring holidays by campervan, from the Bay of Islands to Fiordland
- Visiting family, including the many New Zealanders of Dutch descent
- Business meetings, trade fairs, conferences and agricultural or horticultural visits, as long as you are not paid by a New Zealand employer
- A short course or language study of up to 3 months
- Arriving or leaving on a cruise ship
- Changing planes at Auckland International Airport on the way to another country
Things the NZeTA does not allow:
- Working for a New Zealand business or taking paid seasonal work
- Staying more than 90 days on a single visit
- Travelling for medical treatment
For more detail on purposes of travel, see our guide to tourist travel with an NZeTA and our business visitor guide.
Applying step by step
The online NZeTA application takes about 10 minutes per traveller. Have your passport, a photo and a payment card ready.
Contact details
Give an email address you check often and pick a processing speed.
Passport details
Copy your name, passport number and dates directly from your passport.
Declarations
Answer short questions about health, convictions and previous travel.
Photo and payment
Upload a clear photo and pay by Visa, Mastercard or American Express.
Travelling as a family or a group? You can add up to 10 travellers in one application, each with their own passport details and photo. The fee includes the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), which visitors from the Netherlands pay.
Start your NZeTA application from the Netherlands
When to apply and how long it takes
Allow up to 72 hours for a decision. Most Dutch applications are approved well inside that window, but it is best not to leave it to the day before you fly. You can choose from three processing options:
| Normal | 48–72 hours. Good for anyone who has booked flights a week or more ahead. |
|---|---|
| Emergency | 24–48 hours. Useful if you fly within the next few days. |
| Rush | 12–24 hours. For last-minute trips and urgent business travel. |
Prices for each option are listed on our NZeTA fees page. You can follow your application at any time using the status checker.
Flying from Schiphol and arriving in New Zealand
There are no nonstop flights between the Netherlands and New Zealand. From Amsterdam Schiphol you will normally connect through a hub such as Dubai, Doha, Singapore or Hong Kong, or through North America. Total journey time is usually well over 24 hours. Your NZeTA is checked when you check in at Schiphol and again before the last leg, so have it approved before you leave home.
Remember that the seasons are reversed. The Dutch summer is New Zealand's winter, which is ski season in Queenstown and Wanaka. December and January are peak summer in New Zealand, so flights and campervans book up early around the Christmas holidays. New Zealand is 10 to 12 hours ahead of the Netherlands, depending on daylight saving in each country.
At the border
An approved NZeTA lets you board, but a border officer makes the final decision on entry. Keep these ready:
- The Dutch passport linked to your NZeTA
- A return or onward ticket
- Evidence of enough money for your stay
- Details of where you are staying
- Your New Zealand Traveller Declaration, which is a separate arrival declaration
Declare your food. New Zealand's biosecurity checks are strict. If you pack Dutch cheese, cured meat, flower bulbs, seeds or fresh fruit, declare them on arrival. Flower bulbs and seeds are particularly likely to be restricted. Undeclared items can lead to an instant fine.
Working and longer stays
The NZeTA is for short visits only. If you want to work, study for more than 3 months or stay longer than 90 days, you need a visa. Dutch citizens aged 18 to 30 may be eligible for the Netherlands Working Holiday Visa, which lets young people travel and work in New Zealand for a set period. It is a separate application with its own criteria and is not processed through our service.
Not sure which option fits your plans? Our NZeTA information page explains the rules in more detail, and the general NZeTA FAQs answer common questions.
Ready to travel from the Netherlands?
Apply for your NZeTA online in about 10 minutes. We check your details before submission.
Questions Dutch travellers ask
No. The Dutch identiteitskaart is only valid for travel within Europe and a few other places. For New Zealand you need a valid Dutch passport, and that passport must be the one you list on your NZeTA application.
Type your surname exactly as it appears on the photo page of your passport, including the prefix (tussenvoegsel) and spaces. If your passport shows a spouse's name as well, follow the machine-readable zone at the bottom of the page.
If you hold a passport of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, you are a Dutch citizen for NZeTA purposes, wherever the passport was issued. You follow the same visa-waiver rules as travellers from the European part of the Netherlands.
Yes. An NZeTA is valid for up to 2 years and covers multiple visits, as long as each visit is no longer than 90 days and you keep using the same passport.
Yes. If you are approved for a working holiday visa, you travel on that visa and do not also need an NZeTA. The working holiday visa is a separate application with its own conditions.
Yes. Every traveller, including babies on a parent's booking, needs their own NZeTA linked to their own passport. You can add up to 10 travellers in one application on our website.