UK ETA for New Zealand Citizens

The UK ETA is a digital travel permit that allows citizens of eligible countries to travel to the UK for short visits of up to 6 months. From January 8, 2025, New Zealand citizens will require a UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to travel to the UK.

You may be thinking, “What is an ETA?” The UK ETA is similar to the NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority), where nationals from visa-waiver countries are required to complete an online application and pay a fee before traveling to the country.

The UK ETA system was first introduced in October 2023 for Qatari citizens and subsequently became a requirement for nationals of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Jordan in February 2024. However, Jordan was removed from the list of eligible countries in September 2024. 

According to the UK Home Office, the UK ETA was launched to “strengthen the security of our border and improve travel” by pre-screening all travelers to the UK and ensuring public safety while entering or transiting through the UK. With the digitization of the UK border, it’s expected that the customer service at immigration will be more efficient.

The UK ETA will allow you to stay in the UK for short stays for the following purposes: 

• Traveling to the UK for up to six months for: 
  • Tourism: Includes sightseeing, visiting places of historical and cultural significance, and other recreational activities. 
  • Visiting family and friends: Traveling to the UK to spend time with family and friends residing in the UK.
  • Business: Visiting the UK for business negotiations, conferences, client meetings, or market research.
  • Short-term study: Taking a short-term course to study an academic subject, learn a language, or acquire other skills. 
• Coming to the UK on the Creative Worker visa concession for up to three months; 
  • You’ll need a valid Creative Worker certificate of sponsorship. 
• Coming to the UK for a permitted paid engagement for up to six months; 
  • You’ll require a written invitation from a UK-based organization or client for a pre-arranged event. 
  • The engagement must be within the first month of your time in the UK.
• Transiting through the UK (even if you’re not going through the UK border control); 
  • You’ll need an ETA even if you’re having a layover in the UK.

In 2023, there were a record 265,000 visits from New Zealand. Their total expenditure was £346.9 million, with an average expenditure of £1,307 per visit. This is a significant increase from 188,000 visits to the UK from New Zealand in 2019.

The fee for a UK ETA for NZ citizens is £78. Note that this fee is inclusive of both the UK government fees as well as our professional service fees. To answer your question, “How long does the UK ETA take to be processed?”, you can expect to receive your UK ETA within three working days. Sometimes, you may even get your ETA sooner. Occasionally, it may take longer than three working days to get a decision. Ensure you apply well in advance to avoid any unforeseen delays.

The UK ETA cannot be renewed or extended. Once the two-year period is up, or when your passport expires – whichever is sooner – you’ll need to apply for a new ETA. If you want to extend your stay in the UK, you’ll need to leave the UK first and then apply for a new ETA. Once you receive your new ETA, you can travel to the UK again. If you want to stay for more than six months continuously, you’ll need a UK visa from NZ instead. Depending on whether you’re planning to reside, study, or work in the UK, you can apply for a UK visa accordingly.

Even though a majority of the UK ETA applications are approved, there are some instances where ETAs get refused or rejected. Read on to find out why some ETA applications are refused and find out what to do next:

• Exclusion or deportation orderIf you’ve had an exclusion or deportation order from the UK or any other country, your ETA will be refused.
• Criminal recordsIf you’ve been convicted of a criminal offense and received a sentence of more than 12 months, your ETA will be refused. It will also be refused if it’s been less than 12 months since your conviction date.
• War crimes, terrorism, and extremismIf you don’t declare your involvement in war crimes, terrorism, and extremism, your ETA will be refused.
• Previous immigration breachesYour application will be refused if you’ve previously overstayed your permission in the UK.
• False representationsIf you submitted false documents, such as a passport page or photo that wasn’t yours or gave false information, your application will be refused.
• Previous refusalYour ETA will be refused if you’ve previously been refused entry into the UK as a visitor.

If your ETA has been refused, it means that you’re ineligible for an ETA. You’ll need to apply for a UK visa instead to enter the UK. 

Here are some reasons for ETA application rejections:

• Incorrect or missing informationYour application will be rejected if you fill in your name, passport number, address, or other details incorrectly. It’ll also be rejected if you forget to upload a photo of yourself or answer any of the questions.
• Invalid passportIf your passport has expired or is expiring in less than six months from your intended date of travel, your application will be rejected.
• Unclear photoIf your photo is unclear or doesn’t meet the given requirements, your ETA will be rejected.

If your ETA is rejected, it doesn’t mean that you’re ineligible for an ETA. You’ll be given the reason for the rejection, so correct those issues and reapply for an ETA.

Be up to date with the latest UK entry requirements for NZ citizens to avoid any delays in your travel plans. Take note of these key points as you travel to the UK with an ETA: 

• As your ETA is digitally linked to the passport you applied with, you must use the same passport when you travel to the UK. If you have multiple passports, use the one you applied with for your UK ETA.
  If you lost your passport, you’ll need to apply for a new passport and get a new ETA. Do not travel with your new passport without reapplying for an ETA as you’ll be denied entry. 
• The UK Home Office may penalize airlines and ferry operators if they board passengers without a valid ETA. They’re responsible for checking that passengers have a valid ETA before they board the plane or ferry and will deny boarding passengers without a valid ETA. 
• When you arrive in the UK, the immigration officers will check their system to ensure you have a valid ETA. They may ask you additional questions regarding the purpose of your visit, the length of your trip, and if you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay. 
• Once you’ve passed through border control, you can travel throughout the UK without any issues. Note that you’ll also need an ETA if you’re crossing the land border into Northern Ireland from Ireland.