ETA required
New Zealanders need a UK ETA
ETA required for travel from 8 January 2025
New Zealand is on Appendix ETA National List. There is no longer a simple ‘turn up with a Kiwi passport’ visit. Apply for a UK ETA (£20) before you fly Auckland–Heathrow or via Asia. The NZeTA (New Zealand’s own system for visitors to NZ) is irrelevant here. Youth Mobility visa holders already have UK permission and should not file an ETA for that trip. Dual NZ–British citizens should use the British passport. Apply a few days before travel; do not leave it until the airport, because a small share of applications go to manual review.
New Zealand travel facts
| Passport | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Roll-out | ETA required for travel from 8 January 2025 |
| What you need | UK ETA (£20) |
| Stay | Usually up to 6 months as a visitor |
| Work | Not allowed on visit permission |
| Landside transit | ETA required if you pass UK border control |
Mistakes new zealanders make
- Mixing up NZeTA and UK ETA.
- Assuming a five-hour airside transit at Heathrow always needs an ETA — airside-only connections at Heathrow/Manchester currently do not; leaving the sterile area does.
London notes for New Zealand arrivals
Most NZ flights arrive early morning into Heathrow. Piccadilly line is slower but cheaper than Elizabeth line if you are staying near South Kensington. Contactless daily caps apply automatically.
FAQs
- Do New Zealanders still get six months visa-free?
- You still visit as a visitor for up to six months, but you must hold an ETA first.
- I have a UK Ancestry visa. ETA?
- If you already have entry clearance, you do not use ETA to travel on that visa.
Other passports
Bodhixt is not affiliated with UKVI. Confirm on GOV.UK before you book. Apply via https://www.gov.uk/eta only.