Electronic Travel Authority to be offered for select travellers

Medium Priority

What is the immigration news? New Zealand will introduce an Electronic Travel Authority for select travelers next year. The ETA system is designed to provide security benefits and streamline the pre-screening process. 

• Implementation:  The exact implementation date has not yet been announced.
• Who is impacted: Australian permanent residents, citizens of visa waiver countries, cruise ship passengers and crews, and commercial airline crews. Citizens of Australia and New Zealand will be allowed to travel without an ETA.
• Impact on business: Businesses may wish to notify employees of the new requirement.

Additional information: Individuals who will require an ETA will need to complete a short online form and pay a small processing fee. The form will request basic information such as:

• Birth date.
• Passport details.
• Contact information.
• Declarations around intention of travel and criminal history.
• Optional biometric information (passport photo).

BAL Analysis: Travelers should take note of the pending change, especially if they are planning travel to New Zealand in 2019. BAL will continue to monitor developments in New Zealand, including any announcement of an implementation date.

Travelers who will be impacted to by the new requirement are encouraged to apply for their ETA as soon as possible.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider Cavell Leitch in New Zealand. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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