Italian
Get ready to be amazed by breathtaking excursions and hidden gems of New Zealand, without overlooking the necessary documents for departure, starting with the NZeTA visa.
Due to its pristine nature, characterized by rainforests, imposing fjords, volcanic islands, ice-covered mountains, and long turquoise beaches, New Zealand is often described by travelers who have set foot there as the most beautiful country in the world. Nature prevails in all its forms and soon instills a sense of inner peace in those who decide to explore it to discover its wonders. Undoubtedly complicit is the quality of life, which in New Zealand is among the top 10 in the world, a result of the ideal climate and the blend of tribal tradition and British sophistication that can be felt here.
If traveling in the country where we were born can be a walk in the park, a different matter is visiting a country we have never been to, especially one that is located exactly – and not literally – on the other side of the world! My recommendation is to get well-informed and in advance about the required travel documents, and not, like I did, when you are practically in line for airport check-in.
I have been living in New Zealand for almost four years, so it can be said that I feel at home here. However, the immigration office thought differently. After two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, last summer I was finally able to return to Italy for three weeks to visit my family. Forgetting about the type of visa – tourist – that I had received a month earlier, after Ferragosto I headed to the airport to return to the Land of the Kiwi and the Maori.
From New Zealand to Italy it had been so easy, such a smooth journey, that I didn’t even think about visas or certificates. Instead, upon returning to New Zealand, even before I could get my passport back at check-in, the question that made my heart skip a beat like not even my first love did was: “Madam, did you do the NZeTA visa?“.
The NZeTA – New Zealand Electronic Travel Authorization – is an electronic travel authorization introduced by the New Zealand Immigration Agency.
For tourist stays of up to 90 days, the visa is valid for a total period of two years and can be used for multiple visits to the country as long as they do not exceed 3 months each. The process to obtain it is really quick and simply involves filling out an online request form, which takes no more than five minutes. Usually, the issuance of the NZeTA visa takes from 60 minutes to 72 hours from the successful completion of the request and payment of the fee. Once the document is received, just print it out and take it with you during the trip.
However, I had not even looked at this form, and that’s how it went: I had to apply online to enter New Zealand with an NZeTA visa just a couple of hours before they closed boarding for my flight. I remember that, up until the heavenly moment when I received the approval, I checked my inbox as if I were truly waiting for a love letter from my first crush! That time I was kissed by luck because I received the email just in time and managed to leave.
All’s well that ends well, then. I returned to New Zealand and that moment of fear is now just a distant memory. When planning a trip far away and to a country where you have never been before, making sure you have all the documents in order before departure is at the top of the to-do list.
As it happened to me, I can imagine that several other travelers might feel rusty in the art of traveling due to the long stop dictated by the pandemic. So let’s quickly go over what is needed in terms of documents to enter New Zealand from Europe: in addition to a valid passport, you must have a NZeTA visa. Also, keep in mind that the NZeTA visa is required even just to transit through New Zealand. In fact, unless you have an Australian or New Zealand passport, even a transit requires obtaining the NZeTA, regardless of how long you will spend on New Zealand soil or what your final destination of the trip is. If your flight lands in New Zealand, you will always need a valid travel authorization, which must be requested before departure.
Moving on to the documents required for driving, you need to have a valid driving license. If you are an Italian citizen, keep in mind that you will need either an international driving permit or the Italian driving license translated into English.
Once you have taken care of the bureaucratic issues mentioned so far, fill your suitcase with clothes suitable for the season you will find in New Zealand and get ready to experience a dream vacation in a natural paradise, where unspoiled nature reigns, but above all safe, amidst few crowds and majestic landscapes. If you feel like driving on the left, consider a road trip too!
Photo credits: Unsplash
