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New Zealandchecked Jul 2026Do US citizens need an NZeTA for New Zealand, and what is the IVL?
Short answer: yes, and it is two charges bundled into one. The NZeTA is cheap, but the NZ$100 tourism levy on top is the part that surprises people. Here is the real total, the official app, and how not to overpay.
At a glance
Required
NZeTA before you fly
Plus
The IVL tourism levy
Real total
About NZ$117 in the app
Cheapest
The official app, not the website
Yes. US citizens need an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before they fly, and it comes with a second charge, the IVL tourism levy, paid in the same transaction. The NZeTA is NZ$17 in the official app (NZ$23 on the website), and the IVL is NZ$100, so you are really paying about NZ$117 total. Both come only from the official app or immigration.govt.nz, and the NZeTA is valid 2 years.
The official route
Two official ways to apply: the free NZeTA app (cheapest at NZ$17, and it scans your passport) or the website at NZ$23. The system adds the NZ$100 IVL automatically and you pay both together. Allow up to 72 hours for approval.
Official NZeTA, on immigration.govt.nz(opens in a new tab) we earn nothing
The two charges, and the real total
This is the bit that catches people. New Zealand entry is two things bundled together: the NZeTA (the travel authority itself) and the IVL (a conservation and tourism levy). You pay them in a single transaction, so it feels like one fee, but it is two.
The NZeTA costs NZ$17 through the official app or NZ$23 on the website. The IVL is NZ$100 per person, and it went up from NZ$35 on 1 October 2024, so older guides quote far less. All in, a US traveler pays about NZ$117 by app (roughly 70 US dollars), covering entries for two years on the NZeTA side.
How to apply, and the cheaper way
The app is both the cheapest and the fastest route.
- Download the official NZeTA app (iOS or Android), or go to nzeta.immigration.govt.nz. Use only the official app or site.
- Scan your passport and take the photo the app prompts for. The app route is NZ$17; the website is NZ$23.
- The system adds the NZ$100 IVL automatically. Pay both together by card. A family or group can do up to 10 in one transaction.
- Wait for approval, allow up to 72 hours, though it is often quick. The NZeTA links to your passport, so there is nothing to print.
Do not pay a markup for it
New Zealand Immigration warns about this directly: a number of third-party sites sell the NZeTA and charge more than the official price, sometimes promising faster processing they cannot deliver. The official app and immigration.govt.nz are the only real routes, and the app is the cheapest. If a site quotes more than NZ$17 to NZ$23 plus the NZ$100 levy, it is adding its own fee.
The NZeTA is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires, and lets you visit for up to 90 days at a time. The IVL, though, is charged each time you request a new NZeTA, so it is not strictly once every two years if you renew early.
A couple of things to know
The NZeTA is non-refundable, the IVL included, even if your request is declined, so apply once and answer the questions carefully. It is valid 2 years or until your passport expires, for stays up to 90 days.
If your trip connects through Auckland on the way elsewhere, check whether you need an NZeTA for transit before you book, the official site above covers it. For how money works once you land, cards, cash, ATMs and the rest, see the New Zealand money guide.
Common questions
Quick answers.
Do US citizens need an NZeTA to visit New Zealand?
Yes. US citizens must have an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before boarding a flight or cruise to New Zealand. It is valid for 2 years, allows stays of up to 90 days, and comes with the separate NZ$100 IVL tourism levy paid in the same transaction. Apply on the official NZeTA app or immigration.govt.nz.
How much does the NZeTA cost, including the IVL?
The NZeTA is NZ$17 through the official app or NZ$23 on the website. On top of that, the IVL (International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy) is NZ$100 per person, paid together with the NZeTA. So the real total is about NZ$117 by app, roughly 70 US dollars. The IVL rose from NZ$35 on 1 October 2024, so older guides quote less.
What is the IVL and do I have to pay it?
The IVL is New Zealand's International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, NZ$100 per person, charged to most short-stay visitors when they request an NZeTA. For US tourists it is not optional, it is added automatically and paid alongside the NZeTA. It is non-refundable even if your application is declined.
What is the official site for the NZeTA?
The official routes are the free NZeTA app (cheapest at NZ$17) and immigration.govt.nz (nzeta.immigration.govt.nz, NZ$23). New Zealand Immigration warns that third-party sites overcharge for the same authority, so use the official app or site and do not pay a markup.
More on New Zealand
The little money things nobody warns you about.
- Tipping in New ZealandNew Zealand is not a tipping country. Staff earn a high minimum wage, so tipping is not expected anywhere, and you can relax about it. A small tip for exceptional service is optional. Here is what you actually owe.
- Do I need cash in New Zealand, or can I use cards?Short answer: barely any cash, New Zealand runs on tap-and-go. The one local wrinkle is the surcharge some places add when you pay by card. Here is what to expect and how to pay well.
- Bringing your dog or cat to New Zealand.New Zealand is a long-lead destination on the level of Australia and Japan. It is rabies-free and guards that status with a strict, months-long process: an import permit, a rabies blood test, Brucella testing for dogs, specific parasite treatments, and a mandatory quarantine stay on arrival. On top of that, the rules are mid-change in 2026, so the first thing to nail down is which standard applies to you. Here is the whole route.
Sources, and how this was checked
Last checkedJul 2026
- Immigration New Zealandthe official NZeTA request page and the warning to avoid overcharging third-party sites
- Immigration New Zealandpaying the NZ$100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL)
- New Zealand Government (govt.nz)visitor visas and the NZeTA, with the IVL and 72-hour processing
Our own readFees and the levy change (the IVL rose from NZ$35 to NZ$100 on 1 October 2024), so confirm the current amounts on the official site before you pay. Checked July 2026.