New Zealand International Visitor Levy (IVL): Who Pays It, How Much It Costs, and What Cruise Passengers Need to Know

The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy is NZD $100 per person as of 1 October 2024. This fee is in addition to the cost of your visa or NZeTA processing fee.

The funds collected from the IVL go directly towards two main areas: conservation and tourism infrastructure. New Zealand has a small population but hosts millions of visitors. This levy helps ensure that international visitors contribute fairly to the protection of the natural environment and the maintenance of facilities like public toilets, car parks, and walking tracks that tourists use frequently.

No. This is an important distinction. Australian Permanent Residents must hold an NZeTA to travel to New Zealand, but they are exempt from the IVL. When you enter your Australian Permanent Resident visa details during the NZeTA application, the system should strictly charge you for the NZeTA processing fee and exclude the NZD $100 IVL cost.

Yes. Cruise ship passengers are required to hold an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) to enter New Zealand. The IVL is a mandatory part of this process for most international travellers. When you apply for your NZeTA, the system will automatically add the IVL fee to your total if it applies to your nationality. You pay it all at once before you sail.

You cannot pay the IVL separately. It is integrated directly into the visa or NZeTA application process. If you apply for a Visitor Visa, the levy is included in the final application cost. If you apply for an NZeTA via the official mobile app or website, the levy is added to your checkout total.

Yes. Citizens of the United States and China are required to pay the IVL. US citizens usually enter on an NZeTA, while Chinese citizens usually enter on a Visitor Visa. In both cases, the NZD $100 levy is collected at the time of application.

If you are a transit passenger staying in the transit area of Auckland International Airport and you hold a Transit NZeTA or Transit Visa, you are generally exempt from the IVL. However, if you plan to leave the airport or if you are a cruise ship passenger (who is considered to be entering New Zealand), the levy will apply.

The IVL is valid for the duration of the visa or NZeTA it was paid with. An NZeTA is typically valid for two years and allows for multiple entries. If your NZeTA is still valid for your upcoming trip, you have already paid the IVL and do not need to pay it again until you must renew your NZeTA.

In most cases, IVL payments are non-refundable, even if a visa or NZeTA application is declined. The payment is for the processing and assessment of your entry request. We recommend checking all entry requirements carefully before you submit your application to avoid issues.

Yes. The IVL applies to most international visitors regardless of age. If your child requires their own visa or NZeTA, the IVL applies regardless of age. There is no age-based exemption for the levy. Dependent children on parent visas (e.g., work or student) are often IVL-exempt but still require a Traveller Declaration.