These regulations amend the Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010 (the principal regulations).

These regulations, apart from regulations 6 and 7, come into force on 1 April 2025. Regulation 6, which amends regulation 23I of the principal regulations in relation to photographs required as part of requests for an electronic travel authority (ETA), comes into force on 24 October 2024. Regulation 7, which inserts new Part 4 into Schedule 1AA of the principal regulations relating to requests for an ETA, comes into force on 3 February 2025.

The effects of the amendments are as follows:

• the following people are categorised as people to whom a visa waiver to travel to New Zealand applies, provided they hold a valid ETA or are exempt from the requirement to hold one:

  • cargo ship passengers travelling between any foreign port and New Zealand (cargo ship passengers):

  • cargo ship crew travelling in the ordinary course of business of the ship between any foreign port and New Zealand (cargo ship crew):

  • people who are travelling to New Zealand as a passenger (other than a transit passenger) on a commercial aircraft for the purpose of—

    • leaving New Zealand as crew on one of the following ships:

      • a cargo ship in the ordinary course of business of the ship:

      • a foreign ship authorised by the Minister of Transport under section 198(2) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 to carry coastal cargo (within the meaning of section 198(6) of that Act); or

    • staying in New Zealand as crew on one of the following ships, and then leaving New Zealand as a passenger on a commercial aircraft:

      • a cargo ship in the ordinary course of business of the ship:

      • a foreign ship authorised by the Minister of Transport under section 198(2) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 to carry coastal cargo (within the meaning of section 198(6) of that Act) (positioning cargo ship crew):

  • crew of foreign ships authorised by the Minister of Transport under section 198(2) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 to carry coastal cargo (crew of a ship carrying coastal cargo) (see regulations 4, 5, and 8):

• a cargo ship passenger, cargo ship crew member, or crew member of a ship carrying coastal cargo must hold an ETA, or be exempt under regulation 23E(a) of the principal regulations from the requirement to hold one, in order to be—

  • deemed to have been granted a temporary visa on arrival under regulation 19 of the principal regulations; or

  • exempted from the requirement to apply for entry permission and deemed to have been granted entry permission on arrival in New Zealand under regulation 25 of the principal regulations (see regulation 9):

• a cargo ship passenger, cargo ship crew member, positioning cargo ship crew member, or crew member of a ship carrying coastal cargo may request, and be issued with, an ETA on and from 3 February 2025 in advance of the date on or from which they will be required to hold one (1 April 2025) (see Schedule):

• if, as part of a request for an ETA, a photograph of the requestor’s head is required, the photograph must comply with the standards specified for that purpose by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (referred to as the Department in new regulation 23I(1)(b)(xviii)) (see regulation 6).