Vanuatu passports: when an NZeTA can be used to visit New Zealand from Australia
An October 2026 update continues the travel concession. Vanuatu passport holders must still meet the Australian visa, departure and NZeTA conditions.
The October 2026 update continues the concession until further notice. Merely transiting Australia does not qualify.
A Vanuatu passport holder with an eligible, valid Australian visa can use an NZeTA for a short visit to New Zealand when travelling directly from Australia after entering that country. In an October 2026 update, Immigration New Zealand confirmed that eligible Chinese and Pacific visitors can continue using this concession until further notice.[1][2]
The update continues a conditional travel facility. It does not make a Vanuatu passport sufficient for visa-free visits from every departure country. Each family member’s Australian visa and actual itinerary need to be assessed.
Enter Australia before departing for New Zealand
The published conditions require an eligible passport, a qualifying Australian visa, direct travel from Australia and a valid NZeTA. Vanuatu appears on the specified Pacific country list. The Australian visa must be valid when the passenger checks in for the New Zealand flight.[1]
Departure from Australia has a precise meaning: the traveller must have passed through Australian immigration and must fly from an Australian airport. Merely connecting through Australia, or flying to New Zealand from another country, does not satisfy this concession’s departure requirement.[1]
For example, someone who has entered Australia with an eligible visa and then flies from Sydney to Auckland can proceed to assess the remaining NZeTA conditions. A traveller connecting in Sydney from a third country without entering Australia cannot rely on the same departure condition. This comparison applies the published rule; it does not predict an individual admission decision.
Check the Australian visa subclass and current status
The official list includes Visitor subclass 600, Student subclass 500 and specified work, family and other subclasses. Use the Australian visa grant notice or VEVO record to establish the exact name, subclass and current validity. An old electronic grant letter should not, by itself, be treated as proof of eligibility on the day of departure.[1][2]
Being on this list does not mean that every Vanuatu passport holder qualifies to apply for that Australian visa. Eligibility for the Australian permission and use of an existing qualifying visa for onward travel to New Zealand are separate assessments.
Immigration New Zealand asks travellers to request an NZeTA at least 72 hours before travel. Answer the visit-or-transit question accurately: an incorrect answer can result in an authority that permits transit only, rather than a visit.[1][3]
Separate validity, length of stay and repeat journeys
Eligible travellers admitted under this facility can receive visitor permission for up to three months at a time. An NZeTA normally lasts two years for ordinary travellers, but it does not authorise two years of continuous residence. A later journey relying on this concession must again depart from Australia and meet the relevant conditions. The general limit of six months of visits within any 12-month period also applies. Admission and the actual permitted stay remain matters for New Zealand’s authorities.[1][3]
| Stage | What to establish |
|---|---|
| Before this flight | Entry into Australia, an eligible Australian visa valid at check-in and a valid NZeTA |
| Each visit | Compliance with entry requirements and the stay actually granted |
| Later journeys | Continuing NZeTA validity does not remove the departure and visa conditions |
Vanuatu is also on New Zealand’s transit visa-waiver list, which concerns connections at Auckland International Airport. An NZeTA permitting the holder to remain in the transit area is not equivalent to permission to enter for a visit.[3][4]
For a family adding New Zealand to an Australian trip, check each passport, Australian visa, NZeTA purpose and flight route before finalising accommodation and return travel. The current official position is continuation until further notice, not an announced permanent scheme. Check for subsequent changes before another booking.[2]
Official sources
- Immigration New Zealand — Chinese and Pacific visitors from Australia, October 2026 update
- Immigration New Zealand — Easier travel for Pacific visitors, October 2026 continuation
- Immigration New Zealand — NZeTA eligibility and conditions
- Immigration New Zealand — Transit visa-waiver countries and territories
General policy information; individual circumstances and the competent authority’s requirements govern each application.