NZ ETA Rejected

Open the ETA Portal and Launch a Fresh Form

Start with a new NZ ETA Application Form and type every personal detail exactly as printed in your passport: full legal name, date of birth, citizenship, and each character of the passport number.

Provide Updated Travel Details

Enter the purpose of your trip (tourism, business, study, transit), your revised arrival date, the length of stay, and (if known) the address of your primary accommodation in New Zealand.

Choose Your Processing Speed

• Standard – routine review, budget-friendly. ETA in 1-6 Working Days.
• Rush – prioritised queue, commonly cleared within 1- 3 Working Days.
• Super Rush – emergency lane targeted at ≈ 24 Hours turnaround; ideal when flights are imminent.

Select the tier that matches your timeline—no extra commentary needed.

Attach Supporting Files and Pay the Fees

Upload a crisp scan of the passport data page plus a compliant passport-style photo. Settle the NZ ETA fee and IVL in one payment; save the electronic receipt for your records.

Submit, Record the Reference Number, and Monitor Email

Press “Submit.” The portal immediately issues a confirmation page containing an application ID—note it. INZ will send approval, queries, or a final decision to the e-mail used in the form.

When every field is error-free and you opt for a faster lane where time is tight, most corrected re-applications clear well before the next departure window.

1. Call the airline at once.
2. Explain the refusal and provide the decision letter.
3. Ask whether a date change fee can be waived; many carriers do so when presented with official proof.
4. Rebook a flight at least four days ahead; most reliable reapplications finish within 48 hours.

Field Examples

The Writer Who Missed Milford

In February 2024 we guided a journalist from Madrid who bungled a single passport digit. His ETA dropped into the void. We drafted a new form, and attached every screenshot. Four hours later approval arrived, just in time for him to board the dawn coach to Te Anau and meet the track warden before sunrise.

The Executive on a Tight Clock

Last June an Auckland conference host called us: her keynote speaker’s ETA had been refused for an unpaid traffic fine in Canada. We gathered the discharge letter, a fresh PCC, and a bank letter showing the fine settled. He reapplied at 10 a.m. Toronto time; by bedtime his approval landed. He flew two days later and opened the conference on schedule.

Prevention Checklist for Future Applications

• Match every digit – Read the MRZ line aloud as you type.
• Use a recent photo – Less than six months old.
• Secure payments – Same name on card and passport.
• Keep a clean inbox – Add “@immigration.govt.nz” to safe senders.
• Save confirmation PDF – It holds your unique reference number.
• Plan buffer days – Book flights at least one week after applying.

Conclusion

A declined NZ ETA is a delay, not an end. Approach the notice methodically, provide precise evidence, and resubmit through a clear, structured process. By doing so you will secure the authorisation required to enter New Zealand and continue with your travel schedule.