Complete Guide to Traveling to Canada from New Zealand: Everything you need to know.
With fantastic cities like Vancouver and Montreal, gorgeous landscapes and lots to do, Canada is a great travel destination. If you’re thinking of booking a trip to Canada, read through this complete guide to travelling to the country and how to prepare. Plus, see how the Wise travel card can make it easy to book, shop and spend like a local when traveling abroad.
New Zealand to Canada Travel Requirements
New Zealand passport holders don’t require a visa to travel to Canada for short trips of up to six months. If you want to stay longer, you must apply for the appropriate Canadian visa.
Non-New Zealand citizens, like those on a Permanent Resident Visa (PRV), must apply for a visa before travelling to Canada for short- or long-term stays. Let’s take a deeper look at travel requirements for citizens and PRV holders.
Canada Visa for New Zealand Citizens
New Zealand citizens with a valid passport can apply for the Canadian eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) to travel to the country for short stays. The Canada eTA is required in place of a visa, but you must submit an application. Your passport must have a validity period of at least three months past your expected departure date when you apply.
The Canada eTA for New Zealand citizens can be used for:
- Tourism
- Attending business events and meetings
- Medical treatment in Canada
- Transiting through a Canadian airport
While the Canada eTA is valid for five years, you can only stay in Canada for up to six months in a single visit. However, you can make multiple trips to Canada within the validity period, which provides flexibility for frequent travelers.
If you plan to stay in Canada for over six months, you can extend your eTA. To do this, you must apply to the Canada Border Security Agency (CBSA) for an extension using the Visitor Record. This process should be initiated before your initial six-month period expires.
If you know you intend to stay for more than six months, you must apply for the appropriate Canadian visa. Jump to the next section on the visas available - including for young people looking to have a working holiday.1
New Zealand citizens with dual citizenship with Canada can’t use eTA and must instead travel on their Canadian passport - not their New Zealand one- to enter the country.
Canada Visa for New Zealand Residence Permit holders
Non-citizens with a New Zealand residence permit must travel on their issuing country’s passport and can’t apply for the Canada eTA. You can, however, apply for a Canadian visa for the type of stay you intend to have. The visa-issuing process will be based on the country passport you hold.
Let’s discuss the non-immigrant Canadian visas available to New Zealand citizens and Residence Permit holders.
| Type of Visa | Who can apply |
|---|---|
| Visitor Visa2 (also known as Temporary Resident Visa) | NZ residence permit holders can apply for a Canadian visitor visa |
| Study Permit3 | NZ citizens and residency permit holders who want to study in Canada. |
| International Experience Canada4 (also known as Working Holiday Visa) | NZ citizens holding valid NZ passports between 18 and 35 years |
In addition, Canada offers various other work-related visas, such as the Provincial Nominee and Express Entry Programs. These visas are immigration visas that lead to permanent residency and Canadian citizenship.
Visa Validity and Restrictions
Every visa has a validity period, however, your stay may have restrictions. For example, though the Canada eTA is valid for five years, you can’t stay for more than six months in one visit.
| Type of Visa | Validity and Restrictions |
|---|---|
| Canada eTA | Five years, but one single stay must be at most six months. Multiple entry allowed. |
| Visitor visa | Maximum of 6 months |
| Study Permit | Depends on the length of the course |
| International Experience Canada | Maximum of 23 months |
Applying for a Canada Visa from New Zealand
Applying to enter Canada from New Zealand is easy, especially for citizens. The process is entirely online and takes 10 to 30 minutes. Let’s take a look at how to apply for a Canada eTA and a visa.
Before you start your Canada eTA application process, you must keep the following items handy.
- Your valid New Zealand passport
- A valid email address
- Online form of payment, such as debit or credit card
Here are the steps to apply for a Canada eTA:.5
- Visit the Canada eTA website and click “Apply for Canada eTA Application.”
- Complete the online application form by filling in all the details.
- Review the information and confirm your payment.
- If approved, you will receive the Canada eTA approval within 72 hours via email.
New Zealand permanent residency holders can apply for their Canadian visa through VFS Global:6
- Visit the VFS Global New Zealand website.
- Choose the correct visa for your trip: Visitor Visa, Study permit, and Work Permit.
- Download the visa application form and complete it. Hand-written forms are not acceptable. Check the IRCC document list and keep your documents ready. Fill out the waiver form and attach it with your application.
- Book an appointment after choosing a visa application centre. Check whether you need to complete your biometric information.
- Pay the required fee. Download and print the receipt to carry to the Visa Application Centre.
- Visit the particular visa application centre on the appointed date. Complete the biometrics and submit your visa application. You get a receipt with a unique tracking number.
- Track your application online.
- Collect your stamped passport from the visa application centre after approval.
Visa processes can differ depending on your passport. Check with your embassy or consulate to make sure you are taking the proper steps to apply for a visa to Canada.
Flying to Canada from New Zealand
Several airlines fly from New Zealand to multiple destinations in Canada. Some of the airlines are:
- Air New Zealand
- Air Canada
- Qantas
- Fiji Airlines
- United Airlines
Direct flights take around 13 hours for a one-way trip. The flight time increases with the number of stopovers. For instance, a one-stopover flight takes around 16 hours, whereas a 2-stopover flight takes 27 hours.7
What can I bring into Canada?
As a visitor from New Zealand, you can bring personal items, including clothing, household items, camping, sports equipment, cameras, and laptops or personal computers. However, you must declare all your goods at the first Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) port of entry.
Note that certain goods are prohibited or restricted in Canada, and bringing certain items along with you can result in penalties. Here are some examples of restricted and prohibited goods:8
- Firearms and weapons - must be declared at the CBSA entry port.
- Plants
- Animals
- Food
- Explosives, fireworks, and ammunition—You need special permission and written authorisation to bring such items to Canada.
- Consumer products - Products that can be dangerous to the public are prohibited.
An exhaustive list of prohibited and restricted goods is available on the CBSA website.
Document to carry before flying to Canada
To make your trip go smoothly before flying to Canada from New Zealand, have these documents ready:9
- A valid passport that will stay valid through your time in Canada
- Your eTA as a New Zealand citizen, or permanent residents should have the appropriate visa.
- Carry additional identification documents with you, like a driver’s license.
- Students should keep their admission confirmation letters handy, and travelers on work visas should have their job confirmation letters ready for immigration.
- COVID-19 health requirements for Canada have been removed. However, you must keep your vaccination records ready.
- Keep other health-related documents on hand, especially medical prescriptions.
- If you have travel insurance, carry a copy of your policy with you.
- Information you will need in Canada, like your hotel or the address you will be travelling to.
Checklist for New Zealand to Canada Travel
It’s a long trip to get to Canada. Make sure you check off some of these things before you board your flight:
- Carry extra copies of your travel documents, like your visa and passport. You can also have digitised copies on your smartphone.
- A universal adapter can help with charging your mobile or appliances.
- Check the weather where you are going. Certain parts of Canada can be cold, especially in winter, so pack accordingly.
- Pack your toiletries, such as shampoo, soaps, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving kit, and skincare.
- If you’re going for a long trip, create a plan for friends or family to take care of any pets or plants in the house or even to stop by and check your mail.
- Consider getting an international mobile plan or buying a local SIM.
- Pay all bills that may come due while you’re gone.
- Take time off from work and get backups if needed.
- Canada is a large country, so double-check where you will be arriving and anywhere else you may be travelling domestically and how you will get there.
- Have a plan for what you will use when spending money in Canada. Most debit or credit cards will work, but a Wise travel card could save money.
Travel Insurance for Canada
Travel insurance can give you peace of mind when you travel outside New Zealand. It can provide financial cover for travel delays, lost or misplaced luggage, illness, injuries or even theft. Travel insurance requires you to pay upfront for a policy, and you will be compensated only if one of the events occurs. If your trip goes smoothly, you won’t receive your money back.
Learn more in our guide for the best travel insurance in New Zealand.
Managing Your Finances in Canada
Canadian dollars are the currency of Canada. All major methods of payment are available in the country, including cards and digital wallets like Google Pay or Apple Wallet. While using local New Zealand cards shouldn’t be an issue, you will want to keep an eye on fees and the exchange rate when spending abroad.
Using Your NZD Debit/Credit Cards
MasterCard and Visa are accepted worldwide at almost all locations, so you’ll be able to use your local New Zealand debit or credit cards, including tapping from a digital wallet, in Canada. However, banks and credit card companies typically charge foreign transaction fees and exchange rates with markups, making a dent in your spending budget.
Join Wise and keep more of your money to spend on the things you want. The Wise travel card lets you open a Canadian dollar balance, even before you leave, so you can make local reservations, deposits, or payments. Plus, with a low transfer fee and the real mid-market exchange rate, you can save versus banks and credit cards when spending money abroad.
Sign up for Wise today and see how much easier it is to manage money globally.
Cash Considerations
While most of the world now operates on cards or digital payments, cash can still be helpful in certain situations—like if your card doesn’t work, you want to buy something at a local market, or you want to pay tips.
Keeping a small amount of Canadian dollars in cash on you as you travel is a good idea- but not too much, in case it gets misplaced. One way to do this is to withdraw cash locally at an ATM once you are in Canada.
Credit cards can be expensive as you’ll pay a cash advance fee and interest rate for cash withdrawals, and banks can also add on out-of-network ATM fees. The Wise travel card can be handy for cash as it allows for free cash withdrawals of up to $100 a month at 3 million ATMs worldwide. Save money with Wise when travelling abroad.
Save on Canada Transactions and Swipe like a local with Wise
A holiday to Canada can be exciting, and will give you plenty to do. Make managing your money in Canada easier with Wise. Wise uses smart tech to make international transfers simple and cheap, and the travel card can help you spend and pay like a local.
With Wise, you can convert your New Zealand dollars to Canadian dollars and open up a balance right in the app. So you can book travel and reservations ahead of time without paying extra international transaction charges or exchange rate fees. You get the actual mid-market exchange rate when you convert from one currency to another and one small transfer fee. Once you have funds in your wallet, you can spend through the app, make transfers, or get a debit card to tap and swipe when you are in Canada. It’s that easy.
Join Wise today and see how hassle-free global travel can be.
Please see the terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.
Sources used for this article:
- Canadian ETA for NZ citizens
- Canadian visitor visa
- Canadian study visa
- Working Holiday Visa
- Canada eTA application procedure
- Canadian visa application procedure
- Flights to Canada from New Zealand
- What you can bring to Canada
- Documents to carry before flying to Canada
Sources verified on 6 August 2024.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
