Travelling to New Zealand from outside of Australia and the Pacific Islands
Plan before you travel
Before you travel, read our step-by-step guide to help you get the right documentation you need to enter New Zealand, and find out what to expect at the airport and after you arrive in New Zealand.
Step 1: Check if you can enter New Zealand
New Zealand borders are reopening throughout 2022.
New Zealand citizens and other vaccinated eligible travellers can enter New Zealand and self-test on arrival.
Check you are eligible to enter New Zealand
New Zealand border entry requirements | immigration.govt.nz (external link)
Check if you need to apply for a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
Step 2: Book your flight
Book an available flight to New Zealand.
If you are a New Zealand citizen, it is a good idea to register with SafeTravel at the same time. SafeTravel can check on your wellbeing if needed, or send you important information while you are overseas.
Step 3: Confirm your vaccination status
New Zealand citizens, residents and Australian citizens who live in New Zealand do not need to be vaccinated to enter New Zealand.
All other travellers aged 17 years and over must be vaccinated with approved vaccines.
Unvaccinated children aged 16 years and under can self-test on arrival if they are travelling alone, or with parents or guardians who meet the requirements for self-testing.
Some people are exempt from the vaccination requirements.
Step 4: Complete the traveller declaration
All travellers must complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration before travelling to New Zealand and be issued a New Zealand Traveller Pass.
You can start your declaration 28 days before you travel.
You will need to provide:
- your passport details
- flight information
- proof of vaccination — if you are not a New Zealand citizen, resident or Australian citizen who lives in New Zealand
- proof of a negative pre-departure test (if you need one)
- your travel history for the last 14 days
- your contact details in New Zealand
- emergency contact details.
You should submit your declaration as soon as you have your pre-departure test result, so there is time to verify and review your documents before your flight.
You will need to show your Traveller Pass when you check-in at the airport, and to Customs when you arrive in New Zealand. It can be printed out or saved on your mobile device.
Step 5: Get your pre-departure test
Most travellers must have a negative COVID-19 pre-departure test to enter New Zealand.
Even if you are self-testing on arrival, you still must get a pre-departure test.
You can choose one of the following:
- a supervised rapid antigen test (RAT) administered no more than 24 hours before the scheduled departure of your first international flight to New Zealand, or
- a supervised loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test administered no more than 24 hours before the scheduled departure of your first international flight to New Zealand, or
- a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test administered no more than 48 hours before the scheduled departure of your first international flight to New Zealand.
Make sure your pre-departure test documentation meets New Zealand’s standards.
Step 6: At the departure airport
You need to have some evidence at the airport. Your documents can be paper or electronic.
If they apply to you, you will need your:
- passport, and your visa
- ticket for your flight
- New Zealand Traveller Pass
- evidence of your vaccination status
- negative pre-departure test result.
You will be asked if you have COVID-19 symptoms by airline staff.
Step 7: When you arrive in New Zealand
Go through Customs
Customs will check your:
- passport and visa (if you need one to enter New Zealand)
- New Zealand Traveller Pass
- completed arrival card, and
- any other entry requirements.
Expect some delays as you transit through the airport. Please be kind to airport staff as they are working as quickly and carefully as they can.
Get your welcome pack
You will be given your welcome pack at Biosecurity once you have gone through Customs.
Your welcome pack has:
- rapid antigen test (RAT) kits
- a guide to testing.
Take your RAT test as instructed on Day 0/1 and Day 5/6.
Children under 6 months do not need to self-test on arrival.
Testing requirements after arriving in New Zealand
Testing positive after Day 6
If you have travelled to New Zealand for a holiday or other temporary stay and test positive after being here for 7 days or longer, you will need to:
- isolate for 7 days — you should have a plan for this
- source your own accommodation and pay for this (and meet your other costs)
- pay for your healthcare costs.
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