Leaving New Zealand
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Plan before you travel
Before travelling overseas we recommend you check the requirements of the country you are travelling to. Check:
- the official website of the country you wish to enter or transit, or
- that country’s diplomatic representative in New Zealand.
Many countries require travellers to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival, or have a negative COVID-19 test result before they can travel.
Travel advice for New Zealanders
The New Zealand Government is urging any New Zealanders currently travelling overseas to register with SafeTravel. If you register, you will receive notification of any changes made to travel advice.
Travel advice for foreign nationals
If you are a foreign national travelling in New Zealand, we recommend you consider returning home as soon as you are able to.
Travel to Australia
You are strongly advised to check requirements with your airline and your destination before travelling to Australia.
Quarantine-free travel with Australia
You can travel from New Zealand to some states in Australia without needing to quarantine there if you have been in New Zealand for 14 days or more and have not been in a designated COVID-19 outbreak location.
You will have to check what you need to do before you travel. Some states or territories may still require you to quarantine when you arrive.
You will need to complete an Australia Travel Declaration at least 72 hours before you depart for Australia.
The Australian Government has more information on:
- COVID-19 outbreak locations, and if there are any in New Zealand
- completing an Australia Travel Declaration before you depart
- whether you need a visa to enter Australia
- travel exemptions if you have been in New Zealand for less than 14 days, including if you are transiting.
Make sure you check the requirements you need to meet with the Australian Government and with your airline. These can change at short notice.
Guidance on travelling from New Zealand to Australia (external link)
Travelling back to New Zealand
From 19 April, you can travel to New Zealand from Australia without having to enter a managed isolation facility when you arrive.
Normal immigration rules apply, and you will have to meet some eligibility criteria to travel quarantine-free.
Travel from Australia to New Zealand — quarantine-free travel
If you do not meet the eligibility criteria, you will need to enter managed isolation when you arrive in New Zealand. You may have to pay for your stay. Before booking your flights, you need to register for a voucher to secure your place in a managed isolation facility.
Managed isolation and quarantine in New Zealand (external link)
Request an emergency allocation
Space in managed isolation is extremely limited. An emergency allocation process exists for limited situations that require urgent travel to New Zealand within the next 14 days.
You can request an emergency allocation if:
- you are legally entitled to enter New Zealand under our current border settings
- your travel is time-critical — within the next 14 days
- you have registered in the Managed Isolation Allocation System and you have not been able to book an allocation for the date you require urgent travel
- your circumstances fall within 1 of the 2 categories permitted, and
- you have attached evidence to support your application.
The managed isolation and quarantine website has details about the travel categories permitted for emergency allocation, and what supporting evidence you need.
Very few emergency allocation requests will be granted. We encourage you to book in early to the Managed Isolation Allocation System, as this is the best way to guarantee your place.
Pre-departure COVID-19 test if you're leaving New Zealand
Some countries require travellers to confirm a negative COVID-19 test before they leave New Zealand. You can check the requirements of the country you are travelling to, by contacting their local high commission, embassy or consulate in New Zealand.
Steps to get a pre-departure test
- As soon as your travel plans are confirmed, contact Healthline or your GP.
- Find out when you can go in for a COVID-19 test. The test needs to be taken as close as possible to your date of travel — check the timing that applies to your country.
- You may need to pay for the test yourself, at the time.
- Your test will be sent to a local laboratory, which will provide a result to your GP or you directly.
- A health provider will let you know the result of the test. It can take several days for test results to be available, so make sure you do not leave it too late.
- Assuming the test is negative, you will be given a hard-copy document with the results to take to the airport. In the unlikely event the test is positive, your health provider will talk with you about what happens next.
- Take your negative test results with you to airport check-in. You may need to show your results to customs or immigration on arrival at your destination.
Further travel advice from the Ministry of Health (external link)
Transiting through New Zealand
The New Zealand Government has transit arrangements with a number of countries to make it easier for each country’s citizens to get home.
Transit agreements that say who may transit through New Zealand are published by Immigration New Zealand.
You should also check if you need to apply for a transit exemption from Managed Isolation and Quarantine.
Transit arrangements from Immigration New Zealand(external link) (external link)
Exemptions to transit through New Zealand, and how to apply(external link) (external link)
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