Visiting or moving to NZ

Before you leave

Check you have a valid passport

Before you leave for NZ you must have a valid passport. For example, it must not:

• expire before or close to the date you plan to leave NZ
• be damaged, reported as lost or stolen or be invalidated by the issuing government.

Before you travel to New Zealand — Immigration NZ

Check with your issuing government if you need to renew your passport due to a change in name, gender or appearance.

Apply for a visa or NZeTA

The type of visa you need depends on your reason for visiting NZ and the passport you hold.

Visits to NZ

If you’re visiting NZ for a holiday (vacation), to see friends, for a conference or business you’ll need a visitor visa or NZeTA.

Work, study or live in NZ permanently

• Get a visa to work in NZ
• Get a New Zealand student visa
• Get NZ residence

Search your visa options

If you do not know what visa you need, check out the different options:

Explore and select a visa — Immigration NZ

Check the conditions of a visa you already have

If you need to check the conditions of your existing visa visit the Immigration NZ website:

Check the conditions of your visa — Immigration NZ

Submit an NZ Traveller declaration (NZTD)

Everyone who arrives in New Zealand must complete an NZTD — unless you’re a transit passenger. The NZTD collects travel, customs, immigration and biosecurity information.

If you use the app or website, you can complete the NZTD within 24 hours of starting your trip to New Zealand.

Digital declaration — travellerdeclaration.govt.nz

If you prefer a paper version or cannot complete the declaration online, it will be available on-board your flight to New Zealand.

If you’re transiting NZ

Check if you need a transit visa or an NZeTA on the Immigration NZ website.

Transiting through New Zealand to another country

Transit passengers do not need to complete a NZTD.

Air transit passengers — travellerdeclaration.govt.nz

Arriving on different types of vessels

Check the Immigration NZ website to see how long you can stay and which travel authority or visa you need if you’re:

• arriving by cruise ship
• crew of planes and cruise ships
• crew of cargo ships, fishing vessels, private yachts and planes.

Arriving in NZ

Passport control and eGates

When you arrive in New Zealand, Customs will check your passport at an automated gate (eGate) or manually with a border officer.

To learn how and if your passport can be used with an eGate visit the NZ Customs website.

eGate — New Zealand Customs Service

Customs and biosecurity

After you go through passport control and collect your baggage, follow the appropriate lanes through to biosecurity screening.

New Zealand has strict biosecurity rules to keep harmful pests and diseases out of the country. There are some items you must declare if you’re bringing them into NZ.

Bringing things into New Zealand

For more information on what to declare, questioning, screening and baggage search visit the Customs New Zealand website.

On your arrival — NZ Customs

COVID-19 and other health requirements

New Zealand’s COVID-19 entry requirements ended on 20 October 2022.

This includes the requirement for vaccination, managed isolation and quarantine, pre-departure tests or a COVID-19 declaration.

If you test positive for COVID-19 or are feeling unwell, some airlines may ask that you consider changing your travel plans.

When you apply for certain visas, you may need to show you’re in good health — for example by having a medical examination or X-ray.

Evidence you are in good health — Immigration NZ

If you’re refused entry to New Zealand

If you do not meet the requirements to enter New Zealand, you may be refused entry.

Check the Immigration NZ website for common reasons for refusal and where to get help. 

If you are refused entry to New Zealand

While you’re here

If you become unwell or get injured

If you become unwell after arriving in NZ, contact Healthline on 0800 611 116. If you need to talk to someone in your own language, you can ask for a translator.

If you think you have COVID-19 visit the Health NZ website for help.

If you get injured while you’re visiting NZ, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) may be able to help cover some of your costs — you’ll still need travel insurance for what they do not cover.

If you’re a visitor injured in New Zealand — ACC

If you have an emergency or need help

Call 111 if you’re in an emergency.

• 111 emergency service
• Visitors to New Zealand — NZ Police

If you need help from your embassy, visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) website to find the contact details of your closest embassy.

Embassies — MFAT

If you’re earning money in New Zealand

You’ll need to pay the right tax, get an IRD number and send or approve an end-of-year tax return.

I am coming to work or study in New Zealand — IRD

Check the status of your visa or NZeTA

Depending on your situation, you can check, on the Immigration NZ website, the status of your:

• NZeTA
• visa application — for example, if you’ve applied for an extension or different visa.

Leaving NZ

When you must leave NZ

You must leave NZ before your visa expires. If your visa has expired or you need to stay longer in NZ, learn what you need to do on the Immigration NZ website.

If you do not leave New Zealand before your visa expires

Requirements before you leave NZ

Before you leave NZ you may need to:

• check the entry requirements of the next country you’re travelling to
• complete a report if you’re carrying NZ$10,000 or more in cash or foreign equivalent
• pay any outstanding fines
• check any items you cannot take out of NZ.

More information — New Zealand Customs Service

• Leaving NZ
• Prohibited and restricted exports

What to expect at the airport

The process when leaving NZ may differ from when you arrived, including the security screening and baggage requirements.

What to expect at the airport — Aviation Security Service

Check the busiest times for security screening so you can arrive at the airport earlier than usual — to allow extra time, in case of queues and longer wait times.

Anticipated peak times at security screening — Aviation Security Service