Frequently asked questions​

Requirements for entry into New Zealand territory:

• You need to obtain a passport, that has a validity beyond the duration of your stay in New Zealand.
• UK passport holder who wants to visit New Zealand for a time period of 6 months without a visa has to satisfy the Immigration Officer that his/her eligibility matches the immigration rules along with obtaining a return ticket.
• Filling out the Passenger Arrival Card carefully and declaring anything that may pose a risk to the country.
• Either dispose of the risk items (if the visitor is carrying any) after getting off from the flight or declare the items to the Customs and Biosecurity officials.
• Getting through the Customs and Biosecurity checks with satisfying the inspecting officials of your admissibility along with your inspected baggage.
• E-passport holders going through the e-Gates need to make sure that they look similar to their e-Passport photo, avoiding any accessories that might cover a part of their face.
• Abiding by certain restrictions regarding the transportation of medicines into New Zealand. If the visitor has a prescription of the medicines, he/she is carrying then he/she must declare it in the passenger arrival card.
• Attaining a stamped passport along with a travel authorisation application that proves the approval of your visit.

Items You Must Declare when entering New Zealang

You must be aware that New Zealand has very severe biosecurity guidelines at their international borders so that there is no risk of detrimental pests and diseases. Every risky or objectionable item is required to be declared or disposed of in amnesty bins. It is better to declare if you are not sure about any item.

You must be aware of the following for smooth arrival in New Zealand:  

• Passenger Arrival Cards –These cards are handed over to the passengers by the crew onboard. The cards inform you about the ‘risk goods’
• You must declare all the items that are termed risky on your card. These are goods like food, plants, wood products, soil, water, outdoor equipment, and animal products.
• You must dispose of goods that are risky and undeclared in marked amnesty bins after you arrive at the airport.
• All prohibited and restricted items must be declared.
• You will need to pay infringement fee, fine or penalty if you do not declare risk items mentioned on your Passenger Arrival Card.

Prohibited articles when entering New Zealand

Many items are prohibited, and you cannot import them into New Zealand. There are some items that need approval to import.

Here is a list of items that you cannot carry into NZ:

• offensive content on videotapes and CD-ROMs, etc.
• Any sort of weapons like flick knives and knuckle-dusters, etc.
• Any disguised weapon
• Equipment to use cannabis or methamphetamine
• Any item that can be used in any sort of criminal activity.

For carrying the following items, you will need a permit:

• ivory items like jewellery or carved items
• jewellery made from tortoise or sea turtle shell
• meat or food items derived from whales, dolphins, rare crane, and pheasants, or sea turtles
• medicines that contain musk or rhinoceros or tiger derivatives
• items made out of whalebone or bone of any sea mammals
• cat skin
• trophies made from  sea turtles, all big cats, rare reptiles, cranes, pheasants, bears, antelope, and deer
• live animals, including pet eagles, hawks, owls and parrots, many cacti, orchids, cycads, and cyclamens
• carnivorous plants

You cannot carry controlled drugs into NZ like medicines that contain pseudoephedrine.

You can carry prescription medicines if you have a valid prescription.

Agricultural items

Any pests or diseases that can result from the items you carry can be risky as they can cause harm to New Zealand’s environment and economy.

Passengers are therefore required to declare any items that could be risky (Ministry for Primary Industries) as mentioned on the passenger arrival card.

List of risky items:

• food
• fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, honey, ingredients used in cooking, and all dairy products
• alive or dead plants and seeds
• wooden items
• alive or dead animals
• alive or dead animal products
• traditional/herbal medicines
• any shoes, sports or outdoor equipment you’ve used.

If you fail to declare these items, you can be fined or prosecuted by MPI.

After MPI officers finish inspecting your items, they may return them to you. In certain cases, your items might need to be treated, but for this, you will need to make a payment.

Carrying food items for personal use

You are required to declare all food items that you carry into New Zealand. Quarantine officers may inspect the food items you are carrying.

Food restrictions as a preventive measure

MPI does not allow certain some food products that they consider risky as they may result in pests or diseases or both. Also, they restrict food items that can

• harm their natural resources
• affect agricultural and horticultural production negatively
• have an effect on trade with other nations
• act as a threat to NZ’s economy

When you land on the New Zealand airport, you should declare on your Passenger Arrival Card any food item you have. Biosecurity quarantine inspectors might inspect the food. If you are confused about something, it is suggested not to carry it with you. Any food item that you don’t declare can be taken away, or you may need to pay a fine even if the item is allowed.

Restriction on fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, fish or honey

You are not allowed to carry fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh meat or fish, honey and bee products. It is better to declare them if you have them, else you may be fined, or items can be confiscated.

Food you can carry

You are required to declare even those food items that you are allowed to carry into New Zealand. Usually, MPI officials allow food that is packaged, has shelf-life and unopened.

Children’s colours

To ensure that the toxic elements in colours, crayons, finger paints and water colours, don’t harm anyone, these items are not allowed. In case you are carrying any such items, they need to be in accordance to Graphic Materials Group Standard 2009 available on the EPA website.  The importers are responsible for ensuring that the items/ substances they have don not fall under the scope of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996. Regarding queries on the same, contact the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

Endangered species

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has been established so that no trade happens related to dead or alive endangered, threatened, or exploited plants and/or animals, such as souvenirs. In case you are carrying any such item, you need a special permit (Department of Conservation).

Equipment for smoking / taking drugs

Any equipment that is used in smoking or taking drugs like methamphetamine and cannabis utensils or even their parts are restricted items. Some examples are bongs and hash pipes, vaporisers including their parts, roach clips with a pincer or tweezer and anything to use methamphetamine.

The only exception is tobacco pipes.

Firearms and weapons

To carry firearms and weapons into New Zealand, you need an NZ Police permit.  You should attain the permit before arriving at the NZ airport. Certain prohibited items of this category are flick knives, butterfly knives, knuckle-dusters, swordsticks or any disguised weapon.

Human ashes

Bringing human ashes into NZ is permitted but do declare them and carry a death certificate or cremation certificate of the person. In case you are sending human ashes by post, you are required to do postal declaration about the contents of the package. Do include a copy of death or cremation certificate.

Objectionable material

Any type of publication falls under the category of objectionable if it pertains to sex, horror, crime, cruelty or violence and is likely to harm the public interest in any way. Some examples of such material could be in the form of films, videos, computer games, DVDs, CD-ROMs, books, posters, music recordings, magazines, photographs, paintings, t-shirts and computer files.

Such items must be declared when you arrive in New Zealand.

Importing or exporting any objectionable publications, involving children or young people, related to terrorism or violent themes, or sexual violence is an offence that can lead to arrest or even imprisonment.

This also applies to using the internet or social media apps, downloading and/or uploading any objectionable files. Obscene sex toys or dolls can also be seized.

Legislation: Sections 95, 96 and 99 of the Customs and Excise Act 2018, Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993.

Radio transmitters and telecommunications equipment

If you have any transmitting devices, they are required to meet the NZ technical standards set by Radio Spectrum Management. Some examples are

• dog-tracking devices
• radio transmitters
• cordless phones
• cellphones (mobile phones)
• baby monitor,
• similar equipment.

Vaporisers

Vaporisers are strictly prohibited under the Misuse of Drugs (Prohibition of Cannabis Utensils and Methamphetamine Utensils) Notice 2014.  If you have any such item, they will be seized and destroyed.

Prohibited and restricted exports

Prohibited or restricted items that you cannot take with you out of NZ without a permit, or at all include pounamu (greenstone) in its natural state, paua, wildlife, antiquities, some works of art.

Pets

If you need to carry any pets to New Zealand, they must meet the health requirements that are different for each animal and nation. MPI has set these standards for pets to ensure no unwanted diseases, pests, and animals enter New Zealand.

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