New Zealand customs declaration
What to declare at New Zealand customs?
Find out about the passenger traveller declaration, declaration of specific goods and biosecurity - all you need to know for your customs declaration on arrival in New Zealand!
What is the traveller declaration?
Everyone travelling into New Zealand must complete a traveller declaration, online or via the NZTD app and free, earliest 24 hours before you start your trip, for each traveller, including New Zealand passport, visa or NZeTA holders. If you cannot submit it in advance there will be a paper declaration form available on arrival.
www.travellerdeclaration.govt.nz
Make sure you don't use a much more expensive agent or scam website, be aware of the govt.nz ending that official government websites use.
To fill in your declaration you need to have your passport, contact information such as your mobile number, transport information, where you have been in the last 30 days and what you are bringing into New Zealand.
How to proceed through customs
After you claim your baggage and go through the Customs Passport Control there is usually an officer who looks at your declaration form and makes sure you have understood everything.
He will then send you either:
- to the "Nothing to Declare Way Out" (green exit), or
- to the "Goods to Declare Way Out" (red exit) if you have declared any customs or agricultural goods on your arrival card, with a customs officer to collect any duties and maybe also a biosecurity officer to further evaluate any potential risks and dangers.
Afterwards all baggage will be x-rayed to detect further biosecurity hazards.
What to declare at New Zealand customs?
You must declare any of the following goods:
- goods that may be prohibited or restricted, such as weapons, objectionable (indecent) articles, wildlife products, or illicit drugs
- goods in excess of the $700 allowance and the tobacco and alcoholic beverages allowance
- goods for commercial, business, or trade purposes
- goods carried on behalf of another person
- NZ$10,000 or more, or the equivalent in foreign currency.
What you don't need to declare
Clothing, footwear, jewellery or toiletries don’t need declaration if they are intended solely for your own use.
Further information: www.customs.govt.nz
See our next article about what not to bring or pack: New Zealand biosecurity regulations.
