New Zealand Entry and Travel Requirements

New Zealand Entry Requirements comprise the set of necessary documents that a traveler needs to arrange before visiting New Zealand, as well as the rules that one must follow to be allowed into New Zealand's territory without any issues.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the New Zealand Government introduced some additional restrictions that have helped to ensure the safety of both New Zealanders and incoming foreign visitors.

Travelers need to meet some health requirements, including being vaccinated against Covid-19. From April 2022, all travelers to New Zealand must also complete the Traveler Declaration. Pre-departure testing requirements were lifted on 20 June 2022.

The majority of foreigners planning to visit New Zealand will also need to obtain a visa before traveling. Only Australian citizens are exempt from the requirement to obtain travel authorization or a visa from the embassy. Moreover, Australians may be granted resident status upon arrival in New Zealand under the trans-Tasman travel agreement. Travelers from other countries must obtain a visa or electronic travel authority in advance of the planned trip. Currently, over 70 visa-exempt countries may visit New Zealand with NZeTA.

New Zealand remained close for over 2 years. The 5-step New Zealand's borders reopening schedule commenced in February 2022. Every subsequent phase of the reopening plan includes new groups of travelers who may enter New Zealand.

It is strongly advised to get familiar with the up-to-date information on the New Zealand entry requirements before every trip to this spectacular Pacific island country. Due to the evolving covid-related situation worldwide, the entry rules are subject to change at short notice.

Important Update! As of 12th September, the New Zealand authorities dropped vaccination and testing requirements. Travelers from anywhere in the world can enter New Zealand without Covid-19 vaccination proof or a negative test result.

Who can enter New Zealand?

Currently, the following groups of travelers are allowed to travel to New Zealand:

• citizens of New Zealand
• permanent residents of New Zealand or holders of a resident visa
• New Zealand citizen's or resident's partner or dependent child holding an NZ visa based on the relationship
• citizens of Australia or holders of Australian permanent resident visas
• holders of working holiday visas
• holders of work visas meeting the visa conditions
• holders of student visas meeting the visa conditions
• holders of visitor visas
• travelers from visa-exempt countries holding a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
• holders of transit visas
• travelers who were granted a visa under critical purpose travel reasons

July 2022

New Zealand also plans to welcome other traveling groups in the coming months. From 4 July 2022, the following categories of vaccinated travelers can enter NZ and self-test upon arrival:

• travelers coming to NZ under the Accredited Employer Work Visa categories;
• travelers arriving under the Work Visa category.

The full reopening is expected by the end of July. The country will reopen applications for all visa categories for travelers from all over the world on 31 July 2022. Entry to New Zealand will be possible only for vaccinated travelers.

Documents check-list for entering New Zealand

• valid passport
• New Zealand Traveler Pass
• valid New Zealand visa/ NZeTA / Visitor Visa
• evidence of a traveler's vaccination status (no longer mandatory)
• travel insurance policy (optional)

Testing, Vaccination, and Quarantine Requirements

Testing requirements

Pre-departure tests

The majority of travelers to New Zealand had to provide a negative Covid-19 pre-departure test result to enter the country. There were only a few exceptions of travelers who did not have to be tested.

The New Zealand authorities have already lifted the pre-departure testing requirements. As of 20 June 2022, a pre-departure test is no longer mandatory to board a flight to New Zealand.

Post-arrival tests

Most travelers arriving in New Zealand must take two rapid antigen tests after their arrival - the first is to be taken on Day 0/1 and the second on Day 5/6 of stay.

Every traveler will receive a welcome pack containing a RATs kit when going through Customs. Reporting the RAT results is mandatory, even if they are negative.

Vaccination requirements

Entry to Zealand is permitted to non-vaccinated travelers with only some exceptions. If you are aged 17 years or over, and you are not a citizen or resident of New Zealand or a citizen of Australia living in New Zealand, you must meet Covid-19 vaccination requirements to travel to New Zealand.

You will need to provide a digital vaccine passport or another form of paper or electronic certificate issued by a government health authority confirming that you have received a complete Covid-19 vaccination course.

Currently, there are 35 different manufacturers of coronavirus vaccines accepted for entry to New Zealand. Check the detailed vaccination requirements here.

Groups of travelers exempted from vaccination proof requirement include:

• New Zealand citizens
• New Zealand residence class visa holders
• Australian citizens living in New Zealand
• travelers aged 16 years or younger
• travelers who cannot receive Covid-19 vaccination due to medical reasons (confirmed by medical document)
• refugees arriving in New Zealand for the first time
• evacuated citizens Afghanistan
• persons arriving from Antarctica
• persons granted a visa under the 2022 Special Ukraine Visa Policy
• persons who were ordinarily Ukrainian residents at any point on or after January 1 st, 2022

Quarantine requirements

New Zealand introduced Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) in April 2021. Facilities for MIQ are based in hotels that were adopted to serve as places for isolated and quarantined persons who may receive professional health care. Currently, most travelers coming to New Zealand do not need to enter MIQ. MIQ is used in limited circumstances, e.g., for refugees and maritime crew. The MIQ Voucher Booking System was actually closed in March 2022.

Self-isolation for 7 days

If you are traveling to New Zealand for short-term tourism or other temporary purposes and are tested positive against Covid-19 after staying in the country for 7 days or longer, you need to:

• isolate for 7 days (you need to have a quarantine plan)
• arrange your own isolation accommodation and cover its costs
• cover the healthcare costs

The self-isolation may be ended after 7 days without needing to take a Covid-19 test or receiving an official message to leave isolation.

Traveling from New Zealand

Before leaving New Zealand, you should check the current requirements of the country you wish to travel to. Visit the official website of a given country you will ve traveling to or transiting through, or contact its embassy, consulate, or another diplomatic post for relevant information.

Make sure to check the requirements concerning:

• visa policy;
• Covid-19 entry protocol, including vaccination proof, Covid-19 testing, quarantine, and other covid-related restrictions.

Some countries may require a traveler to take a pre-departure coronavirus test before leaving New Zealand. Pre-departure tests for international travel are not covered by the public health response. A traveler should check the types of tests accepted for a given destination as well as the timeframes within which the test must be taken in order to be valid.

Traveling to New Zealand

New Zealand has been executing the 5-stage reopening schedule announced in February 2022. The country's authorities first allowed entry for New Zealand citizens and residents who wanted to return to their home country from Australia. The reopening program has brought the expected results, and the authorities decided to speed up its subsequent phases. Until the end of July 2022, all visa categories will be reopened for vaccinated travelers from anywhere in the world.

Every traveler should check whether they are eligible to enter New Zealand and inform themselves of the required documents that must be arranged before the planned trip.

Entry Rules for Children

Children aged 2 years and younger - They do not need to take pre-departure tests.

Children over 2 years of age - They must submit a negative pre-departure test result.

Children aged 16 and younger - They can enter New Zealand without a certificate of Covid-19 vaccination.

Children over 16 years of age - They must be fully vaccinated to enter New Zealand, including for transit purposes.

Transit through New Zealand

Travelers may transit only through Auckland International Airport, where they must remain within the airport transit zone. Passengers are allowed to stay in transit for maximally 24 hours. For more extended layovers, they are not treated as transit passengers and need to meet the entry requirements applicable to regular travelers.

Entering New Zealand for longer than 24 hours requires obtaining a visa. Moreover, transit travelers who are not New Zealand citizens, residents, or Australian citizens living in New Zealand must be fully vaccinated to be eligible for transit. The vaccination requirement applies to all travelers in transit aged over 16, even those who will not go through Customs.

Transit passengers are exempt from pre-departure testing. Nevertheless, if a final destination requires a pre-departure test, a traveler will need to be tested anyway. Moreover, it is the traveler's responsibility to get familiar with the requirements applicable to the country of the final destination.

Visa requirements

If you plan to visit New Zealand for tourism purposes, you will need to obtain a visa before the trip unless you are:

• a New Zealand citizen holding a New Zealand passport or a foreign passport with a New Zealand citizen endorsement;
• a citizen of Australia coming to NZ on an Australian passport;
• a holder of a foreign passport with a valid New Zealand visa (including a permanent resident visa).

If you do not fall under any of the above-listed categories, you will need to obtain a visa to New Zealand. Nationals of around 70 visa waiver countries can travel visa-free with an NZeTA obtainable online. Those who do not qualify for an Electronic Travel Authority must obtain a Visitor Visa.

NZeTA

Since July 2019, New Zealand has facilitated entry to the country for travelers from certain visa waiver countries. Eligible travelers can obtain the Electronic Travel Authority entirely online within 72 business hours.

NZeTA is issued as a multiple-entry electronic visa that serves tourism, business, or transit purposes. A traveler may stay in New Zealand with NZeTA for up to 3 months throughout a 2-year validity period.

NZeTA can be obtained in a few simple steps using any electronic device connected to the Internet. Please remember that even if you plan just to transit through New Zealand, you need to obtain NZeTA.

New Zealand Traveler Declaration

All travelers planning to enter New Zealand by air must fill out the New Zealand Traveler Declaration within 24 to 48 hours before the first flight of their intended trip. The information provided in the form is essential to deciding whether a traveler is subject to self-testing upon arrival and eligible to enter the country quarantine-free.

The confirmation of the Traveler Declaration together with a Traveler Pass is necessary to board the flight to New Zealand.

Important: The declaration must be completed even if you only plan to transit through New Zealand!

When completing your health form, you will need to upload your vaccination certificate and negative pre-departure test result. Every application is followed by issuing a Traveler Pass, which is delivered to the applicant's email address. The Traveler Pass contains a unique QR code that is valid only for one journey to New Zealand.

All travelers should prepare the following information to fill out the Traveler Declaration:

• passport data
• flight details
• vaccination proof
• pre-departure test certificate
• travel history for the last 14 days before the planned trip to New Zealand
• contact details in New Zealand
• details of emergency contact

The Traveler Pass will be checked at the airport control upon arrival in New Zealand. You may show either its digital or printed copy.

Travel Insurance

Some New Zealand visa categories may require insurance as a visa condition. No matter the reason for your trip to New Zealand - study, work, or holiday, you should consider buying travel insurance, even if it is not mandatory.

Travel insurance can safeguard against some disruption of your travel plans like lost or stolen luggage or trip cancellation. Good holiday cover can also prevent you from the high costs of emergency medical treatment. When traveling during the ongoing pandemic, check the details of your insurance policy and make sure that it has Covid-19 coverage included.