You do not have to complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) to enter New Zealand.
Travellers and crew do not need proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter New Zealand. Please check with your airline or cruise provider as they may still require proof of vaccination.
Air travellers can get free rapid antigen tests (RATs) at the airport, please take some.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms when you arrive in New Zealand by air, we encourage you to take a RAT.
Please report a positive test result by calling:
0800 432 010 — if you are calling from a New Zealand phone number
+64 9 954 6118 — if you are using an international SIM card. Check with your phone provider as there may be charges.
Have a safe-as New Zealand summer
Get ready for a safe-as summer in New Zealand. Enjoy our summer by being prepared and knowing how to stay safe.
If you are not a New Zealand or Australian citizen, you may need to apply for a visa or a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) to enter New Zealand.
If you do not have a visa, you must have a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).
You can apply for a visitor visa to travel to New Zealand from a Pacific Island Forum country. The full list of Pacific Island Forum countries is on Immigration NZ's website.
When coming to New Zealand to visit, study or work, we strongly encourage you to get travel insurance.
Some visa categories require you to hold insurance as a condition of your visa.
Check COVID-19 cover
Before you buy travel insurance, we recommend you check what cover it provides for COVID-19-related events, including medical treatment, the cost of changing your travel arrangements or paying for accommodation if you need to isolate.
For cruise ship passengers
Make sure you choose a travel insurance policy that covers you for:
cruising
any activities you do on shore
all of the countries you will visit on your cruise
any pre-existing medical conditions you may have
medical evacuations at sea.
Some cruise ships may not allow you to board without cruise-specific insurance.
Reciprocal health agreements
New Zealand has reciprocal health agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom (UK). A range of services are not publicly funded, and these differ between countries. If you travel to New Zealand from Australia or the UK, we still recommend buying travel insurance to cover the cost of any medical treatment you may need while you are in New Zealand.
If you pass through New Zealand on your way to another country and you do not plan to stay, you are a transit passenger.
In New Zealand, you can only transit through Auckland International Airport. You must stay in the transit area of the airport and you cannot apply to enter New Zealand. You can remain in transit for up to 24 hours.
Check transit rules and the entry requirements for your destination
Transit rules can change quickly, so it is your responsibility to make sure you can transit through New Zealand and enter any country on your journey. If you are unable to do this, you may not be allowed to board the plane.
You do not need to be vaccinated
You do not need proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter New Zealand.
If you will enter New Zealand for more than 24 hours
If you will be in New Zealand for longer than 24 hours, you are not a transit passenger. You must apply to enter New Zealand.
You must wear a face mask when visiting healthcare facilities, for example:
hospitals
doctor’s clinics or your GP
community/iwi health providers
aged care residential facilities.
Some places may still ask you to wear a face mask. We encourage you to wear a face mask in crowded places such as public transport, or when visiting people at high risk.
If you leave your cruise to fly home or to stay on in New Zealand, you need to apply for a visa and entry permission by completing an arrival card and presenting it to an Immigration officer at the port you disembark from.
You must show evidence of your onward travel — for example, a ticket for your flight out of New Zealand.
New Zealand citizens and residents travelling overseas
Before travelling overseas, check the immigration and COVID-19 requirements of the country you will visit.
Check the official website of the country you wish to enter or transit, or
Contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country you are travelling to.
Some countries require travellers to have a negative COVID-19 test result before they leave New Zealand.
Pre-departure testing for international travel is not covered under the public health response. So it is not available for free from community testing centres, pharmacies or GPs.
Make sure to check the test types accepted and timeframes they need the test done within, and plan ahead.
Some countries may require proof that you have been vaccinated before you can enter.
Anyone aged 5 and older who has had a COVID-19 vaccination in New Zealand can get an International Travel Vaccination Certificate. You can use this as proof of your vaccinations to travel overseas— you cannot use your My Vaccine Pass as proof.
The name on yourInternational Travel Vaccination Certificate must match your passport.If the name is different, contact your health provider to have your details updated.
If you have recently tested positive for COVID-19, your pre-departure COVID-19 test can show a positive result. You will need to see a medical practitioner who will examine you for current symptoms of COVID-19, and confirm you have recovered.
You can check the requirements for the country you will visit on its official website. You can also contact its high commission, embassy or consulate in New Zealand.
Some airlines may also require you to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test, or a medical certificate before you fly. Check with your airline.
The New Zealand Government urges any New Zealanders who are travelling overseas to register with SafeTravel. If you register, you will receive notification of any changes made to travel advice.
Some countries may require travellers to provide evidence of travel insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment.
If you do not have travel insurance, you may have to pay for any COVID-19 related medical costs yourself.
You can travel between New Zealand and the Cook Islands without having to go into managed isolation or self-isolation when you arrive. This is called quarantine-free travel (QFT).
take a PCR test 48 hours before their flight to Niue
complete the Niue Traveller Declaration.
If you are visiting Niue, you must book your accommodation in advance for the duration of your stay.
If you or someone you are travelling with tests positive for COVID-19, you may have to isolate and stay longer than planned. Make sure you have a plan for this.
Check the official website of the country you wish to enter for information about any COVID-19 restrictions. Rules and restrictions can change quickly, so make sure you regularly check local health advice for the country you are travelling to.
Keep up healthy habits
There are some things you can do to keep you and your whānau safe while you are overseas.
Wear a face mask if you are indoors in crowded places.
Wash and sanitise your hands if you have been in a public place, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
Try to meet outdoors where there is better ventilation.
Have a plan if your travel is disrupted
Make sure you have a plan if you or someone you are travelling with gets COVID-19 while overseas. If you test positive for COVID-19, you may have to pay for quarantine or self-isolate for a period of time.
More information
Advice for commercial, trade and cargo vesselsAdvice for commercial, trade and cargo vessels (external link)
New Zealand's maritime border is open to foreign commercial vessels, including trade and cargo vessels. Find out what you need to do to enter New Zealand.
Advice for recreational vessels, yachts and small craftAdvice for recreational vessels, yachts and small craft (external link)
New Zealand's maritime border is open to foreign registered recreational vessels — including superyachts. Find out what you need to do to enter New Zealand.
The current phase of New Zealand's COVID-19 responseThe current phase of New Zealand's COVID-19 response
What you need to know about the current COVID-19 measures in New Zealand.
Travellers from some Pacific Islands can enter New Zealand without having to enter MIQ.
In an emergency
If you are a New Zealand citizen abroad you can get emergency consular assistance. You can access support for situations like lost or stolen passports, death, health issues and law infringements.
New Zealand cannot influence or guarantee another country or airline’s entry, exit or transit requirements. We also cannot help you book a commercial flight.
The New Zealand borders are closed to almost all travellers. Closed borders helps stop COVID-19 from spreading through our communities. The travel ban applies to all arrivals into New Zealand whether by air or sea.
New Zealand citizens and residents
You have a legal right to come to New Zealand if you’re:
a New Zealand citizen
a New Zealand resident with valid travel conditions.
If you're travelling from a 'very high risk' country
Travel from very high risk countries is temporarily restricted to New Zealand citizens, partners and dependent children of New Zealand citizens, and parents of dependent children who are New Zealand citizens.
The following countries currently meet the threshold of being very high risk: India, Brazil, Papua New Guinea and Pakistan.
Pre-departure testing if you're travelling to New Zealand
If you're travelling to New Zealand, you must have a negative COVID-19 test result before the scheduled departure of your first international flight. Travellers from Antarctica and most Pacific islands do not need to get pre-departure tests..
Travellers from Australia are required to get PCR or RT-PCR tests.
You will need to have had both your COVID-19 sample taken and your result returned no more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure time of your first international departure.
It's important people returning to New Zealand do their part to stop COVID-19 spreading in New Zealand.
Managed isolation or quarantine
If you're returning to New Zealand you legally must complete at least 14 days of managed isolation or quarantine, unless you're arriving under quarantine-free travel. You will also be tested for COVID-19 during your stay in a facility.
The emergency allocation process exists for limited situations that require urgent travel to New Zealand within the next 14 days.
You can apply for an emergency allocation if you cannot book your preferred date in the Managed Isolation Allocation System, and you meet the eligibility criteria.
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.
Many countries around the world have closed their borders and imposed stricter travel restrictions.
Check your options
Travel by air to New Zealand
Commercial flight options are available to return to New Zealand but are limited.
We recommend you contact your airline and other travel providers for the most up-to-date information about flight availability. Contact your travel agent or airline if you are travelling from or transiting through areas affected by border measures.
Travel by sea to New Zealand
Cruise ships continue to be banned from entering New Zealand.
Vessels can enter New Zealand if all aboard are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. There are exceptions for some vessels. This includes cargo ships, fishing vessels unloading catch and ships coming from Antarctica.
If you are a New Zealand citizen abroad you can get emergency consular assistance. You can access support for situations like lost or stolen passports, death, health issues and law infringements.
New Zealand cannot influence or guarantee another country or airline’s entry, exit or transit requirements. We also cannot help you book a commercial flight.
Quarantine-free travel allows you to travel to and enter countries that are participating in a quarantine-free travel arrangement without needing to enter managed isolation or quarantine when you arrive.
Australia
You can travel between Australia and New Zealand without having to enter a managed isolation facility in either destination. The New Zealand Government could pause quarantine-free travel from Australia — make sure you check what is happening before you depart.
You can now travel from the Cook Islands or Niue to New Zealand without having to go into a managed isolation facility.
Quarantine-free travel is available in both directions for the Cook Islands, but just one way for Niue — from Niue to New Zealand. The Government is preparing for quarantine-free travel from New Zealand to Niue, but there is no date for this yet.
When you arrive by air, you will be screened for cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms at the airport.
If you have symptoms or are waiting for the results of a test, you will go to a quarantine facility. Otherwise, you will go to a managed isolation facility.
Both types of facilities are in hotels.
Arriving by sea
When you arrive by sea, you may complete your isolation on your vessel.
New Zealand’s borders are currently closed to almost all travellers to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
On this page
Border entry restrictions
Leaving New Zealand
Transiting through New Zealand
Border entry restrictions
The New Zealand borders are closed for all but critical travel — protecting public health in New Zealand is paramount. The travel ban applies to all arrivals into New Zealand whether by air or sea.
New Zealand citizens and residents
You have a legal right to come home if you are:
a New Zealand citizen
a New Zealand resident with valid travel conditions.
You do not need approval from Immigration New Zealand before travelling.
To help stop the spread of COVID-19, people who do arrive in New Zealand legally must complete at least 14 days of managed isolation or quarantine at an isolation facility. Returnees will also be tested for COVID-19 during their stay.
New Zealand is at COVID-19 alert Level 4, which includes severe restrictions on travel to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in New Zealand by reducing contact between people to the bare minimum and stopping all but essential travel. The restrictions do not apply to workers and operators involved in the delivery of essential goods (as defined in essential services list on the COVID-19 website) by road and rail freight. If there are non-essential goods blocking the movement of essential goods, then the non-essential goods can be moved to storage elsewhere. At this time, the distribution of non-essential goods is not permitted. Restrictions to do not apply to all personnel involved in the movement of freight by ship, internationally and domestically, when undertaking an essential service. This includes the operation of ferries (e.g. the Cook Strait ferries) to move essential freight and essential workers. Non-essential goods at a port be transported, only if: 1)if essential workers are already located at the port for the purpose of dealing with essential goods; and 2) if the movement of non-essential goods at the Port does not impact on the movement of essential goods or the delivery of essential services at the Port; or 3) if the movement of non-essential goods are required to create space for essential goods and the movement of essential goods within the port and across the supply chain. In this instance, the non-essential goods are classified as essential for the purposes of moving them to an alternative storage facility.
New Zealand is taking strong action to contain the spread of Covid-19 and announced measures on 16 March, which require all travelers to New Zealand, with the exception of travelers from specific island countries, to self-isolate for a period of 14 days upon their arrival. This action will help to protect New Zealanders from this pandemic.
However, even as we take action to preserve the health of our nation, New Zealand is taking steps to ensure the continued flow of goods across our borders. To keep sea freight routes open these border measures do not apply to cargo ships or marine crew. We are keeping the border open for international supplies and our customs officers continue to be available to facilitate the timely movement of goods across our border.
The leadership of the WCO at this time is critical in order to mitigate the impacts on supply chains, and to ensure that critical supplies for medical, humanitarian and subsistence needs continue to be available throughout the global community.
