Arriving in New Zealand: Airport Customs, Biosecurity & the Arrival Process [2023]

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Which New Zealand Airport to Arrive at

New Zealand has 62 airports, but with some airports offering international flights all around the world, some linking with Australia, and others only connecting domestically, you’re going to want to know which New Zealand airports to arrive at.

Auckland International Airport (AKL) is by far the largest and most well-connected New Zealand airport. It is the airport most choose to arrive at for a cheap arrival destination in New Zealand or on the North Island. Learn more about specifically arriving in New Zealand via Auckland in our guide, Arriving at Auckland Airport, New Zealand.

Christchurch International Airport (CHC) is another popular international airport, particularly for those wishing to land on the South Island.

Finally, those travelling from or with flight connections in Australia can choose to arrive at Queenstown (ZQN) or Dunedin (DUD) on the South Island or Wellington (WLG) on the North Island.

For much more details on the arrival airports, take a look at our guide on Which Airport to Arrive at in New Zealand.

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Packing for New Zealand

If you pack right for New Zealand, then you won’t have to do any last-minute scrambling to clean your hiking shoes at the airport or risk getting something you’ve packed sent for biosecurity treatment. What you bring (or don’t bring) with you into New Zealand is extremely important due to the strict biosecurity rules.

What You Can’t Bring into New Zealand

While there are some items that are prohibited from being brought into New Zealand, there are other items that must be declared so that customs officers can inspect them and decide whether they are safe to be in New Zealand. We’ll talk about how to declare items in the section below. For now, here is what you can’t pack in your luggage to New Zealand.

• Certain types of food – including fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh meat or fish, honey and bee products.
• hazardous materials
• endangered species (without a permit)
• weapons (without a permit)
• objectionable publications – including videos and digital images
• controlled drugs (without evidence that they are lawfully prescribed to you).

A full list of prohibited items can be found on the New Zealand Customs website.

Cleaning Your Gear for Arrival in New Zealand

Other items you might want to bring to New Zealand could be considered as “risk items” by New Zealand Customs. This doesn’t mean that they will automatically confiscate these items from you, but you must declare them for the Customs officers to inspect the item or ask questions about them. Some of those risk items that you are likely to pack for a trip to New Zealand are “Equipment used with animals, plants or water” and “Items that have been used for outdoor or farming activities”. These items must be clean in order for you to bring them into New Zealand, so clean up these items before you pack them.

For More Packing Advice for New Zealand See…

• New Zealand Packing List: What to Pack for New Zealand
• What to Pack in Your Carry-On for New Zealand
• The Ultimate Packing List for an Extended Trip in New Zealand.

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The New Zealand Traveller Declaration

You’ve packed your bag like a boss, avoiding any prohibited items, and are ready to declare any restricted items. You have a visa for New Zealand and your passport and you’re on your flight to New Zealand.

During your flight, you will be given a New Zealand Traveller Declaration, formerly known as the Passenger Arrival Card. Alternatively, you can complete the form online up to 24 hours before travelling. This is a legal document that you must complete and hand to Customs once you arrive at a New Zealand airport. The Traveller Declaration is the first case where you will declare any risk items. You will also have to fill out some personal details, your intentions in New Zealand, list any other countries you have recently been to, circle what type of visa you have, as well as some quick character questions.

Get familiar with the document by taking a look at a copy of the New Zealand Traveller Declaration. As you will see, the document is mostly easy “yes” or “no” questions.

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Exiting the Plane and Duty-Free Shopping

Wahoo! You’ve landed in New Zealand! Once you have exited the plane, you have the opportunity to do a little bit of duty-free shopping if landing at Auckland International Airport (duty-free shopping may come later if landing at another international airport in New Zealand).

Grab a bargain without the GST tax on goods but remember to stick to the duty-free allowance for New Zealand. This will be checked once you go through the next stages of the New Zealand airport arrival process.

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Passport Control

Passport Control comes in the form of an Immigration Officer or by using the eGate.

Using the eGate

The eGate is the fastest way to pass through New Zealand Passport Control. You can use the eGate if you have an e-passport from one of the following countries. Otherwise, you will have to do it the old-fashioned way and see an Immigration Officer.

• New Zealand
• Australia
• UK
• US
• Canada
• China (excluding Hong Kong)
• France
• Germany
• Ireland
• Netherlands
• Singapore
• Japan
• South Korea.

If you have any issues at the eGate, just see an Immigration Officer instead.

Declaring Items and the Passenger Arrival Card

If you are passing Passport Control via an Immigration Officer the Immigration Officer will inspect your passport, visa and your Passenger Arrival Card. They will also ask you if you have anything to declare. You must tell them if you have any risk items in any of your luggage – basically, anything that was listed on the Passenger Arrival Card that you answered “Yes” to. Failing to declare an item or falsely declaring something may incur an instant NZ$400 fine. If you are unsure whether to declare something, there is no harm in declaring it anyway.

See the section below and/or What Do You Need to Declare When Arriving in New Zealand? to see a list of items that you need to declare.

Other Questions You Might Be Asked at Passport Control

On top of questions about what you are bringing into New Zealand, the Immigration Officer may ask some more questions concerning your visa or your intentions in New Zealand. This is not always the case, but it’s best to be prepared.

Questions might include:

• What is the purpose of your trip? Basically say what your visa is: working holiday, visitor, etc.
• Do you have a return ticket or sufficient funds for a return ticket? Show the appropriate evidence, such as a hard copy of a recent bank statement or outward travel ticket.
• Do you have sufficient funds required for your visa? Show the appropriate evidence, such as a hard copy of a recent bank statement.
• Do you have any contacts in the country? Give contact details if you know anyone in the country. If you don’t have a contact, no worries.
• Where are you going to be staying for the first few days? Have the address of your first accommodation on hand.
• Where was your last destination? State your home country or the last country you visited, if you are not coming straight from home.
• Have you visited New Zealand before?
• Do you have any food with you? If you do, give details to the Immigration Officer.
• How much cash do you have on you today? If you have NZ$10,000+ or the foreign equivalent, then you’ll have to go through a Border Cash Report.

What Happens Next

At New Zealand Passport Control, the Immigration Officer may write a couple of notes on your Passenger Arrival Card before returning it to you. You will need your Passenger Arrival Card to pass through Customs & Biosecurity.

The Immigration Officer will also put an entry stamp into your passport and a visa stamp, if applicable. Then you will be free to pass through to the Baggage Claim area.

Did We Miss Anything?

Then take a look at Arrival Advice: Passport Control and Immigration for more details on this process.

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New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity

After you have picked up your luggage from the Baggage Claim area, you will need to pass through New Zealand Customs. Again, you will be asked if you have anything to declare. Go through the same procedure mentioned above. If you’re unsure about anything, then declare it anyway.

What Items You Have to Declare When Arriving in New Zealand

• Any food
• Animals or animal products including food, souvenirs with animal products on, raw wool, etc
• Plants or plant products including nuts, seeds, medicinal products, etc
• Other biosecurity risk items including animal medicines, biological cultures, organisms, soil or water
• Equipment used with animals, plants or water
• Items that have been used for outdoor or farming activities
• Alcohol and tobacco over the duty-free allowance
• Prescription medicines
• More than NZ$10,000 in cash
• More than NZ$700 worth of goods – not including your clothes, toiletries, etc.

More information can be found on this in What Do You Need to Declare When Arriving in New Zealand?

What Happens if You Have Any Risk Items?

A Quarantine Officer will inspect the item. If they decide the item poses no risk, you may bring it into the country. Alternatively, the item may be taken for treatment at a private treatment company. You will be able to collect your treated items at a later date.

If the Quarantine Officer decides that the item does pose a risk, then it will be confiscated and destroyed.

What Happens Next at Customs and Biosecurity

Once you have talked to a Customs or Quarantine Officer, you will put your luggage through an X-ray. There will also be detector dogs “sniffing” out any undeclared items. If a risk item is found in your luggage which you did not declare, you will be given an instant NZ$400 fine and that item will be confiscated.

Did We Miss Anything?

Then take a look at Arrival Advice: Biosecurity and Customs in New Zealand for more details on this process.

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Airport Transfers

It’s time to start exploring New Zealand! You have plenty of options when it comes to airport transfers from New Zealand’s international airports. All of the international airports have public bus services, taxis, Uber services and door-to-door shuttle services run by Super Shuttle. In addition, Auckland Airport is serviced by SkyDrive; a bus company running between the airport and the city centre, and independent shuttle companies. Find the best transfer for you in the Cheapest Airport Transfer Options for Auckland Airport.

All of New Zealand’s international airports are nearby car and campervan rental depots where many rental companies offer pick-up from the airport. Find out more about rental companies offering airport pick-up in The Best Car Rental Companies in New Zealand and The Best Campervan Rental Companies in New Zealand.