A Guide to the NZ Passenger Arrival Card & Traveller Declaration [2023]

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How to Complete the Passenger Arrival Card

Part of your in-flight entertainment on your flight to New Zealand is filling out the Passenger Arrival Card for New Zealand. The card/form will be handed out to you by the flight crew during your flight (the final leg of your journey that ends in New Zealand). Once you have filled out the card, keep a hold of it so you can hand it to Passport Control and Customs.

Take a look at the form in the section below to familiarise yourself with what information you’ll need to complete it. Your passport and boarding pass will come in handy for this.

What Does the New Zealand Passenger Arrival Card Look Like?

© New Zealand Government

© New Zealand Government

© New Zealand Government

© New Zealand Government

How to Complete the New Zealand Passenger Arrival Card?

Want more? In the video above, Robin fills up the Passenger Arrival Card for New Zealand so you know what to expect. Note that the “COVID-19” section of the Passenger Arrival Card mentioned in this video is no longer applicable.

© NZPocketGuide.com

8 Tips for Filling Out the Passenger Arrival Card for New Zealand

Here are the answers to the most common questions asked about the Passenger Arrival Card for New Zealand.

1. Bring a pen with you! Just in case you don’t get one given to you on the plane.
2. In Section 1 for “occupation or job” simply put unemployed, if you do not have one.
3. In Section 1 for “full contact or residential address” put the name of your first accommodation if you know it. If not, leave it blank.
4. Do not answer Section 2a, if you are not from New Zealand.
5. In Section 2b, tick the “holiday/vacation” option even if you are doing a working holiday or backpacking in New Zealand.
6. One of the most important parts of the card is the declaration Sections 5 and 6. If you don’t declare something that you should have declared, you will face a hefty fine. If in doubt, declare it! If you have sports and outdoors equipment, make sure they are clean before you pack them. Get more information on this in What Do You Need to Declare When Arriving in New Zealand?
7. In Section 8, if you are from a visa-waiver country, meaning that you automatically get a visitor visa when you enter New Zealand, circle “Yes” to “I do not hold a visa I am applying for a visitor visa on arrival”. Note that the NZeTA is not a visa.
8. Lastly, keep this card with your passport, as you will need to hand the card in at Customs then again to Biosecurity. Learn about that process in Arrival Advice: Passport Control and Immigration and Arrival Advice: Biosecurity & Customs in New Zealand.

© New Zealand Government

[UPDATE] The New Zealand Traveller Declaration Form

From Thursday 20 October 2022, travellers flying to New Zealand by air do not need to complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration.

If you have already completed a Traveller Declaration for travel after Thursday 20 October 2022, you will not be required to present your Traveller Pass on arrival into New Zealand.

Due to the announcement that aspects of the New Zealand Traveller Declaration will evolve and replace the New Zealand paper arrival card next year, we have left the information required by travellers for the old Traveller Declaration process, should you need to refer to it. Otherwise, we will update this page once the new Traveller Declaration process has been established.

Below is a guide to completing the New Zealand Traveller Declaration, which is a requirement for those travelling to New Zealand by air.

When Do I Need to Complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration Form?

Anyone travelling to New Zealand by plane must complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration Form before your flight to New Zealand. You can begin completing the form 28 days before departure, once you have booked your flight. The processing centre for New Zealand Travellers Declaration Forms is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week where applications are processed based on the departure time of flights. In other words, forms are processed quickly.

Note that there is a saving feature on the online application. After saving an unfinished declaration, a code will be emailed to you so you can access your application in future. The form typically takes up to 40 minutes to complete from scratch.

Where Can I Find the New Zealand Traveller Declaration Form?

The online form can be found at travellerdeclaration.govt.nz.

What Do I Need to Complete the NZ Traveller Declaration Form?

• Your passport number
• Your first international airport of departure
• The date and time of your first international flight
• The date you will arrive in New Zealand
• The flight number of your flight into New Zealand
• A list of the countries you have visited in the previous 14 days before arrival in New Zealand
• Your contact details while in New Zealand (used for contact tracing while in NZ)
• Details of your emergency contact (they don’t have to be in New Zealand)
• An email address.

What Proof of Vaccination Do I Need to Enter New Zealand?

You no longer need proof of vaccination to enter New Zealand.

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The New Zealand Traveller Pass: What Happens After You Apply

After you have submitted a complete New Zealand Traveller Declaration Form, you should soon receive an email with the decision on your declaration.

If your declaration is approved, you will be issued a Traveller Pass, which will give you instructions on what you need to do when you arrive in New Zealand, such as self-testing, for example. Note, it is no longer mandatory to provide COVID tests on arrival in New Zealand, however, it is encouraged. Find more information at covid19.govt.nz.

Your Traveller Pass contains a QR code unique to you. Either print out the QR code or have it available on your phone to show on check-in at the airport and to New Zealand Customs on arrival.

If there is an issue with your declaration, then you will receive an email outlining the issue and asking you to correct the issue and resubmit the declaration.