Official System: New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD / Whakapuakanga Tangata Haere ki Aotearoa)
2026 Quick Answer
Every traveler (including New Zealand citizens, New Zealand permanent residents, Australian citizens, foreign visa/NZeTA holders, infants, and children of all ages) entering New Zealand by air or commercial maritime vessel. Travelers must submit the New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD / Whakapuakanga Tangata Haere ki Aotearoa) (From 24 hours before departing for New Zealand (up to 2 days before arrival date)). This digital declaration replaces: Paper New Zealand Passenger Arrival Card.
Follow this exact countdown schedule before arriving in New Zealand so your QR code is ready prior to airline check-in.
| Timing Before Arrival | Window Status | Required Traveler Action |
|---|---|---|
| Before 2-day official window | Too Early | Prepare your passport and itinerary, or pre-submit early with NomadicMart (from $29) so our queue files automatically as soon as the window opens. |
| From 24 hours before departing for New Zealand (up to 2 days before arrival date) | Window Open | Ideal submission window. Complete your New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD / Whakapuakanga Tangata Haere ki Aotearoa) with passport, transport, and accommodation details to receive your digital confirmation. |
| 24 hours to 3 hours before departure | Priority Window | Submit immediately before airline check-in closes and save a screenshot or PDF of your NZTD confirmation offline. |
| At departure gate / New Zealand arrival | Final Cutoff | Airlines and border control officers verify NZTD completion prior to boarding or at the port of entry. |
Compliance tip: Jointly administered by the New Zealand Customs Service (Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa), Ministry for Primary Industries / Biosecurity New Zealand (Manatū Ahu Matua), Immigration New Zealand (MBIE), and Ministry of Health under the Customs and Excise Act 2018, Biosecurity Act 1993, and Immigration Act 2009.
Compliance tip: The NZTD API strictly validates that `arrivalDate` falls between 1 day in the past (`today - 1` for time-zone differences) and 2 days in the future (`today + 2`), matching the official rule to submit within 24 hours before departing on the flight to New Zealand.
Compliance tip: Strictly 1 declaration per person (`1 declaration = 1 passport`). Unlike Australia or Japan, children and infants cannot be bundled onto a parent's NZTD—a separate declaration must be submitted for each child using the 'Completing for someone else' (`/privacy-onbehalf`) flow.
Compliance tip: Upon submission (`POST /api/declarations/{id}/submit`), the NZTD is electronically linked to the traveler's passport number and a 7-character alphanumeric Reference Number is issued—no physical printout is required when scanning an ePassport at New Zealand eGates.
Eligible Passports: Available at Auckland (AKL), Christchurch (CHC), Wellington (WLG), and Queenstown (ZQN) airports for ePassport holders aged 10 years and older from NZL, AUS, GBR, USA, CAN, SGP, JPN, KOR, CHN,FRA, DEU, NLD, IRL, CHE, SWE, AUT, BEL, DNK, ESP, FIN, ITA, LUX, MLT, NOR, PRT, and other eligible countries. Your submitted NZTD links automatically to your eGate scan.
How Airport Clearance Works: Available at Auckland (AKL), Christchurch (CHC), Wellington (WLG), and Queenstown (ZQN) airports for ePassport holders aged 10 years and older from NZL, AUS, GBR, USA, CAN, SGP, JPN, KOR, CHN,FRA, DEU, NLD, IRL, CHE, SWE, AUT, BEL, DNK, ESP, FIN, ITA, LUX, MLT, NOR, PRT, and other eligible countries. Your submitted NZTD links automatically to your eGate scan.
| Code | Port of Entry | Mode | 2026 Operational Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZAA | Auckland International Airport (NZAA / AKL) | Air | Supports electronic NZTD linkage and eGates for eligible ePassports aged 10+ |
| NZCH | Christchurch International Airport (NZCH / CHC) | Air | Supports electronic NZTD linkage and eGates for eligible ePassports aged 10+ |
| NZWN | Wellington International Airport (NZWN / WLG) | Air | Supports electronic NZTD linkage and eGates for eligible ePassports aged 10+ |
| NZQN | Queenstown International Airport (NZQN / ZQN) | Air | Supports electronic NZTD linkage and eGates for eligible ePassports aged 10+ |
| NZDN | Dunedin (NZDN / DUD) & Hamilton (NZHN / HLZ) International Airports | Air | Supports digital NZTD clearance via passport scan |
| NZAKL | Auckland (NZAKL), Tauranga (NZTRG), Wellington (NZWLG), Lyttelton/Christchurch (NZLYT), Port Chalmers/Dunedin (NZPOE), Napier (NZNPE), Nelson (NZNSN), Picton (NZPCN), Bay of Islands/Opua (NZOUP), Whangarei (NZWRE), New Plymouth (NZNPL), Timaru (NZTIU) & Bluff (NZBLU) Seaports | Sea | All 13 designated New Zealand maritime ports support digital NZTD declarations (`methodOfArrival = sea`) |
Complete a separate declaration for each traveler (including children and infants) once your New Zealand arrival date is within 2 days. Enter your passport, flight/ship, 30-day travel history, and Biosecurity & Customs declarations.
Your approved New Zealand Traveller Declaration is immediately linked electronically to your passport number, and a 7-character Reference Number confirmation is sent to your email.
Upon landing at Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, or Queenstown (or regional ports), scan your ePassport at the eGate—your NZTD is verified automatically without needing paper forms.
Regional & Border Corridor Advisory (Asia-Pacific):
Jointly administered by the New Zealand Customs Service (Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa), Ministry for Primary Industries / Biosecurity New Zealand (Manatū Ahu Matua), Immigration New Zealand (MBIE), and Ministry of Health under the Customs and Excise Act 2018, Biosecurity Act 1993, and Immigration Act 2009. The NZTD API strictly validates that `arrivalDate` falls between 1 day in the past (`today - 1` for time-zone differences) and 2 days in the future (`today + 2`), matching the official rule to submit within 24 hours before departing on the flight to New Zealand. Strictly 1 declaration per person (`1 declaration = 1 passport`). Unlike Australia or Japan, children and infants cannot be bundled onto a parent's NZTD—a separate declaration must be submitted for each child using the 'Completing for someone else' (`/privacy-onbehalf`) flow. Upon submission (`POST /api/declarations/{id}/submit`), the NZTD is electronically linked to the traveler's passport number and a 7-character alphanumeric Reference Number is issued—no physical printout is required when scanning an ePassport at New Zealand eGates. New Zealand citizens (`nationality === 'NZL'`) and Sovereign/Head-of-State passport holders skip the Immigration Status & Character step (`immigration-status`), while all other nationalities must answer the visa/NZeTA, medical treatment, deportation, and imprisonment questions. Biosecurity New Zealand enforces a strict-liability instant NZ$400 infringement fine (and prosecution up to NZ$100,000 or 5 years imprisonment) for failing to declare food, fruit, honey, animal/plant products, or soiled outdoor/camping gear across the 7 Biosecurity questions (`bringingAnyFood` through `beenInWildernessAreas`).
You can submit the NZTD starting 24 hours before you depart on your flight to New Zealand—specifically once your scheduled New Zealand arrival date is within 2 calendar days.
No. Unlike some countries, New Zealand requires a separate declaration for every single traveler, including babies and young children. Parents complete a separate declaration on behalf of each child.
Yes. Every person entering New Zealand—including New Zealand citizens, New Zealand residents, and Australian citizens—must submit an NZTD to declare biosecurity and customs items.
Travelers aged 17+ may bring in duty-free up to 3 bottles of spirits/liqueurs (up to 1.125L each) AND 4.5 liters of wine or beer (6 bottles), plus up to 50 cigarettes (or 50g of tobacco/cigars). Other overseas or duty-free goods are exempt up to a combined value of NZ$700.
To protect New Zealand's agricultural ecosystem from pests and diseases, Biosecurity New Zealand enforces a strict-liability instant NZ$400 fine if you fail to declare any food (even airline snacks or fruit), honey, wooden items, or soiled hiking/camping equipment. If you declare the item on your NZTD, you will not be fined.