Do Australian citizens need a visa for New Zealand?
No, Australian citizens do not need a visa to enter New Zealand. Unlike travelers from other visa-waiver countries, Australians do not need to apply for a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before their trip. They simply need to meet the standard entry requirements upon arrival.
New Zealand Traveller Declaration for Australians
All travelers, including Australian citizens, must complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) before entering the country.
• The NZTD is a digital form that collects essential travel, customs, immigration, and biosecurity information.
• It must be submitted before reaching passport control in New Zealand.
• The declaration can be completed online or via the NZTD app, and it is free of charge.
• Each traveler, including children, must submit an individual declaration.
What requirements must Australian citizens meet to enter New Zealand?
Although no visa is required, Australian citizens must still meet certain entry conditions to be allowed into New Zealand. These include:
• A valid passport: It must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended departure date.
• Proof of sufficient funds: Travelers must have at least:
- NZD 1,000 per month of stay (per person), or
- NZD 400 per month if accommodation has been prepaid.
• Proof of onward travel: Visitors should have a return ticket or an onward ticket to another country.
Border officers may also conduct character and health checks, particularly for travelers with prior criminal convictions or serious medical conditions that could impact New Zealand’s healthcare system.
What documents do citizens from Australia need to have to enter New Zealand?
Australian citizens should have the following documents when traveling to New Zealand:
1. A valid Australian passport (valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended departure date).
2. A completed New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) submitted online before arrival.
3. Proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay in New Zealand.
4. A return or onward travel ticket (if required by border officials).
Additional documents, such as proof of accommodation, travel itinerary, or an employment contract (for those planning to work), may be requested at the border.
What are the health insurance requirements for Australians to travel to New Zealand?
While health insurance is not mandatory for Australian visitors to New Zealand, it is strongly recommended. To avoid unexpected medical expenses, travelers are advised to purchase travel insurance that covers health-related costs, including hospital stays, medications, and emergency evacuation.
Best places in New Zealand for visitors from Australia
New Zealand is a top destination for Australian travelers, offering a mix of stunning landscapes, adventure sports, and cultural experiences. Some of the best places to visit include:
1. Queenstown – Known as the "Adventure Capital of the World," this destination is perfect for bungee jumping, skiing, and scenic lake cruises.
2. Auckland – A vibrant city with beautiful harbors, cultural attractions, and easy access to nearby islands like Waiheke.
3. Rotorua – Famous for its geothermal activity, Māori cultural experiences, and hot springs.
4. Fiordland National Park – Home to the breathtaking Milford Sound, where visitors can explore fjords, waterfalls, and wildlife.
5. Wellington – The capital city, known for its art scene, Te Papa Museum, and picturesque waterfront.
An individual who intends to travel to and stay in New Zealand as a transit passenger must apply for a transit visa before proceeding to New Zealand, unless this requirement is waived.
Transit is only available at Auckland Airport and transit passengers must remain in the transit area for the duration of their time in New Zealand and no longer than 24 hours. Transit passengers who do not pass through Auckland Airport, or who must leave Auckland Airport's transit area, or who will remain in Auckland Airport's transit area for more than 24 hours, are not eligible to enter New Zealand as a transit passenger and must obtain a Visitor Visa if they are not travelers from visa-free countries.
Transit travelers without visas
From June 20, 2020, the transit visa cancellation applies to, but is not limited to, the following persons:
- A citizen of New Zealand or a holder of a residence class visa;
- An owner of a temporary entry visa;
- A person subject to visa cancellation, but only if he has an electronic transit permit;
- A traveler traveling to or from Australia:
1.A person whose immediate or final destination after transiting through New Zealand is Australia, but only if they hold a valid visa issued by the Australian Government to enter Australia and have a Transit Electronic Permit
2.A person traveling from Australia and having a transit electronic permit;
3.A person whom a representative of the Immigration Service, by special instruction, classified as a person subject to the withdrawal of a transit visa;
4.Citizens of the following countries, but only if they have a transit electronic permit:
Bahamas, Bermuda, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Federated States of Micronesia, Indonesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Thailand Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Venezuela.
Instructions for importing cats and dogs from approved countries:
- Download and read the health standards (IHS) and the IHS guidance document. In the latter, you can find a sample of the veterinary certificate that you need to provide for your cat or dog. It displays all tests, treatment courses and examinations. A separate form can be downloaded at https://www.mpi.govt.nz/bring-send-to-nz/pets-travelling-to-nz/
- Check whether your pet meets all requirements for import into New Zealand. For ease of checking, special checklists have been developed on the MPI website, which you can use to check compliance with all requirements. Your pet must be provided with a special microchip and vaccinated against rabies (only after microchip insertion). He must also pass a blood test no later than 3 months and no earlier than 24 months before the date of importation and undergo treatment for certain parasites 24 to 48 hours before departure;
- Book quarantine at a transit point approved by MPI. A list of such items can be found at https://www.mpi.govt.nz/bring-send-to-nz/pets-travelling-to-nz/. The quarantine period is not less than 10 days. You will need the booking confirmation letter later when submitting your application.
- Apply for an import permit. It takes 20 days to issue such a permit, so you need to apply in advance. Permits are of two types, depending on the country from which the animal is imported. Category 2 – rabies-free countries, category 3 – countries where rabies is absent or under control. For each of these categories, there is a separate application form that can be downloaded from the MPI website.
- Declare medications for the pet if he needs to take any medications while on the road.
- Notify the MPI no later than 72 hours before the arrival of the animal in the New Zealand with the following data:
- Flight number;
- Date and time of arrival
- Name of the carrier and contract number
- Species and breed of pet
- The number of animals in the invoice
- Confirmation of reservation of the quarantine point
- Number of the consignment note (if known)
Restrictions on the import of animals
In addition to cats and dogs, only rabbits and guinea pigs from Australia and chinchillas from Great Britain are allowed into New Zealand.
New Zealand has a unique population of rare and endangered bird species. Therefore, in order to avoid the introduction of bird diseases into the country, the importation of birds into the territory of New Zealand is prohibited until all risks are studied and health standards are developed.
New Zealand Customs may ask for a return ticket, cash, traveller's checks or credit cards.
What can be transported to New Zealand by plane?
Firstly, the import of national and foreign currency is not limited. But the declaration is mandatory if the amount exceeds NZD 10,000. Secondly, you can transport fruits, vegetables, wood products, plants and seeds. But know that they are subject to inspection.
Citizens over the age of 17 can import up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars duty-free. Goods for personal consumption worth up to 700 NZD are also carried duty-free.
What is prohibited from import to New Zealand:
- Drugs, weapons (but if special permission from the New Zealand police has been obtained in advance, firearms and cold weapons can be imported with mandatory customs declaration)
- Beekeeping products
- Food for domestic animals
- Ivory in any form, tortoise shell products, marine animal bones and tusks, horns and skin
- A number of diuretics, hypnotics and sedatives, cardiac preparations, tranquilizers, all types of vaccines, medicines for the manufacture of which musk is used, if their necessity is not confirmed by the relevant medical prescriptions
What is prohibited from export from New Zealand:
- Samples of plants and animals that are under state protection
- Leather, bone, bird feathers, coral, and shell products
- Meat and sausage products in both directions
New Zealand