Before travelling to New Zealand, many visitors focus on their visa or NZeTA but may overlook another important arrival requirement: the New Zealand Traveller Declaration, also known as the NZTD.

The NZTD helps collect key travel, customs, and biosecurity information before travelers arrive in New Zealand. Completing it correctly can help reduce confusion and avoid unnecessary delays during the arrival process.

Understanding the New Zealand Traveller Declaration

The New Zealand Traveller Declaration helps travelers prepare key arrival information before entering New Zealand. Completing it correctly can help reduce confusion and avoid unnecessary delays during the arrival process.

1. What Is the New Zealand Traveller Declaration?

The New Zealand Traveller Declaration is an online declaration that travelers complete before arriving in New Zealand. It collects information about your passport, travel itinerary, arrival method, customs details, and biosecurity declaration. The NZTD supports New Zealand’s border entry process and helps authorities review important arrival details before travelers enter the country.

The NZTD is an online form that travelers complete before arriving in New Zealand

2. NZTD vs Visa or NZeTA

The NZTD is not a visa and does not replace a valid New Zealand visa or NZeTA.

A visa or NZeTA is related to travel permission, depending on your nationality and travel purpose. The NZTD is an arrival declaration that provides travel, customs, and biosecurity information before you enter New Zealand.

In simple terms:

• Visa or NZeTA: travel permission
• NZTD: arrival declaration
• Both may be required, depending on your situation

3. Who Needs to Complete the NZTD?

Most travelers entering New Zealand need to complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration before arrival.

This may include:

• International visitors
• Travelers holding a New Zealand visa or NZeTA
• New Zealand citizens and residents returning to New Zealand
• Children and babies
• Travelers arriving by air or by sea

Each traveler must have their own declaration, even when traveling as a family or group.

4. Who Does Not Need to Complete It?

Some travelers may not need to complete the NZTD.

Air travelers who are only transiting through New Zealand and remain in the airport transit area do not need to complete a declaration. Travelers who arrive in New Zealand unexpectedly due to an emergency may also not need one. This may include people who arrive after being medically evacuated, rescued at sea, or temporarily diverted because of weather conditions.

The New Zealand Traveller Declaration is not a visa and does not replace a New Zealand visa or NZeTA

When and How to Complete the NZTD

The NZTD should be completed carefully because the required information must match your passport and travel itinerary. Travelers should also pay close attention to the submission time, especially because the timing is different for air and sea arrivals.

1. When to Submit the NZTD

The correct submission time depends on how you arrive in New Zealand.

• For travelers arriving by air, the NZTD can be submitted from 24 hours before starting the trip to New Zealand.
• For travelers arriving by sea, the NZTD can be submitted from 24 hours before departing the last foreign port before arriving in New Zealand. 

Submitting within the correct time window helps reduce the risk of last-minute issues before arrival.

2. Information Required for the NZTD

Travelers should prepare accurate information before completing the declaration. The NZTD may require:

• Passport details
• Personal information as shown on the passport
• Travel method, such as arrival by air or by sea
• Flight, cruise, yacht, or vessel details
• Contact information
• Address or accommodation in New Zealand
• Travel and arrival details
• Customs information
• Biosecurity declaration information

Incorrect passport details, wrong travel information, or incomplete answers may cause delays during the arrival process.

3. Biosecurity Declaration Information

The biosecurity section is one of the most important parts of the New Zealand Traveller Declaration. New Zealand has strict biosecurity requirements at the border to keep out harmful pests and diseases. These requirements help protect New Zealand’s unique environment, economy, and way of life. Travelers may need to declare certain items, especially those that could carry biosecurity risks, such as:

• Food, plants, wooden products, soil, water, outdoor equipment, and animal products.
• Products from endangered animal or plant species.

Travelers should declare any item they are unsure about. Failing to declare biosecurity risk items may result in delays, inspection, fines, or other penalties. This section is especially important because many travelers make mistakes by forgetting items in checked luggage, carry-on bags, backpacks, or personal belongings.

4. Group or Family Declarations

If you are traveling as a family or group, each person still needs a separate New Zealand Traveller Declaration. This includes:

• Adults
• Children
• Babies
• Elderly travelers
• Group members traveling under the same itinerary

Parents, guardians, or caregivers may complete the declaration on behalf of children or babies they are traveling with. However, each traveler must still have their own individual declaration. A group booking or family itinerary does not mean one declaration is enough for everyone.

How to Submit the New Zealand Traveller Declaration

Travelers can submit the NZTD directly by themselves or choose optional support if they are applying for a New Zealand eVisa through our platform.

1. Submit Through the Official NZTD Website

Travelers may complete the declaration directly through the official New Zealand Traveller Declaration website or app.

Step 1: Start your declaration
Visit the official NZTD website or app and start a new declaration.

Step 2: Enter your details
Fill in your passport, personal, travel, and contact information.

Step 3: Answer customs and biosecurity questions
Declare items such as food, plant or animal products, outdoor gear, medicines, or restricted goods.

Step 4: Review and submit
Check all information carefully, then submit your declaration.

Step 5: Keep your confirmation
After submission, keep the confirmation email or details for your arrival in New Zealand.

The official NZTD is free to submit. This option is suitable for travelers who are comfortable managing the declaration process by themselves.

2. Optional NZTD Support Through Our Travel Assistance Service

Travelers who apply for a New Zealand eVisa through our platform may choose optional support for the New Zealand Traveller Declaration. We are an independent travel assistance provider and are not affiliated with the New Zealand Government or the official NZTD website. Travelers may submit the NZTD directly through the official NZTD website or app for free.

This support service costs USD 39. This is not a government fee. The official NZTD is free to submit, and the USD 39 fee is our service fee for assisting travelers with the declaration process.

With this optional service, travelers do not need to monitor the correct NZTD submission window themselves. Based on the itinerary provided during the eVisa application, our team helps prepare and submit the declaration at the appropriate time.

Our support may include:

• Checking the correct submission time based on your travel schedule
• Preparing the declaration using information already provided during your eVisa application
• Reducing the need to complete another separate form
• Assisting with passport, travel, and arrival details
• Helping with NZTD-related questions
• Providing 24/7 customer support

This service is designed for travelers who want a more convenient arrival preparation process after applying for a New Zealand eVisa through our platform.

FAQs 

1. Is the New Zealand Traveller Declaration the same as a visa?

No. The New Zealand Traveller Declaration is not a visa and does not replace a New Zealand visa or NZeTA. It is an arrival declaration used to provide travel, customs, and biosecurity information before entering New Zealand.

2. Is the New Zealand Traveller Declaration free?

Yes. The official NZTD is free to submit. If travelers use optional support through our service, a separate service fee may apply.

3. When should I complete the NZTD?

If you arrive by air, you can submit it from 24 hours before starting your trip to New Zealand. If you arrive by sea, you can submit it from 24 hours before leaving the last foreign port before arriving in New Zealand.

4. Does each family member need a separate NZTD?

Yes. Each traveler needs their own declaration, including babies and children. Parents or caregivers can complete a declaration on behalf of children they are traveling with.

5. What happens if I make a mistake on my NZTD?

You should update your declaration or submit a corrected declaration before arrival, depending on the option available in the NZTD system. Incorrect passport, travel, customs, or biosecurity details may cause delays when entering New Zealand.