New Zealand Customs Regulations
Import & export rules, duty-free allowances, prohibited items, and traveler health advisory
Import Regulations
200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco or 50 cigars or a mixture of all three weighing not more than 250 grams
4.5 litres of wine or 4.5 litres of beer
three bottles (or other containers) each containing not more than 1,125ml of spirits, liqueur, or other spirituous beverages
- Cigarettes, cigars, and tobacco allowance:
- 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco or 50 cigars or a mixture of all three weighing not more than 250 grams
- Alcoholic beverages allowances:
- 4.5 litres of wine or 4.5 litres of beer
- three bottles (or other containers) each containing not more than 1,125ml of spirits, liqueur, or other spirituous beverages
- Weapons
- Dogs breeds are prohibited
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- Brazilian Fila
- Dogo Argentino
- Japanese Tosa
- Objectionable publications - A publication is objectionable if it describes, depicts, expresses, or otherwise deals with matters such as sex, horror, crime, cruelty, or violence in such a manner that the availability of the publication is likely to be injurious to the public good.
- Hookah pipes, water pipes and smoking utensils
- Cash or bearer-negotiable instrument total value involved is NZ$10,000 or more (or foreign equivalent) need to be declared on a Border Cash Report upon arrival.
- Medicines that contain bear, tiger, turtle, musk, Aucklandia root, etc
- Elephant ivory – jewellery, carvings, tusks, etc
- Any whale/cetacean items, such as whalebone carvings, dolphin teeth
- Any item made from marine turtle meat or marine turtle shell
- Many big game hunting trophies
- Some orchids and cycads.
Export Regulations
If clearance has not been obtained prior to travel, the goods will be held until a clearance has been arranged
Medicines that contain bear, tiger, turtle, musk, Aucklandia root, etc
Elephant ivory – jewellery, carvings, tusks, etc
Any whale/cetacean items, such as whalebone carvings, dolphin teeth, etc
Any item made from marine turtle meat or marine turtle shell
Medicines that contain orchids, seahorse, ginseng, etc
Many types of coral – even those you pick up on the beach
Plants such as cacti, some orchids, cyclamens, and carnivorous plants
Many reptile items, such as boa/python skins, cobra wine, etc
- No information available
- No information available
- Cash or bearer-negotiable instrument total value involved is NZ$10,000 or more (or foreign equivalent) need to be declared on a Border Cash report when leaving. False, misleading or non-reporting of cash may result in the forfeiture and seizure of the cash.
- Customs clearance is required for the importation and exportation of all commercial goods whether you hand-carry them, send them as unaccompanied luggage, or send them separately by air or sea. All commercial exports must have the clearance completed prior to departure. Commercial imports may have the Customs clearance completed either before or after arrival.
- If clearance has not been obtained prior to travel, the goods will be held until a clearance has been arranged
- Goods that require export permits
- Medicines that contain bear, tiger, turtle, musk, Aucklandia root, etc
- Any whale/cetacean items, such as whalebone carvings, dolphin teeth, etc
- Any item made from marine turtle meat or marine turtle shell
- Plants such as cacti, some orchids, cyclamens, and carnivorous plants
- Many reptile items, such as boa/python skins, cobra wine, etc
Health & Security
Basic health information for travelers to New Zealand
Basic security information for travelers to New Zealand
🩺 Basic Health Information for Travelers to New Zealand
- Vaccination against Yellow Fever is required if arriving within 6 days after leaving or transiting countries with infected areas. Exempt from Yellow Fever vaccination are those not leaving the airport in the infected countries concerned.
🛡 Basic Security Information for Travelers to New Zealand
- Don’t carry goods for other people, if you do and the goods are prohibited or restricted, you will be held responsible. Arrange for sufficient medicines to meet your personal medical needs. Check with the embassy of the country you are visiting to ensure your medicine is legal there. Obtain a doctor's letter stating who the medicines are for, what they are, the dosage, and leave medicines in their original packaging.
Contact Information
For further assistance please contact the New Zealand Customs authorities directly. They will provide the latest information about customs regulations and export-import procedures.