Before you travel

• Check it every time BEFORE you travel.
  • Your passport is the second most important thing, after your ticket. If your passport is damaged or close to expiring you may not be allowed to enter some countries.
• Check the expiry date on your passport
  • The expiry date is clearly shown on the photo page inside the front of your passport.
  • If you are planning to travel and your passport is due to expire in less than a year, you may need to renew your passport. Some countries require that your passport has at least 6 months validity remaining after your intended departure date from that country. For more information contact the embassies of the countries you are intending to travel to.
• Check you have enough empty visa pages
  • If you’re a frequent traveller your passport will have been stamped numerous times as you entered and left various destinations around the world. If your passport does not have at least 1 empty visa page, or pages with enough room for a Customs or border protection officer to place a stamp you may be refused entry and your travel could be delayed.
• Check your passport is not damaged
  • Damage to your passport may affect the photograph and the performance of the security chip that contains your personal information. If your passport is water damaged, ripped, or it’s in a generally bad condition you may be refused permission to enter a country.

Off to Australia? Here’s some information you need to know

If you’re taking a trip, going for work, or moving to Australia for the long-term, as a New Zealand citizen and passport holder you can take advantage of the close relationship between the two countries. Agreements are in place that allows New Zealanders easier entry into Australia.

Getting through Australian passport control faster

If you currently hold an e-Passport (any New Zealand passport issued since November 2005), you will be able to use SmartGate when you arrive at most international airports in Australia.

SmartGate is currently available for New Zealand and Australian e-Passport holders arriving at most international airports in Australia and in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch international airports from any destination. SmartGate is also available if you are departing from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch international airports to any destination.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Visa and other entry and exit conditions change regularly. Contact the Australian High Commission well in advance of your travel, for the most up to date information.

Going for a short trip?

New Zealanders making short term visits to Australia should get comprehensive travel insurance to cover non-emergency health care costs, including ambulance costs and travel back home to New Zealand.

If you receive payments from Work and Income

If you receive any form of income support, from Work and Income, including New Zealand Superannuation or a Veteran’s Pension you should contact Work and Income in New Zealand before you travel overseas.  Even a small trip may affect your entitlement and payments.

Staying and living in Australia long-term

You should apply for a Medicare card, which will give you access to Australian healthcare, including reduced costs for doctor’s visits and medical prescriptions. For more information go to medicareaustralia.gov.au.

Permanent residency in Australia

Having permanent residency in Australia means you are then eligible to receive the full range of Australian social security benefits including unemployment or sickness benefits.

• Information about permanent residency in Australia at immi.gov.au.
• Go to centrelink.gov.au to learn about payments and social security administered by CentreLink (the Australian equivalent of Work and Income).

Find out about the specific travel requirements for New Zealanders travelling to or through the United States

If you are visiting the United States, or just passing through on your way to your next destination, New Zealand passport holders need to meet certain requirements.

Online registration of travellers is required 72 hours before you travel

New Zealanders travelling to the United States without a visa must obtain online authorisation to travel at least 72 hours before departure. This process became mandatory from 12 January 2009.

The Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) assists in determining eligibility to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). New Zealand is one of over 30 countries included in the programme, which allows visitors for tourism or business to spend up to 90 days in the United States.

If you are travelling on a certificate of identity, a refugee travel document or an emergency travel document, contact the nearest United States Consulate or Embassy as a visa may be required for entry and travel within the United States.

You can apply at any time prior to travel; however, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommends that applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel. In most cases you will receive a response within seconds.

ESTA checklist

• complete an online application form at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html. (The ESTA registration system is a website run by the United States Government, and is not associated with the New Zealand Passport office, or the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs).
• you will need to provide your personal details, passport information, the airline you are booked on and other details.
• ESTA permits are valid, unless revoked, for up to 2 years or until your New Zealand passport expires, whichever comes first.
• ESTA permits can be used for multiple entries into the United States.

An approved travel authorisation via ESTA is not a guarantee you will be allowed into the United States at a port of entry. ESTA approval only authorises you to board a carrier for travel to the United States without first having applied for a visa.

To learn more about ESTA visit https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/esta

Pay or stay. It’s your choice.

Unpaid fines could stop you travelling. Your passport will be checked as you attempt to leave New Zealand and your name will be checked against information held by the Ministry of Justice.

Travelling in the next 48 hours?

If you’re travelling in the next 48 hours and you have fines or reparation you have not paid, call0800 PAYORSTAY (0800 729 677) and pay with your credit card. Payments can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Pay online

If you’re travelling soon, you should pay your fines. Pay online at www.payorstay.govt.nz.

Your details may be recorded

Even if you’re not stopped at the airport, information about your contact details and your travel plans may be collected when you leave New Zealand, or when you re-enter the country.

For more information, contact the Ministry of Justice. The Collections Unit of the Ministry of Justice is responsible for the collection and enforcement of fines, including Court-imposed fines, lodged infringements and reparation. They also provide enforcement services for unpaid civil judgments or orders at a creditor's request.

Passport requirements for travel to Libya

You cannot renew your passport online if you require your passport to be translated.

If you’re travelling to Libya you need to obtain an Arabic translation of some of the information shown in your passport.

Approved Arabic translations are required

The Libyan Government has reintroduced a requirement that all travellers entering Libya must have an approved Arabic translation of a passport holder’s personal information inserted in their passport.

Where to get a translation

You need to allow 2 to 3 weeks for the translation of your information to be completed.

If you’re in New Zealand and planning to travel to Libya, you should contact the Passport office as soon as possible before departure and obtain an approved Arabic translation of your passport information.

If you’re already overseas, the New Zealand Passport office in London or the New Zealand Embassy in Cairo can provide you with the necessary translation stamp in your passport along with a covering letter.

For Libyan visa processing in the United Kingdom, you also need to take your passport and covering letter to the London Chamber of Commerce for further endorsement before lodging all documents and applying for a visa at the nearest Libyan Embassy.

You need to pay a translation fee

How to apply for your translation

You are required to send the following:

• your current passport
• the correct fee, AND
• a brief letter stating you require an Arabic translation, your occupation and country of residence.

If your passport shows an Israeli visa or border stamp, it is unlikely you will get an entry visa to Libya.

More information

Further information is provided through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade travel website www.safetravel.govt.nz.

You need details of your passport confirmed by the New Zealand Passport office if you’re applying for a Syrian visa.

Your details must be authenticated

If you’re applying for a Syrian visa you must obtain an authenticated letter confirming the details of your passport.

You need to pay an authentication fee

How to get your authenticated letter

To apply for a letter confirming the details of your passport follow the steps below.

SmartGate, or e-Gate as it’s known as in many parts of the world, is a fast and easy way to self-process through passport control using your New Zealand passport.

What is SmartGate?

SmartGate uses the data in the e-Passport and face recognition technology to perform the customs and immigration checks to facilitate faster processing at the border.

An e-Passport has an embedded microchip and an international e-Passport symbol on the front cover. The microchip contains the same personal information that is on the photo page of the e-Passport, including an electronic copy of your photograph.

More about SmartGate

More information about SmartGate is held on the New Zealand Customs website: SmartGate