You must make sure that the testing provider you choose can provide your test results with acceptable pre-departure documentation to the specified standard required by the New Zealand Government.
If your pre-departure documentation does not contain the required information, or is not in the required format, you may be prevented from boarding your plane.
Acceptable pre-departure documentation
The New Zealand Government requires that all pre-departure tests contain the following information for travel clearance:
Information about you
- your full name
- your date of birth or passport number.
Information about the COVID-19 test
- the type of test (PCR, RAT or LAMP)
- date and time the test was conducted (please note that PCR tests must be taken no more than 48 hours prior to departure, RAT or LAMP tests must be taken no more than 24 hours prior to departure)
- the test result - confirming that it was negative.
Information about the testing lab or supervising health professional
If you had a PCR test:
- the name of the testing lab
If you had a RAT or LAMP:
- either the name of the health professional (for example, a medical practitioner, nurse, or pharmacist) who supervised the test, including either a letterhead or stamp confirming the supervisor’s name, occupation and employer
- or the name of the pharmacy, laboratory, healthcare entity, telehealth service, community-based or airport-based testing station that supervised the test.
Evidence must be in English or accompanied by a certified translation into English.
Format of acceptable pre-departure documentation
You need to upload your pre-departure test documentation to the New Zealand Traveller Declaration.
We recommend you ask for an email or document you can scan. You can also take a photo of your document to upload.
Confirm with your selected laboratory that they can provide your test results in a format that meets New Zealand’s requirements before taking the test.
Evidence for your pre-departure test must be in English or accompanied by a certified translation into English.
Evidence of RAT/LAMP
This form can be used to guide health professionals supervising your RAT or LAMP test to provide the correct PDT information required for your traveller declaration. You can download and print it off to take with you to your supervised test. Once completed, you can upload it into your New Zealand Traveller Declaration in the following formats: PDF, PNG and JPG – up to 50MB.
Pre-departure COVID-19 test — evidence of RAT/LAMP [PDF 190 KB] - covid19.govt.nz
Guidance to upload your document
Certificates to be checked at the border
If you have a medical certificate excusing you from a pre-departure test, you need to confirm this when you complete your New Zealand Traveller Declaration.
You need to show proof of this exemption at check-in and to Customs staff when you arrive in New Zealand. If your document is deemed to be unacceptable you may be subject to an infringement.
You should not provide false or misleading information. It may result in your declaration being declined, and a penalty or other enforcement action.