Travelling by sea

Travellers (including passengers and crew) arriving by sea on any maritime vessel need to complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD):

Cruise
Recreational vessel, yacht or small craft
Commercial
Specialist
Fishing
Diplomatically cleared
New Zealand Defence Force.

There are some exemptions to this, including people who arrive in New Zealand after having been medically evacuated, rescued at sea, or on a temporary basis due to weather conditions.

Travellers arriving by sea on any maritime vessel can complete a declaration using the online form.

Cruise travellers can also complete a declaration using the NZTD app.

Once you have started your declaration, you will be emailed a reference number that you can use to review, complete or make changes to a declaration.

Please note: The NZTD app is only available for air travellers and cruise travellers, it is not yet available for other maritime travellers. Other maritime travellers can use the online form.

The earliest you can submit your declaration is 24 hours before departing the vessel’s last foreign port prior to arriving in New Zealand.

You need to submit your declaration by the time the vessel has berthed at its first port in New Zealand.

Once you have submitted your declaration, you will receive another email that includes information on what you need to know to enter New Zealand, based on what you have told us.

You do not need to print anything out.

You can use the reference number that has been emailed to you to review, complete or make changes to your declaration.

You will need to resubmit your declaration if you make any changes to it.

If you start your declaration in the online form, you must view, update or submit it there. If you start your declaration in the NZTD app, you can view, update or submit your declaration in the app or the online form.

Please note: The NZTD app is only available for air travellers and cruise travellers, it is not yet available for other maritime travellers. Other maritime travellers can use the online form.

Your digital declaration is linked to your passport and is checked when you arrive in New Zealand.

Your vessel may be inspected. If you have forgotten to declare something, you will need to talk to a border officer.

If you have forgotten to declare something, you will need to talk to a border officer. If you are carrying a restricted or prohibited item and do not declare it, you may be fined or prosecuted.

Find out more information on completing your declaration if you are arriving in New Zealand on a cruise ship.

Cruise travellers