Take a look at this week’s COVID19 travel update for New Zealand
Pre-departure testing is now compulsory to travel to New Zealand except for travellers from Australia, Antarctica and most Pacific islands.
The change will come into force for all flights arriving in New Zealand after 11:59pm (NZT) on Monday the 25th of January, to minimise disruption for those travellers with imminent departures.
The Pacific islands that are exempt from pre-departure testing are Fiji, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Nauru and Palau.
If you are planning to travel to New Zealand soon, it is a good idea to work out how you will be able to get your pre-departure test results within 72 hours of your departure.
Customs staff will check travellers’ arrival cards and inspect test documentation for all arrivals except for those who are exempt. If you’re asked for evidence of your negative COVID-19 test result or a medical certificate, and you cannot provide it, you may be denied boarding.
From the 8th of February 2021, all passengers arriving in New Zealand (except those from exempted countries without evidence of a negative approved test or medical certificate) will incur an infringement offence fee or a fine not exceeding $1,000.
The pre-departure test is a measure to keep travellers safe. Most airlines already require travellers to have a pre-departure test and provide evidence of a negative result before boarding a plane. Pre-departure tests are also now a legal requirement for most countries that are transit hubs.
The expansion of Day 0/1 testing at Managed Isolation and Quarantine to all passengers to New Zealand – except for those coming from Australia, Antarctica or most Pacific Islands – is now in operation. All travellers are still required to complete 14 days mandatory isolation, including routine Day 3 and Day 12 tests.
- January 20, 2021
- Immigration, News
