New Zealand Documents And Formalities

Requirements

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, the UK, and the US need valid passports to enter New Zealand and to re-enter their home countries. New Zealand does not allow entrance if the holder’s passport expires in fewer than three months. Returning home with an expired passport is illegal, and may result in a fine.

New Passports

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, the UK, and the US can apply for a passport at any passport office or at select post offices and courts of law. Citizens of these countries may also download passport applications from the official website of their country’s government or passport office. Any new passport or renewal application must be filed well in advance of departure, though most passport offices offer rush services for a steep fee; rushed passports still take two weeks to arrive.

Passport Maintenance

Photocopy the page of your passport with your photo, as well as your visas, traveler’s check serial numbers, and any other important documents. Carry one set of copies in a safe place, apart from the originals, and leave another set at home. Consulates also recommend that you carry an expired passport or an official copy of your birth certificate in a part of your baggage separate from other documents.

If you lose your passport, immediately notify the local police and the nearest embassy or consulate of your home government. You will need to show ID and proof of citizenship. In some cases, a replacement may take weeks to process, and it may be valid only for a limited time. Any visas stamped in your old passport will be lost. In an emergency, ask for immediate temporary traveling papers that will permit you to re-enter your home country. More information regarding lost and stolen US passports is available at www.usembassy.org.nz.

Visas And Work Permits

Visas

As of January 2005, citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, the UK, and the US do not need a visa for entrance into New Zealand, just a valid passport. Citizens of Canada, Ireland, Japan, and the US need visas for stays over three months. Citizens of the UK need visas for stays over six months. Visas are available at most embassies and consulates and are valid for nine months out of an eighteen-month period. Double-check entrance requirements at the nearest embassy or consulate of New Zealand (New Zealand Consular Services Abroad, on) for up-to-date info before departure. US citizens can also consult http://travel.state.gov.

Work Permits

Admission as a visitor does not include the right to work, which is authorized only by a work permit. Entering New Zealand to study requires a special visa or permit. For more information, see Beyond Tourism.

Identification

When you travel, always carry at least two forms of identification on your person, including at least one photo ID—a passport and a driver’s license or birth certificate is usually adequate. Never carry all of your IDs together; split them up in case of theft or loss, and keep photocopies of all of them in your luggage and at home.

Student, Teacher, And Youth Identification

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC), the most widely accepted form of student ID, provides discounts on some sights, accommodations, food, and transport, access to a 24hr. emergency helpline, and insurance benefits for US cardholders. Cardholders receive some discounts on travel gear, entrance fees for museums and botanical gardens, and adventure activities. Applicants must be full-time secondary or post-secondary school students at least 12 years of age. Because of the proliferation of fake ISICs, some services (particularly airlines) require additional proof of student identity.

The International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) offers teachers the same insurance coverage as the ISIC and similar but limited discounts. For travelers who are under 26 years old but are not students, the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) also offers many of the same benefits as the ISIC.

Each of these identity cards costs US$25 or the equivalent. ISICs and ITICs are valid until the new year unless purchased between September and December, in which case they are valid until the beginning of the following new year. Thus, a card purchased in March 2008 will be valid until December 31, 2008, while a card purchased in November 2008 will be valid until December 31, 2009. IYTCs are valid for one year from the date of issue. To learn more about ISICs, ITICs, and IYTCs, go to www.myisic.com. Many student travel agencies issue the cards; for a list of issuing agencies or more information, see the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) website (www.istc.org). The International Student Exchange Card (ISE Card) is a similar card available to students, faculty, and youths aged 12-26. The card provides discounts, medical benefits, and access to a 24hr. helpline. An ISE Card costs US$25; call US ☎800-255-8000, or visit www.isecard.com.

Customs

Upon entering New Zealand, you must declare certain items from abroad and pay a duty on the value of those articles if they exceed the allowance established by New Zealand’s customs service (NZ$700). Note that goods and gifts purchased at duty-free shops abroad are not exempt from duty or sales tax; duty-free merely means that you need not pay a tax in the country of purchase. Upon returning home, you must declare all articles acquired abroad and pay a duty on the value of articles in excess of your country’s allowance. Be sure to keep receipts for all goods acquired abroad. Additionally, all camping gear and boots will be inspected for critters and seeds. For more information on customs, go to www.customs.govt.nz.