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Immigration New Zealand, the New Zealand Customs Service and the Ministry for Primary Industries have requirements that airlines flying into New Zealand must meet.
We provide this information to any new airline applying for a licence to operate services to New Zealand.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) administers New Zealand’s immigration-related legislation. Under the Immigration Act 2009, airlines have particular immigration responsibilities when operating flights to and from New Zealand.
Information for airlines(external link)
Airlines must provide INZ with APP information about every passenger and crew member on their flights coming to or leaving New Zealand, even passengers who are only in transit. The information airlines collect ensures that passengers and crew meet INZ's requirements for travelling to New Zealand.
How we collect and use information about people flying in and out of NZ(external link)New Zealand Customs Service
Airlines flying into New Zealand must provide the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) with information under the Customs and Excise Act 2018.
Airlines are required to submit electronic files listing people on board an aircraft. These include separate passenger and crew manifests for arrivals and departures.
Airlines must provide these electronically using the UNEdifact Paxlst message format. The files can be provided via:
Airlines must send files for:
Note that in the files, the:
At least 2 hours before an aircraft’s estimated time of arrival in New Zealand, airlines must provide Customs with:
Within 1 hour of arriving at a customs area in New Zealand, airlines must provide Customs with:
The inwards report does not need to duplicate information already provided in the advance notice of arrival.
Airlines and INZ, Customs and the Ministry of Primary Industries have agreed a standard for the collection of PNR data that aligns with international conventions agreed by the airline industry.
How we collect and use information about people flying in and out of NZ(external link)
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (INZ) administers regulations to enforce providing PNR data. These regulations mean infringement notices can be issued for each specific offence.
The Customs and Excise Act 2018 requires commercial transportation operators to provide PNR information to the New Zealand Customs Service (sections 49 to 52) and has offence provisions in relation to airline operators that do not comply with PNR reporting obligations (section 52).
Any aircraft departing from a customs place in New Zealand must be issued a Certificate of Clearance (outwards report) by Customs.
To get a certificate, within 30 minutes of the aircraft’s scheduled departure, airlines must provide Customs with:
Customs’ Operations Centre (ITOC) can help you with PNR data and requirement queries.
Email: ITOCOperationsCentre@customs.govt.nz
Operations Development can help you with queries about setting up and testing API.
Email: OperationsDevelopment@customs.govt.nz
www.customs.govt.nz(external link)
Biosecurity is managed by Biosecurity New Zealand, a business group within the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). It aims to prevent exotic pests and diseases coming into New Zealand.
MPI expects airlines to ensure all operating crew and passengers are well informed about biosecurity before arriving in New Zealand.
Airline operators must also comply with biosecurity requirements for aircraft. These must be met before or on arrival in New Zealand, including aircraft disinfection.
People who do not declare biosecurity risk goods, even by accident, can be fined, prosecuted or refused entry.
The MPI website provides useful information for airlines to help them meet New Zealand’s biosecurity requirements.
Steps for flying aircraft to New Zealand(external link)
Arriving in New Zealand(external link)
How to contact MPI
Email: info@mpi.govt.nz.
You can also call the MPI clearance team in Auckland on +64 9 909 8614.