Official advice for New Zealanders living and travelling overseas
Official advice for New Zealanders living and travelling overseas
Do not travel overseas at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, associated health risks and widespread travel restrictions. This do not travel advisory (level 4 of 4) applies to all destinations except the Cook Islands....Read more
Exercise increased caution in the Cook Islands (level 2 of 4). Quarantine-free travel is now available between New Zealand and the Cook Islands. Information about the current situation in Australia is available here....Read more
Do not travel overseas at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, associated health risks and widespread travel restrictions. This do not travel advisory (level 4 of 4) applies to all destinations except the Cook Islands....Read more
Exercise increased caution in the Cook Islands (level 2 of 4). Quarantine-free travel is now available between New Zealand and the Cook Islands. Information about the current situation in Australia is available here....Read more
Reviewed: 13 September 2021, 17:20 NZST
On 26 August 2021 a terrorist attack occurred in the vicinity of Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport with explosions taking place outside the Abbey Gate and at a nearby hotel. The security situation remains extremely dangerous and may become increasingly volatile at short notice. There is an ongoing and very high threat of terrorist attack throughout Afghanistan. Explosions have occurred in the vicinity of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, resulting in casualties. The threat o...Read More
Reviewed: 17 August 2021, 15:21 NZST
The Government has created a ‘very high risk’ country category that will significantly reduce the number of people with COVID-19 flying to New Zealand. For more information, see the Unite Against COVID-19 website. The following countries currently meet the threshold of being very high risk: Brazil Fiji India Indonesia Pakistan Papua New Guinea The Government added Fiji and Indonesia to this list on 11 August 2021. Travel is restricted from Fiji and Indonesia from 11:59pm (NZT) on 15 August...Read More
Posted: 3 August 2021, 15:20 NZST
Typhoons and hurricanes are currently affecting areas of Asia and the Americas. New Zealanders travelling to Asia and the Americas are encouraged to register their details with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Travellers who register can be warned if a major storm approaches and given advice on precautions to take. If you are in an area affected by a typhoon or hurricane, you should follow the advice of the local authorities at all times (including any evacuation orders) and seek s...Read More
Reviewed: 23 July 2021, 13:55 NZST
UPDATE: We now advise that New Zealanders do not travel to Australia. The Government has announced that quarantine-free travel with Australia has been suspended. Further detailed information can be found on the Unite Against COVID-19 website. Check back regularly for the latest advice and information. Detailed information about quarantine-free travel is available on the Unite Against Covid-19 website here. Quarantine-free travel is now available between New Zealand the Cook Islands. You c...Read More
Reviewed: 19 April 2021, 10:25 NZST
New Zealand is monitoring recent developments in Myanmar closely. The Myanmar Military have declared a one-year state of emergency and martial law is in place in areas of Yangon and Mandalay. Phone and internet connections across Myanmar have experienced disruptions. There are also disruptions to basic services, including ATMs and public health, and more may follow. Unless they have a need to remain in Myanmar, we advise New Zealanders to depart via commercial means if it is safe to do so. On...Read More
Reviewed: 15 February 2021, 09:36 NZDT
New Zealand has a 4-level COVID-19 Alert System. Each Alert Level tells us what measures we need to take in New Zealand. For information about the current New Zealand Alert Level(s), please refer to the New Zealand Government’s Unite Against COVID-19 website. Advice for New Zealanders currently overseas We currently advise that you do not travel overseas at this time. Transport and transit options to return to New Zealand have been severely disrupted during the pandemic. Even booked flight...Read More
Updated: 26 January 2021, 10:53 NZDT
The Government requires travellers to New Zealand from all countries (except Australia, Antarctica and most Pacific Islands) to provide evidence of a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test result before departure. This requirement came into force at 11:59pm (NZT) on Monday 25 January. Travellers to New Zealand coming from the United Kingdom and United States have already been required to show a negative pre-departure test result since 11:59pm (NZT) on 15 January 2021. The test adds to the measures...Read More
Reviewed: 13 August 2020, 17:20 NZST
We currently advise that all New Zealanders do not travel overseas at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, associated health risks and travel restrictions. Due to the difficulty travellers are experiencing returning home, some New Zealanders overseas may need to stay safely where they are. For more information on COVID-19, please refer to the Unite Against COVID-19 website and see our COVID-19 page on SafeTravel. Up to date advice for New Zealanders who are currently overseas can be found ...Read More
Reviewed: 13 August 2020, 17:12 NZST
Large-scale protests and demonstrations have taken place in Hong Kong since July 2019. Acts of violence have occurred between police and demonstrators across Hong Kong, including at the International Airport. As crowd control measures, police have used tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper spray. Injuries have occurred. Demonstrations may be ongoing. Locations of gatherings may be unpredictable and change at short notice. National security legislation for Hong Kong came into effect on 1 July 2020...Read More
Reviewed: 17 March 2020, 13:56 NZDT
On 3 January 2020, an Iranian military commander and Iraqi paramilitary leaders were killed in a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad International Airport. On 8 January, Iran fired missiles against two military bases in Iraq containing U.S personnel. On 8 January, a Ukrainian International Airlines flight was shot down shortly after take-off from Tehran. Iranian authorities have acknowledged responsibility. On 11 March, the coalition base at Taji in Iraq was attacked, and there have been subseque...Read More
Reviewed: 5 February 2020, 15:15 NZDT
New Zealand citizens who continue to live in the UK now that it has left the EU can: use the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website tool to seek guidance on visa status and rights to stay. find more information in the UK's Department for Exiting the European Union: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-exiting-the-european-union. If you are a New Zealander who holds a European passport, or who has a European spouse you should refer to guidance from the UK Governm...Read More
Reviewed: 21 January 2020, 11:58 NZDT
What is dual citizenship or dual nationality?If you are a citizen of more than one country you are a dual citizen or dual national. This means you are a citizen of both New Zealand and another country at the same time. New Zealand allows dual citizenship and multiple citizenship but some other countries do not. A country could still consider you to be one of their citizens even if you don't accept that nationality if you: have a parent, or in some cases a grandparent, who is a citizen of that ...Read More
Reviewed: 23 December 2019, 13:39 NZDT
Measles is a highly infectious virus that spreads easily from person to person through the air, via breathing, coughing and sneezing. It affects both children and adults. The New Zealand Ministry of Health is advising people travelling overseas to make sure they are fully immunised against measles before they go. Following recent outbreaks of measles in Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and the Philippines the New Zealand Ministry of Health asked primary care providers in New Zealand to ensure vaccinations are...Read More
Reviewed: 17 December 2019, 11:46 NZDT
Major cities in India have recently been experiencing severe levels of air pollution. Some of the most common health effects of air pollution include irritation of eyes, throat and lungs. For people with existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or bronchitis, breathing in air pollution can make these conditions worse. New Zealanders in areas affected by the air pollution are advised to monitor pollution readings, such as those provided by the Air Quality Index website. If you have conc...Read More
Reviewed: 17 December 2019, 11:44 NZDT
Every year New Zealanders put themselves at risk of arrest or detention for drug-related offences overseas. Remember that when you are overseas you are subject to that country's laws and penalties - no matter how harsh they may appear by New Zealand standards. In many countries, penalties for drug-related offences are severe. Possession, use or trafficking of even very small quantities of drugs can lead to lengthy imprisonment thousands of miles away from family and friends. New Zealand does not...Read More
Reviewed: 23 September 2019, 14:05 NZST
In September 2019, an outbreak of polio was declared in the Philippines. In July 2019, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced a situational update on circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 outbreaks in the WHO African and Eastern Mediterranean regions. In June 2018 an outbreak of vaccine-derived poliovirus was declared by the Papua New Guinea Government in Morobe province. In July 2018, preparations for implementation of large scale immunization activities and intensified surveilla...Read More
Reviewed: 17 July 2019, 10:00 NZST
On 17 July 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that the ongoing Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The Ugandan government has also confirmed an outbreak of Ebola in Kasese District in western Uganda, originating in the neighbouring DRC. To date, there have been over 2500 confirmed or probable cases of Ebola in the DRC, resulting in over 1600 deaths since the outbreak began in August 2018. The outbreak i...Read More
Reviewed: 10 September 2018, 09:05 NZST
Outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses are common in the tropical and sub-tropical climates in many Pacific Islands, in North Queensland (Australia), Asia (including India), tropical Africa and Latin/South America. West Nile virus is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia. Dengue fever, chikungunya virus and Zika virus are spread by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito and cannot be spread directly from person to person. Malaria is caused by a parasite s...Read More
Posted: 29 March 2018, 17:03 NZDT
The Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services has issued a public notice advising of an outbreak of meningococcal disease in Fiji. Though the risk for travellers to Fiji is low, people staying in local communities or for longer periods of time should be vigilant and aware of the symptoms of meningitis following an outbreak of meningococcal disease.Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that causes two very serious illnesses: meningitis (an infection of the membranes that cover the b...Read More
Pakistan
Reviewed: 17 September 2021
Reviewed: 17 September 2021
Afghanistan
Reviewed: 13 September 2021
Reviewed: 13 September 2021
Lebanon
Reviewed: 25 August 2021
Reviewed: 25 August 2021
Hong Kong
Reviewed: 17 August 2021
Reviewed: 17 August 2021
Ethiopia
Reviewed: 30 July 2021
Reviewed: 30 July 2021
Australia
Reviewed: 23 July 2021
Reviewed: 23 July 2021
Cook Islands
Reviewed: 16 May 2021
Reviewed: 16 May 2021
Indonesia
Reviewed: 28 April 2021
Reviewed: 28 April 2021
Travelling or living overseas? Help us find you in an emergency, so we can check on your well-being or send you important information.
If you access consular assistance through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, or register on SafeTravel we will collect and use your personal information for the purpose of providing consular services to you. Read More
Health alerts and general travel health tips....read more
This page provides information on how you can help yourself, and how we can help you, when things go wrong overseas...read more
Information on passports and visas for your next trip overseas....read more
Information on travel insurance and why it's important....read more
Please note, only consular emergencies, for example death, arrest, illness or injury to New Zealand citizens will be handled outside office hours.
Location and contact details for New Zealand Embassies around the world.