Official advice for New Zealanders living and travelling overseas
Official advice for New Zealanders living and travelling overseas
Reviewed: 26 July 2022, 15:32 NZST
SummaryMonkeypox is a rare disease that does not easily spread between people. Currently there is an outbreak of monkeypox beyond the African continent where it is endemic. On 23 July, the World Health Organisation declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern. If travelling to countries where monkeypox is present: Practice good hygiene including washing hands with soap and water or alcohol based sanitiser. avoiding close contact with people who have suspected or confirm...Read More
Updated: 22 July 2022, 08:43 NZST
Major wildfires are currently impacting parts of Europe, particularly Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece. Fires can move rapidly and be unpredictable. New Zealanders are advised to follow any instructions issued by the local authorities, such as Fire and Rescue services (including evacuation orders), and to monitor the media to keep up to date with local developments. New Zealanders in the affected places should also let their family know they're okay. You can check on the outbreak of fir...Read More
Reviewed: 11 July 2022, 11:03 NZST
UkraineIn response to heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, we updated our travel advisory for Ukraine on 12 February, advising New Zealanders to leave immediately. Heavy fighting is ongoing in several areas of Ukraine, including in and around Kyiv and other major cities. There are reports of gun fire, artillery bombardments, explosions and missile strikes. Civilians are being impacted. We advise New Zealanders in Ukraine to seek shelter in a secure place until you judge it is safe to ...Read More
Updated: 5 March 2022, 00:25 NZDT
Kiwis will be excited to be able to travel again after the New Zealand Government announced the next steps to reconnect New Zealanders to the world. This includes removal of the need for vaccinated New Zealanders to self-isolate on return from any country, and dropping the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s global “do not travel” advisory which has been in place since March 2020. But before they go, travellers will need to make sure they have thought through the complexity of the n...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
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: 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
Cote d'Ivoire/Ivory Coast
Reviewed: 15 August 2022
Reviewed: 15 August 2022
The Republic of the Congo
Reviewed: 15 August 2022
Reviewed: 15 August 2022
Ukraine
Reviewed: 11 August 2022
Reviewed: 11 August 2022
Panama
Reviewed: 10 August 2022
Reviewed: 10 August 2022
El Salvador
Reviewed: 10 August 2022
Reviewed: 10 August 2022
Guinea-Bissau
Reviewed: 10 August 2022
Reviewed: 10 August 2022
The Gambia
Reviewed: 9 August 2022
Reviewed: 9 August 2022
Costa Rica
Reviewed: 9 August 2022
Reviewed: 9 August 2022
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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.