New digital arrival cards to launch for some travellers entering New Zealand

Some travellers entering New Zealand will this week have the option to use that is set to replace paper passenger arrival cards.

From Tuesday, passengers flying into or airports from overseas will be able to complete a digital declaration through the , or by downloading the NZTD mobile app.

It will roll out to passengers flying into Queenstown Airport from July 20, and is set to go live for passengers entering Auckland Airport at the end of August.

Customs said the existing would continue to be handed out on flights and accepted at the border while the new system was phased in. However, a “global education and information plan” would kick off from late August to raise awareness of the new digital way of entering New Zealand.

As with the current arrival cards, travellers using the online system would need to provide their passport details, contact details in New Zealand, travel history from the last 30 days, flight details, information about what they were bringing into New Zealand, and immigration status.

This digital declaration would be linked to a traveller’s passport and would be automatically checked when their passport was scanned at an or by a border officer on arrival into New Zealand.

NZTD senior responsible owner Sharon May said the new system would be an “important tool” to support border agencies protecting New Zealand.

“The declaration helps travellers understand and get ready for New Zealand border entry requirements before they arrive.”

Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director general Stuart Anderson said the NZTD would give better access to data to assess future risks.

“It will also provide a new way to pass on biosecurity information to arriving international travellers, and it will enable us to focus on higher-risk passengers.”

reporter Brook Sabin was among the travellers who were randomly selected to .

, he described it as “frustrating”, after he kept getting a time-out message as he tried to fill out his form.

“I’m a digital native, but I really feel for some older New Zealanders who could find the process stressful,” he said.

While the existing arrival cards will eventually be scrapped, Customs said it would have a new paper form as an option “so that we continue to support travellers who do not complete a digital declaration”.