New Zealand Travel Checklist

Stay informed of the security situation

1. Download the Foreign Affairs and Customs Travel app. Make New Zealand a favorite and you will receive a push notification when the travel advice changes. The app also gives you all the contact details for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and local emergency services, plus information about what to do in case of an emergency, such as hospitalization or loss of your passport.
2. You can also register for free at the embassy through the information service.

Travel documents & visa

1. When traveling abroad, you should always bring a valid passport with which you can identify yourself. This also applies to accompanying children.
2. For some countries, your travel document must be valid for another 6 months from the moment you leave that country. You may also need a visa. You can check this at the New Zealand Embassy in The Hague.
3. Are you traveling alone with minor children? Check which documents you need and take them with you. This way you avoid long waiting times at border controls.
4. If you want to rent and/or drive a motor vehicle in New Zealand, make sure you have a valid driver’s license. Check whether you need an international driving license in New Zealand.

Travel insurance

1. Take out good travel insurance that covers the extra costs of, for example, repatriation and hospitalization. Your basic health insurance does not always reimburse these costs 100 percent. Also, think about what you plan to do: for example, some (extreme) sports require extra insurance.
2. Put the telephone number of the emergency center of your travel insurer in your telephone.

Money and mobile phone

1. Make sure you have enough financial resources to deal with unexpected situations during your trip (such as delays).
2. Make sure you bring multiple payment methods to New Zealand. For example, cash and a debit or credit card.
3. Put your bank’s phone number in your phone. You need it if you want to block your bank card in case of loss or theft.
4. Check with your provider what the costs are for mobile calls and data usage outside the EU. It can be useful to purchase a foreign package.
5. Check whether your bank card is activated for debit cards outside Europe.

Health

1. Get the right vaccinations: before you leave, check which vaccinations you need for New Zealand. Some countries will not allow you to enter without proper vaccinations. Find a doctor or vaccination bureau near you.
2. Do you use medicines? Take enough with you, so also for a few extra days. Check for which medicines you need a declaration to be allowed to take to New Zealand.
3. Download the GGD Reist Mee app. Then you know what to do in the event of illness, bite wounds, diarrhea, or heat stroke.

Stay at home

1. Don’t turn people at home into trackers and let them know your travel plans.
2. Make good agreements with the home front about your accessibility.
3. Give those who stay at home a copy of your travel documents, vaccination booklet, credit card, and insurance details. Also, keep these copies in a safe place online.
4. Also, give those at home the IMEI number of your phone: in case of an emergency, your mobile provider can find or block your phone. The easiest way to find this number is to dial *#06# on your phone. Then the number will appear on your screen.
5. In case of emergency, but the number of your contact person as an ICE number in your telephone. Then emergency services can contact this person without having to unlock your phone. Learn how to set up an ICE number.

Do not take

1. Do not bring drugs into New Zealand. In many countries, there are severe penalties for possession and use of drugs. This also applies to soft drugs.
2. Leave valuables (such as jewelry) at home as much as possible.
3. Download the Foreign Affairs and Customs Travel app: then you know what you can and cannot take back to the Netherlands (think of souvenirs, counterfeit items, corals, and animal products).