Emigration New Zealand

  • Visas
  • Our Advisors
  • Testimonials
  • Book Consultation
  • Blog
  • Newsletter
  • Australia

What you should know about importing household goods to New Zealand

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 by Intergate Emigration
importing household goods to New Zealand

importing household goods to New Zealand

Don’t know where to start with importing household goods to New Zealand? We have the information you need to get the process going:

  • How to avoid border clearance problems
  • Items to declare
  • Prohibited and restricted items
  • Importing vehicles and pets
  • Packing tips

Let’s start with the three things to do to get your goods through customs as quickly as possible.

1. Prepare an inventory

A detailed inventory listing all items in the consignment must accompany your shipment. You must also declare the necessary items. See our packing tips at the end of the article to making this process simpler.

2. Complete the necessary declarations

You’ll need to complete an Unaccompanied Personal Baggage Declaration form if your personal items are shipped by sea or by air.

Should your shipment contain goods that pose a biosecurity risk, it’s advisable to complete a Personal Effects Supplementary Declaration. This declaration provides more information about specific items and could change the risk status of your consignment.

3. Provide the required documentation

Personal goods being shipped to New Zealand must be accompanied by:

  • A completed NZCS 218: Unaccompanied Personal Baggage Declaration
  • A completed sea container Quarantine Declaration (for full container loads)
  • A detailed inventory
  • A completed sea container Quarantine Declaration, if you’re shipping a full container load
  • Valid treatment certificates for goods that have been fumigated, heat treated or cleaned
  • The shipping arrival papers, for instance Bill of Lading, Airway Bill or Arrival Advice
  • Supplementary declaration, which provides more information about specific items and could change the risk status of your consignment.
  • Any permits you need, for example:
    • Permits to import firearms
    • CITES permits
    • MedSafe permits

Items to declare

New Zealand maintains the right to inspect certain items once these items have entered its borders to maintain the country’s strict health and safety standards. These items must be declared and include:

  • Fresh or dried fruit, vegetables, mushrooms or fungi
  • Any meat, fish, shellfish or poultry
  • Ingredients used in cooking, all milk products, cheese, eggs or eggs products, and milk-based baby foods
  • Hunting trophies or stuffed animals
  • Traditional or herbal medicines or remedies, health supplements and homeopathic remedies that include animal or plant parts
  • Dried flower arrangements or Christmas decorations made from plant material
  • Items made from wood
  • Items stuffed with seeds or straw
  • Items made from bamboo, cane, coconut or straw
  • Items containing hair, fur, unprocessed wool, skin, feathers or bone
  • All outdoor, camping, sports equipment, hiking boots and other sporting footwear that could be contaminated with soil, seeds or water
  • Animal grooming and veterinary equipment, beekeeping equipment, saddles, bridles, bird cages and pet beds
  • Gardening equipment and outdoor furniture

This is not an exhaustive list, so check with your importer or with customs if you’re unsure about any items that you’re planning to take with you.

Restricted and prohibited items

Some personal items are prohibited or restricted from entering New Zealand:

  • Any packets of food
  • Honey, pollen, propolis, honeycombs and other bee products
  • Plants, bulbs, cuttings, corms, rhizomes or tubers, commercially packed seeds and seeds for planting
  • Packaging such as straw or used fresh food cartons
  • Items restricted under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) such as coral, ivory, snakeskin or whale bone items, turtle shell and some sea shells.

It is best to leave these items behind when packing for you move, unless you can ensure that is accompanied by official certification.

We’ll also advise you to read up on New Zealand’s restricted and prohibited items. You can get the information you need from New Zealand’s Customs Service.

Importing vehicles and pets

You are allowed to take your car and your pets to New Zealand, but you’ll have to meet all the requirements to be able to do so.

You can find out more about importing cars from the New Zealand Transport Agency. To learn how to import your pet, consult the Ministry of Primary Industries.

Packing tips

If you pack properly when moving your household goods to New Zealand, you’ll minimize the time it takes to inspect your goods. Here are tips for achieving this:

1. Create a packing list:

Record all boxes and what is in each box. Also include a description of what the goods are made from. For example, metal bed frame or cane basket.

2. Label and number:

Number the packing boxes and match the numbers on your packing list. Be sure to use permanent marker to write on boxes when you’re labelling them. Don’t use sticky labels, as these often fall off during the move.

3. Cartons and packing materials:

It is best to not use second-hand boxes or bags, unless you’re absolutely certain these are free from animal or plant material. Additionally don’t use straw, sawdust, wood shavings or other plant materials as packing or filler.

4. Pack items in groups:

Pack similar goods together and group the boxes together.

5. Pack for safety:

Securely wrap sharp or breakable objects such as knives or ceramic items. Clearly mark boxes with medical items, dangerous goods, or any items that could pose a safety risk. Do not pack flammable items such as fireworks or paint thinners.

Summarising importing household goods to New Zealand

You have to create a packing list, ensure that you provide the required documents, and declare the necessary items to import your goods when moving to New Zealand. Please also refer to the Ministry of Primary Industries (MIP) and New Zealand Customs websites for more information.

You’ll also make your life much easier if you work with a shipping company that specializes in the import and export of household goods. Such a company would be able to advise on the costs, the forms, and the general requirements when shipping your family’s belongings.

Sources: MIP and New Zealand Customs

Read more
  • Published in Family Immigration, Tips for Your Move to New Zealand
No Comments

No EOI selections for residence under the Skilled Migrant and Parent categories for another 6 months

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 by Intergate Emigration

Immigration New Zealand announced on Monday, 19 October, that it’s deferring the fortnightly selection of Expressions of Interest under the Skilled Migrant and Parent categories for a further 6 months. The decision to defer this process was first made back in April due to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The New Zealand Government has said that the continued deferral will give INZ the space to focus on processing applications from people who are in New Zealand or people who are eligible to travel while border restrictions are in place.

Can migrants still submit Expressions of Interest?

This is what Intergate Emigration’s licensed advisors had to say when we asked them this question:

“The Expression of Interest for the Parent category is a hard copy that’s couriered to New Zealand, so while EOI selection is closed, migrants are going to be unable to submit EOIs. Applicants will have to wait for the EOI selection to reopen again.

Our advice to skilled migrant applicants would be to also wait for EOI selections to reopen again. EOIs from offshore applicants are only eligible for selection with 160 points and a job offer, so it won’t make sense to submit an EOI in the interim. The best plan of action would be to look at the temporary route first and to do an assessment to ensure that you qualify for the visa.”

Contact us if you’d like to explore other visa options

Do you have your heart set on living in New Zealand but you don’t want to wait for the EOI selections to open? Don’t hesitate to contact us to explore other visa options.

We would like to see you realise your dream of making New Zealand your home as much as you do!

Read more
  • Published in Family Immigration, Latest posts, News, Work Visas for New Zealand
No Comments

Recent Posts

  • 10 Top New Zealand recruitment agencies

    You could look for a job in New Zealand on your...
  • Partner Work Visa changes coming in April 2023

    In December 2022, Immigration New Zealand was s...
  • Emigration to New Zealand: 9 Tips for setting yourself up for success

    Do you have your heart set on emigration to New...
  • Green List and Employer Accreditation changes announced

    On 12 December 2022, New Zealand announced chan...
  • New Zealand work visas: These are your options

    Did you know there are five New Zealand work vi...

Archives

  • Feb 2023
  • Jan 2023
  • Dec 2022
  • Nov 2022
  • Oct 2022
  • Sep 2022
  • Jul 2022
  • Jun 2022
  • May 2022
  • Apr 2022
  • Mar 2022
  • Feb 2022
  • Jan 2022
  • Nov 2021
  • Oct 2021
  • Sep 2021
  • Aug 2021
  • Jul 2021
  • Jun 2021
  • May 2021
  • Apr 2021
  • Mar 2021
  • Feb 2021
  • Jan 2021
  • Nov 2020
  • Oct 2020
  • Sep 2020
  • Aug 2020
  • Jul 2020
  • Jun 2020
  • May 2020
  • Apr 2020
  • Mar 2020
  • Feb 2020
  • Jan 2020
  • Dec 2019
  • Nov 2019
  • Oct 2019
  • Sep 2019
  • Aug 2019
  • Jul 2019
  • Jun 2019
  • May 2019
  • Mar 2019
  • Feb 2019
  • Nov 2018
  • Oct 2018
  • Sep 2018
  • Jul 2018
  • Jun 2018
  • Apr 2018
  • Feb 2018
  • Dec 2017
  • Nov 2017
  • Oct 2017
  • Sep 2017
  • Aug 2017
  • Jul 2017
  • May 2017
  • Apr 2017
  • Jan 2017
  • Dec 2016

Categories

  • Family Immigration
  • FAQs – New Zealand Immigration
  • Latest posts
  • Life in New Zealand
  • New Zealand Immigration Advice
  • News
  • Tips for Your Move to New Zealand
  • Uncategorised
  • Work Visas for New Zealand
  • Working in New Zealand
  • Your Visa Application

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Hamburg, Germany

Kallmorgenweg 1

Groß Flottbek

+49 (0) 40 896 987 13 

Zürich, Switzerland

Spyristrasse 8

+49 (0) 40 896 987 13 

Cape Town, South Africa

Graphic Centre

199 Loop Street

+27 (0) 21 202 8200

Email:

info@intergate-emigration.com

Licenses:

Our advisors are licensed and registered to give immigration advice New Zealand. Our Immigration Adviser Authority numbers are 201400975 and 201600505, and our Licensed Immigration Adviser Association number is 220104. Our advisors are also authorized under §1 AuswSG in Germany.

Copyright © 2023 Intergate Emigration. All rights reserved. 

TOP