Travel Documents and Entry Conditions

Entry and Stay Conditions - USA

Entry requirements and quarantine restrictions to the United States of America are subject to both State and Federal provisions. 

 

Vaccination Requirements

All non-U.S. citizen, non-immigrant passengers aged 18 years and older arriving from a foreign country to the United States by air (including transit) must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and eligibility to fly to the USA.  There are some vaccination exemption criteria - for an extensive list of vaccination exemption criteria click here.  Other useful associated web links include:

• For Frequently Asked Questions related to vaccination exemption
• For United States CDC explanation on Medical Contraindication

 

Pre-flight Testing

Update 05JAN23:  The United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) requires air passengers travelling from China, Hong Kong or Macau to the United States to present a negative COVID-19 viral test no more than 2 days before your flight or documented recovery from COVID-19 before they board their fight. Click here for the official news release update and precise information on this pre-flight testing restriction.  These passengers must also complete an Attestation that confirms the information they present is true. 

 

Mandatory Travel Declaration

Non-US citizens and non-immigrants aged two years and older seeking to enter the United States must download and complete an Attestation for entry/transit into the USA.  To view the  Presidential Proclamation from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) for unvaccinated non-citizen visitors please follow the link provided.

 

Visitor Visa

Australia and New Zealand passport holders, along with 37 other countries, qualify for the United States Visa Waiver Program (VWP). If you plan to visit the United States under the VWP, you must get an approved travel authorisation before your trip by registering for a Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) at least 72 hours before flight departure.  If you do not hold either an Australian or New Zealand passport and you wish to establish whether you need a visa to enter the United States, please check here for your eligibility. 

 

Other useful links

• For information published by the US Department of State.
• For information on CDC imposed entry restrictions 

 

Connecting Flights

Please ensure that you also familarise yourself with all travel conditions for each of your flights and transit city/country.  E.g. French Polynesia.  

Entry and Stay Conditions - France

For the latest information on entry conditions and vaccination status requirements for foreign nationals please visit the French Diplomacy and French Interior Ministry websites for visitors to France.  For details on the latest health measures while in France please click here. 

 

COVID-19 Entry Conditions

Since August 1, 2022, the COVID-19 related entry restrictions to France have been lifted. 

• Proof of vaccination status is no longer required to visit France. see below for USA transit.
• A compelling reason for travel is no longer required to visit France regardless of your country of origin.
• Travellers are no longer required to present a certificate of non-contamination or a commitment to perform an antigenic test or a biological examination upon arrival in France.
• Travellers (either vaccinated or unvaccinated) are no longer required to provide a negative pre-departure test to enter France. see below for USA transit and exception applying to travellers from China.

 

HOWEVER, it is important to note that where you enter/transit another country when travelling to/from France you must comply with the vaccination requirements for that country.  Air Tahiti Nui flights from French Polynesia to France travel via the United States so you must comply with the entry conditions for the USA.   

 

Travelling to France via the United States

Please ensure that you also familarise yourself with all travel conditions for each of your flights and transit city/country.  If travelling to France via the United States (E.g. AKL-PPT-LAX-CDG) you must obtain the following necessary transit visa at least 72 hours before flight departure plus comply with COVID-19 specific legislation.

• An Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for flights with a transit in Los Angeles.  i.e.  TN7 / TN8
• From 05JAN23:  Pre-flight testing requirement for travellers from China, Hong Kong and Macau who enter the United States.

 

Travelling to France from the Peoples Republic of China

Wearing a mask has been compulsory on flights from China since January 1, 2023 for all passengers aged six or over. 

As of January 5, 2023, any passenger aged eleven or over, coming from China on a direct flight or with a stopover, must present to the airline company before boarding:

• negative result of an antigen or PCR test less than 48 hours old;
• complete a sworn statement attesting to:
  • no symptoms of covid-19 infection;
  • not aware of having been in contact with a confirmed case of covid-19 in the fourteen days preceding the flight;
  • undertake to submit to an antigenic test or a possible biological examination on arrival;
  • undertake to remain contactable for a maximum of 15 days after arrival on national soil and, if the result of a biological virological screening examination carried out on arrival on national territory concludes contamination by covid -19, to respect an isolation of seven days after arrival in France and, if eleven years old or more, to carry out, at the end of this period, a biological examination of virological screening allowing the detection of SARS-CoV -2.

 

On arrival in France, PCR tests have been carried out since January 1. All positive samples will be subject to systematic sequencing for epidemiological surveillance purposes, and the persons concerned must observe the isolation rules in force.  Details can be found by clicking here.

Entry and Stay Conditions - New Zealand
 

The New Zealand border is now open to all visitors regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status, however upon arrival you will be expected to take 2 rapid antigen tests (RAT).  The tests are taken on Day 0/1 and again on Day 5/6 of your visit with the test kit provided as you enter Customs.  Find out what you need to do by clicking here.  Other useful links include the New Zealand Government's Unite against COVID website and the New Zealand Ministry of Health website.

 

NZeTa or Visitor Visa

To visit New Zealand, you need either an NZeTA or a Visitor Visa - unless you're an Australian citizen.  Most people visiting the country must pay an NZD35 International Visitor Levy (IVL).  This will be paid at the same time you pay for your NZeTA or Visitor Visa.  Before you make a booking to New Zealand you need to learn about the following:

• Immigration and visa requirements
• How to request an NZeTA via website or mobile app
  Note: the name used on the NZeTA must match the machine-readable part of the passport.  For a married woman who has both names on the passport, it is mandatory to use the MAIDEN name.
• Information for travellers from Visa Waiver Countries
• Biosecurity and customs regulations

 

Valid Passport

Every visitor to New Zealand must have:

• A passport that is valid for 3 months beyond the date of return, or
• A passport that is valid for 1 month beyond the date you intend to depart New Zealand, if the issuing government has consular representation in New Zealand that is able to issue and renew travel documents.

 

Transit Passengers

If you are a transit passenger please visit the Immigration New Zealand website for more information. 

 

Entry and Stay Conditions - Australia

For information applicable to entry conditions applicable for your visit we recommend that you visit the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. 

 

Entry into Australia - Visa Requirements

Australian passport holders do not need a visa to enter Australia.  New Zealand passport holders can travel to Australia without a visa and obtain a visa at the airport upon their arrival in Australian.  All other passport holders need the right visa to enter Australia.  You must obtain your visa before you travel to Australia.  You may also need a visa to transit through Australia to another destination.  To find out what type of visa you need, please use the Visa Finder tool located on the website of the Australian Government's Department of Home Affairs.

To learn about security checks you will experience at an Australian airport you can visit the TravelSECURE website.

 

COVID-19 entry restrictions

Entering Australia is now very easy.  Note:  see below for exception that applies to visitors from China.

• People entering Australia do not need to provide evidence of vaccination status
• People entering Australia do not need to complete the Digital Passenger Declaration or Maritime Travel Declaration
• People leaving Australia will not be asked to provide evidence of their vaccination status
• Unvaccinated visa holders do not need a travel exemption to travel to Australia
• Facemasks are not required for international flights to Australia.

 

Visitors from the Peoples Republic of China

Effective 5 January 2023.  Travellers entering Australia from China, including Hong Kong and Macau, will be required to undertake a COVID-19 test within a 48-hour period prior to the day of their scheduled departure and show evidence of a negative test.  This applies to travellers entering Australia by air from China, including Hong Kong and Macau, either on a direct flight, or on a flight that has a stopover in another country before landing in Australia.   Evidence of a negative COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) or any type of Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT), which includes Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests taken within a 48-hour period prior to the day of scheduled departure will be accepted.  For details please click here.

For information on entry and visa restrictions based on the nationality and purpose of the visit to Japan we would recommend that you check with the nearest Japanese Consulate or visit the website for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Japan.  Special border enforcement measures are currently in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.