People who hold long-term temporary visas (such as long-term business and work to residence visas) will not have to pay any Customs duty on their baggage and effects, including ships, aircraft, motor vehicles, and household effects.
Anyone who holds
If you are overseas at the time your goods arrive, you will need to arrange for someone to arrange clearance on your behalf. They are not expected to supply your passport, just your passport number(s).
Where the criteria for duty free entry of household effects are not met, Customs charges may be payable. Where applicable, Customs duty is levied on the transaction value of the goods (the price actually paid for them). A depreciation allowance for length of personal ownership and use may also be given.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 12.5 percent is then calculated on the duty inclusive value, plus international freight and insurance. It is recommended that you retain your purchase documentation.
If the total amount owing on the goods imported is less than $50, no revenue collection will be made. This revenue waiver does not apply to tobacco products.
Your household or other related effects (excluding motor vehicles, boats and aircraft) will be admitted free of duty and exempt GST for a reasonable time after your arrive, provided you can meet all of the following requirements:
Concessionary entry for motor vehicles is available to immigrants and New Zealand residents returning after an absence overseas of 21 months or more, with the intention to take up or resume permanent residence (residence lasting indefinitely).
In order to qualify for concessionary entry, the following conditions must be met in full:
These conditions are strictly applied and the New Zealand Customs Service has no discretionary licence to adapt them to suit particular circumstances. If the above criteria cannot be met, the vehicle will be considered a non-concessionary import and Customs charges are payable.
Vehicles will not qualify for concessionary entry if the owner surrenders them for shipping to New Zealand before the anniversary of the day on which original delivery was taken. For example, if you purchase and take delivery of a vehicle on 10 June, you must not hand it over to be shipped before 10 June of the following year, and you must not leave for New Zealand before that date.
MAF informs, advises, regulates and delivers services relating to the agriculture, forestry, rural affairs, biosecurity and food safety portfolios.
New Zealand is unique in the world in its dependence on a biological and natural resource-based economy and society. Sustaining and managing those resources will continue to be important to New Zealand as a society into the foreseeable future.
Unaccompanied Personal Effects and Household Goods
All personal effects including household goods and unaccompanied baggage require quarantine risk assessment.
A declaration is required; this is made on an official form, which is obtained from MAF Quarantine Service or the Agent handling the shipment.
Personal Effects arriving via Airfreight:
1) - An Unaccompanied Personal Baggage Declaration. (NZCS 218/NQS QD1) This is an official form that is obtained from your nearest MAF Quarantine Service Office or the Agent handling the shipment.
2) - A detailed packing list that includes all the items in the consignment is required. This should include the package number (for example Box 1) and a list of items contained in each package
Personal Effects arriving via Sea Container: Both the above documents are required plus:
3) - A Sea Container Quarantine Declaration must be presented to MAF Quarantine Service. This document should be signed by a manager of the packing or exporter facility that declares that the container was inspected internally and externally and was found to be free of contaminants. It also states what type of packing materials and wood packaging was used.
4) - Any valid treatment certificates (eg fumigation/heat/cleaning) must also be supplied.
5) - A copy of the Unauthorised opening of Unaccompanied Personal Effects form must be completed for personal effects intended to be cleared at a private residence. This document is signed be the importer or agent to declare that the personal effects will not be opened without MAF Quarantine Service permission.
Once this completed documentation has been presented to the Quarantine Service an Officer will screen the declaration(s), along with the list of contents, against any relevant Import Health Standards to determine risk status. In many cases no inspection of the Personal Effects is required but an inspection of the container is mandatory. This will be carried out by an accredited person.
If an inspection is required MAFQS will need to be notified of the location. Inspections may be carried out at the importing agents' premises or may be done at the final delivery location. The latter is dependant on the location (e.g. a rural area or the distance from the nearest MQS office) and the goods requiring inspection.
MAF Quarantine Service will charge for all clearances and inspections as per the Biosecurity Cost Regulations 2006.
In many instances a declaration as to the state of manufacture may lift this requirement. MAF inspections are generally to determine cleanliness and the presence or otherwise of insects or prohibited items.
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