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HomeNewsPre-departure COVID-19 test – UK and USA

Pre-departure COVID-19 test – UK and USA

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) announced that negative COVID-19 test result are required for travellers coming from the United Kingdom or United States arriving in or transiting through New Zealand after 11.59pm on 15 January 2021.

The test must be taken no more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure time of the first leg of your flight.

Initially, all travellers from the United Kingdom and/or the United States are subject to the new pre-departure testing requirements.

If you are travelling from the UK and US to another country, but will be transiting through New Zealand and staying airside (not leaving the airport), you are subject to the new pre-departure testing requirements.

Other countries and airlines may also require travellers to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test prior to departure. Please check with your airline about any pre-departure testing requirements, even if you are only transiting through these countries.

Approved pre-departure test results

New Zealand currently accepts results from the following tests:

  • PCR and RT-PCR tests,
  • LAMP tests, or
  • antigen tests.

All tests must be processed by a laboratory recognised in the country of origin as authorised or accredited to conduct tests.

If you are unable to take a test for medical reasons you are required to provide a medical certificate.

The Director-General will advise on an ongoing basis the kind of pre-departure test that is required.

Please also check the requirements of other countries you are going to be transiting through. They may have requirements that are different to what New Zealand requires.