Your belongings - Personal effects and Household Goods

All personal effects including household goods and unaccompanied baggage require MAF Biosecurity New Zealand clearance.

Obtaining Clearance

MAFBNZ Clearance Service must receive the following:

Personal Effects arriving by Air freight

Personal belongings arriving via air require an Unaccompanied Personal Baggage Declaration (NZCS 218) (164 Kb).  If there are more than three family members, you must also submit the Supplementary Customs Page NZCS218A/NQS QD1A (122 Kb). This form is used to obtain clearance by MAFBNZ and the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS).  The form can be printed off prior to filling it out.

Official forms may also be obtained from your nearest MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Clearance Service office, New Zealand Customs or from the agent handling the shipment.

A detailed packing list should include all items in the consignment. A good tip is to number boxes or packages and make a list of the items inside.  

Personal Effects arriving by Sea freight

As above, personal belongings arriving via sea require an Unaccompanied Personal Baggage Declaration (NZCS 218). (164 Kb) A detailed packing list should include all items in the consignment. A good tip is to number boxes or packages and make a list of the items inside.  

Full containers, privately imported goods or personal effects arriving in a sea container also require a Sea Container Quarantine Declaration (20 Kb) which must be presented to MAFBNZ Clearance Service. The declaration should then be signed by a manager of the packing or exporting facility. At the exporting facility the container will need to be inspected internally and externally and found free of contaminants.. The declaration also states what type of packing materials and wood packaging were used.

Any valid treatment certificates, such as for fumigation, heat or cleaning, must also be supplied.

A copy of the Unauthorised opening of Unaccompanied Personal Effects (21 Kb) form must be completed for personal effects intended to be cleared at a private residence.  This document is signed by the importer or agent to declare that the personal effects will not be opened without MAFBNZ Clearance Service permission.  If the container is to be unpacked at a private residence, the container must be placed on a hard sealed area. Consignments of personal effects shipped as LCL or FAK must be inspected at a transitional facility, not a residence, if inspection is required.

Once the completed documentation ahs been presented to the MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Clearance 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 inspection of the container is mandatory.  This will be carried out by an accredited person.

If an inspection is required MAFBNZ Clearance Service 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.

A Sea Container Quarantine Declaration is not required from importers who have shipped their goods as part of LCL /FAK (Less than Container Load/Freight for All Kinds) consignments.

Costs

MAFBNZ Clearance Service will charge for all clearances and inspections as outlined in the Biosecurity Cost Regulations 2006. (160 Kb)

Your service provider may charge a clearance facilitation fee which can include inspection booking, administration, labour and communications. 

Goods that the MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Clearance Service wants to see are: 

Also see Restricted Items

• Wooden items
• Gardening Equipment
• Lawn Mowers and Catchers
• Foodstuffs
• Medicines
• Cane furniture
• Bicycles
• Golf clubs and buggies
• Sporting shoes and equipment
• Vacuum cleaners with un-emptied dust bags
• Ornaments and curios containing skin or feathers or bone
• Christmas decorations
• Dried flowers and seeds
• Equipment/medicines used with horses or other animals
• Used Vehicles

These items are NOT necessarily prohibited, but they require inspection. In many instances a declaration as to the state of manufacture may lift this requirement. Our inspections are generally to determine cleanliness and the presence or otherwise of insects or prohibited items.

You might also like to check out What You Must Declare as well as the Import Health Standard for Sea Containers from All Countries