Passport expiry/entry into NZ

[kyle]

Hi

Does anyone know if your Australian passport (Aust citizen) has to have a minimum period before expiry on entry to NZ?

I know that for visa-free countries, NZ requires a minimum of three months.

Thanks.

PS: I should have put this question in the immigration/customs section...

 

[NM]

Not sure about entry to NZ, but you must have 6 months validity from the date you plan to return to Australia in order to use your Australian passport to depart Australia. This is an Australian requirement.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I don't think there is any requirement as Australian residents are exempt from both visitor visa requirements and residency visa requirements.

New Zealand Legislation

Immigration Regulations 1999
Schedule 1 Exemptions
Part 1 Persons exempt from requirement to obtain visa (cl 1 to cl [3)
Part 1
Persons exempt from requirement to obtain visa
(cl 1 to cl [3)
Reg 24
A. Persons exempt from requirement to obtain temporary visa or residence visa:
1Persons who are exempt under the Act or under these regulations from the requirement to hold a permit.
[2Persons who hold a current permanent residence visa (including a resident return visa) issued by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia.]

 

[kyle]

Not sure about entry to NZ, but you must have 6 months validity from the date you plan to return to Australia in order to use your Australian passport to depart Australia. This is an Australian requirement.

Thanks for the replies NM and KF.

Re Aust requirement of 6 months and not being able to depart, I couldn't find anything on it after a bit of googling.

Are you able to point me to the source of this?

On Smarttraveller website, it only says, 'Some countries may deny you entry if your passport has less than six months' validity, so be sure to ask about this too.' But nothing about departure from Aust.

Thanks.

 

[Evan]

I think its just the immigration guys on exit giving you a hard time and to make 100% sure you can get in and out of the country your visiting, i understand the 6 months is strong advise only when leaving not an actual real restriction.

For the time you have taken you could have just got a new passport, it only takes 48 hrs.

E

 

[swissbignose]

Not sure about entry to NZ, but you must have 6 months validity from the date you plan to return to Australia in order to use your Australian passport to depart Australia. This is an Australian requirement.

This is an interesting concept.

"I'd like an Australian passport valid for ten years, please."

"Sure. Please be aware that you can only use the passport for the first 9 years and six months. After that, it's no good."

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

This is an interesting concept.

"I'd like an Australian passport valid for ten years, please."

"Sure. Please be aware that you can only use the passport for the first 9 years and six months. After that, it's no good."

Umm that is generally the case. Most countries require 6 month passport validity on entry. So effective life is reduced by 6 months. Not so bad for a 10 year passport. More significant for 5 year passport (like NZ ).

 

[Altair]

Personal experience from February this year, passport expiring early May.
Leaving and entering Australia the Australian immigration people, both arrivals and departures, only commented that my Australian passport was expiring soon, my residential status is NZ.
On arrival to NZ I asked the question, well actually last year as I was worried about the 6 month rule. The answer was that I could use the Australian passport for entry and departure into NZ up to the day of expiry.

I have a new passport now as I needed it for my recent honeymoon as the countries we were travelling to had the 6 month rule.

 

[swissbignose]

Umm that is generally the case. Most countries require 6 month passport validity on entry.

I think it's fine for countries to want to have six months validity. I have a problem with the Australian Government requiring that you have six months validity from the date that you plan to arrive back in the country.

 

[kyle]

Thanks all for your replies.

Looks like it's all fine for Aust/NZ.