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Shipping boxes to and from New Zealand

New Zealand is generous to people moving there and strict about biosecurity. Shipments worth NZ$1,000 or less clear without duty or GST, apart from alcohol and tobacco, and since April 2026 gifts follow the same rule. Used household effects can come in free for people moving there for the first time or returning after 21 months away. Clean everything, and declare food, plant, and outdoor items.

Typical transit: 2-4 business days from Australia; 4-7 from Asia, North America, or Europe
Currency: NZD
Duty-free up to: NZ$1,000 (about US$570) per shipment
Receiver ID: Not usually needed

Price a shipment to New Zealand

From

Boxes

Weight each (lb)

Box size

Choose where it's from and where it's going.

What it costs to ship boxes from the US to New Zealand

1 medium box (16 × 16 × 16 in, 20 lb)$186.08delivered in 4 to 7 business days
5 medium boxes (30 lb each)$930.38 totalabout $186.08 a box

Includes pickup at your door, express delivery, fuel and prepared customs paperwork. Import duties and taxes, if any, are set by New Zealand and paid by the receiver. Prices updated November 2, 2026.

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Popular routes to New Zealand

Popular routes from New Zealand

Sending to New Zealand

Duties and taxes1 2 3 4 5 6

Duty-free threshold: NZ$1,000 (about US$570) per shipment. Customs collects no duty or GST on a shipment worth NZ$1,000 or less, except on alcohol and tobacco, which are taxed at any value. Several orders from the same supplier that arrive on the same day count as one shipment. Since April 1, 2026, gifts have no separate concession: a gift worth NZ$1,000 or less comes in free, and one worth more pays duty and GST like any other goods. On low-value shipments the courier pays a small goods levy (NZ$2.21 plus GST by air, about US$1.50) and may pass it on.
Import tax: GST at 15% on the value of the goods plus duty, freight, and insurance. Duty depends on the item, where it was made, and where it was sent from: for example 0% on books, computers, and phones, 5% on bed linen, crockery, cosmetics, and toys, and 10% on footwear, menswear, and womenswear. Shipments over NZ$1,000 also pay the Customs and MPI goods levy, NZ$51.81 plus GST (about US$34 in total) for an air shipment.
How value is worked out: Duty is charged on the value of the goods, normally the price paid, in New Zealand dollars. Second-hand goods and gifts follow the same rule. Freight and insurance are added only for GST: GST is 15% of the value plus duty, freight, and insurance. In effect, duty is charged on an FOB basis. Foreign currency is converted at Customs' rates of exchange, which are set for two weeks at a time and published 11 days in advance. The rate on the date the entry is made applies, not the rate on the date of purchase or arrival. Declare a fair value for used items. If household effects don't qualify for the concession, Customs will consider depreciating their value by how long you owned and used them: 10% for up to 3 months, 20% for 3-6 months, 33% for 6-12 months, and 50% for 12-21 months. New goods can't be depreciated.
Who pays: Shipments are sent DAP. The receiver pays any duties and taxes before or on delivery. The courier may add a clearance or disbursement fee.
Moving there?: Used household and personal effects come in free of duty and GST if you are moving to New Zealand for the first time or returning after living abroad for the whole 21 months before you arrive. You need a document authorizing residence, such as a New Zealand or Australian passport, a residence visa, or a work visa issued for at least 12 months, and you must have owned and used the items before you left. They must be for your own use, not for someone else or to give away. Student visas don't qualify, and new items are taxed. File form NZCS 218, and expect a goods levy on each shipment.

Worked example

Illustrative: a gift box of used clothing and shoes worth NZ$1,300 (about US$740), sent by air. Assumes every item carries the 10% clothing and footwear rate, and leaves freight and insurance out of the GST sum to keep it simple.

The box is worth more than NZ$1,000, so its full value is taxed. Duty: 10% x NZ$1,300 = NZ$130. GST: 15% x (NZ$1,300 + NZ$130) = NZ$214.50. High-value air import levy: NZ$51.81 + 15% GST = NZ$59.58. Total: NZ$404.08.

About NZ$404 (about US$230), plus 15% GST on the freight and insurance and any courier fee. The same box worth NZ$1,000 or less would owe no duty or GST.

How customs clearance works in New Zealand1 3 5 6

The courier declares every shipment to Customs and MPI, and those worth NZ$1,000 or less clear on a simplified import declaration with no duty or GST, apart from alcohol and tobacco. Above that, the receiver sends form NZCS 263 with photo ID, proof of purchase, and the shipping document (or uses a broker), then pays Customs' invoice, and the courier is told it can deliver. Household effects clear on NZCS 218, sent through the courier, a broker, or Customs' online Service Request Form.

Formal entry: Shipments worth more than NZ$1,000 need a full import entry, except qualifying household effects, which use NZCS 218. The receiver needs a Customs Number at NZ$1,000 or more. Alcohol and tobacco are taxed at any value. An air shipment over NZ$1,000 also pays the high-value goods levy of NZ$51.81 plus GST.
How long it takes: Often 1-2 business days after arrival for a low-value box with a clear packing list. Household effects take longer: Customs won't prepare a clearance until it has every document, and an examination or biosecurity inspection adds time. The import entry must be made within 20 days of arrival.
Inspections: Customs and MPI screen every shipment. Food, plant and animal products, wood, and used outdoor gear must be declared and may be inspected, sampled, tested, or treated, and MPI can charge for this. Customs may also examine household effects to check the declaration, and medicines can be held until the prescriber's authorization is verified. Failing to declare risk goods can lead to fines or imprisonment.
If duties go unpaid: Goods wait in the courier's or freight company's storage until they are cleared. Most locations give 3-4 days' free storage before fees start, and Customs isn't responsible for those fees. Couriers often return a package to its origin after 20 days at most. Items that can't be cleared are shipped back or destroyed at the importer's cost.

Moving to New Zealand: claiming duty relief3 6 7

01
Check the 21-month rule
You must have lived outside New Zealand for the whole 21 months before you arrive, apart from brief holidays or business trips to New Zealand.
02
Hold a residence document
A New Zealand or Australian passport, a New Zealand residence or returning resident's visa, an Australian permanent residence visa, a work visa issued for at least 12 months, or a visitor visa issued for at least 3 years all count. Student visas don't.
03
Make an inventory
List every item. Only things you owned and used before you left qualify. Declare anything new, because duty and GST apply to it.
04
Complete NZCS 218
Fill in form NZCS 218, including its biosecurity questions, and gather passport bio-pages, the packing list, the shipping document, and your visa if you need one.
05
Choose who clears the goods
Your shipping company, a customs broker, or you can do it through Customs' online Service Request Form. If the goods arrive first, a nominee you appoint in writing can clear them. Customs won't start until it has every document.
06
Pay the levy and receive
A goods levy applies to each shipment and is paid online before release. Customs may examine the shipment and emails you once clearance is final. Goods arriving more than five years after you need a Customs officer's consent.

Documents to have ready1 2 6 7 10

Form NZCS 218 (Bring personal household items into New Zealand) if you are claiming the household effects concession
Passport bio-page of the owner and of any other adults on the form, plus the visa if your right to live in New Zealand depends on one
A packing list of everything in the shipment, with values
The shipping document, such as the courier's consignment note or air waybill
Receipts for any new items, and MPI's Supplementary Biosecurity Declaration, which Customs still lists for household effects
For other shipments worth more than NZ$1,000: form NZCS 263, a Customs Number, photo ID, and proof of purchase
For medicines: a copy of the New Zealand prescriber's letter or prescription, packed with the shipping papers

Onvoyo prepares the commercial invoice from your contents list. You print three copies, sign them, and send them with your boxes.

Official forms1 2 6 7

NZCS 218: Bring personal household items into New Zealand (opens in a new tab)
Claims the household effects concession and answers the biosecurity questions for belongings shipped when you move to New Zealand.
NZCS 263: Bring general items into New Zealand as a private individual (opens in a new tab)
For private individuals receiving other goods worth more than NZ$1,000, such as gifts or purchases.
NZCS 224A: Apply for, or update, a Customs Number as a private individual (opens in a new tab)
Gets the Customs Number needed to import or export items worth NZ$1,000 or more.

What you can pack, category by category1 3 7 10

What you can pack, by category
Category	Status	What to know
Clothing and shoesMore on clothes	Allowed	Clean clothing is fine. Clean all soil off shoes and declare hiking boots and spiked sports shoes. Clothing and footwear carry 10% duty above NZ$1,000 (baby clothing 0%).
Books and papersMore on books	Allowed	Books are fine and carry 0% duty. Objectionable material is banned.
ElectronicsMore on electronics	Allowed	Personal devices are fine, with batteries installed. Computers, cameras, and phones carry 0% duty.
MedicationMore on medicine	Conditions	Up to three months' supply of prescription medicine (six for oral contraceptives), with an original letter or prescription from a New Zealand authorized prescriber. Over-the-counter medicines are fine for personal use. No controlled drugs or CBD.
FoodMore on food	Conditions	Declare every food item. MPI may assess risk food, and anything that can't be cleared is returned or destroyed at your cost. Couriers refuse perishables.
Cosmetics and toiletriesMore on cosmetics	Conditions	Personal amounts are fine, but not products with CBD or hemp extracts. No aerosols or nail polish. Cosmetics and perfume carry 5% duty above NZ$1,000.
Alcohol and tobaccoMore on alcohol or tobacco	Not allowed	Taxed at any value and generally refused by express carriers. Some tobacco can't come by mail at all. Don't pack them.
Sports and outdoor gearMore on sports and outdoor gear	Conditions	Clean off all soil and declare it. Bikes, tents, camping and water sports gear, fishing gear, and spiked shoes are biosecurity items and may be inspected.
Children's items and toysMore on toys and baby gear	Allowed	Clean toys are fine. Remove loose batteries. Toys carry 5% duty above NZ$1,000.
Documents and photosMore on documents and photos	Allowed	Personal papers and photos are fine.
Other	Conditions	Wooden carvings, cane, bamboo, basketware, shells, feathers, and Christmas or Easter decorations must be declared for biosecurity. Wildlife items may need a CITES permit.

Quantity limits2 7 9 10

Quantity limits for New Zealand
Item	Limit
Shipments by courier or post	No duty or GST on a shipment worth NZ$1,000 (about US$570) or less, apart from alcohol and tobacco, which are taxed at any value.
Medicines	Up to three months' supply of a prescription medicine (six months for oral contraceptives), with a New Zealand prescriber's letter or prescription. Controlled drugs can't be sent; travelers may carry up to one month's supply.
Goods (travelers only)	NZ$700 (about US$400) of goods bought overseas or duty-free, including gifts, per traveler. Does not apply to shipments.
Alcohol (travelers only)	4.5 liters of wine or beer, plus 3 bottles of spirits or liqueur of up to 1.125 liters each, for travelers aged 17 or over. Does not apply to shipments.
Tobacco (travelers only)	50 cigarettes, or 50 g of cigars or tobacco, or 50 g of a mix, for travelers aged 17 or over. Does not apply to shipments.
Cash	Cash or bearer instruments worth NZ$10,000 (about US$5,700) or more in any currency need a Border Cash Report. Never pack cash in boxes.

What you can't send to New Zealand1 3 7 8 10

Not allowed

Aerosols, spray cans, and compressed gas cylinders
Flammable liquids and solids: fuel, lighter fluid, paint, nail polish, matches
Loose or spare lithium batteries and power banks not installed in a device
Cash, gift cards, checks, and other negotiable items
Firearms, ammunition, replicas, and weapon parts
Perishable food, and meat, dairy, or fresh produce
Cannabis, CBD, and THC products, even where they are legal at origin
Objectionable publications and material
Equipment for using cannabis or methamphetamine
Some dog-tracking collars
Luxury goods made in Russia, such as vodka, seafood, truffles, and precious stones, and other Russian-made goods worth more than NZ$1,000, including clothing, footwear, and personal electronics
Gold of Russian origin
Cosmetics, beauty products, and jewelry that contain CBD or hemp extracts
Medicines that contain controlled drugs, sent by courier or post

Allowed with conditions

Food of any kind: Declare it. Most food for your own use needs no action, but MPI may assess risk food, including sampling and testing. Plant and animal products, including food, may need a permit. Anything that can't be cleared is shipped back or destroyed at your cost.
Used outdoor gear, shoes, tents, bikes, and garden tools: Clean them thoroughly and declare them. NZCS 218 asks about hiking boots, spiked sports shoes, soiled footwear, camping and water sports gear, bicycles, and anything used around animals or in rural areas. They may be inspected or treated, and MPI can charge for this.
Wooden items, cane, bamboo, and basketware: Declare them. Handcrafted wooden ornaments and carvings, cane, bamboo, basketware, and straw are biosecurity items, and wood packing material counts as a risk good.
Animal products, shells, feathers, wool, and plants: Declare them. Some need inspection, treatment, or an MPI permit. Wildlife items such as ivory, whalebone, and turtle shell also need CITES permits.
Medicines: Up to three months' supply of a prescription medicine (six months for oral contraceptives), with an original letter or prescription from a New Zealand authorized prescriber that matches the medicine exactly. Customs may hold the package until this is checked. Over-the-counter medicines are fine for your own or your family's use. Medicines with controlled drugs can't be sent.
Alcohol and tobacco: Duty and GST are charged at any value, and the NZ$1,000 threshold doesn't apply. Some tobacco products can't come by international mail and are seized and destroyed.

Sending from New Zealand

Shipping boxes out of New Zealand2 8

Everything sent out of New Zealand by courier, air, or sea needs a Customs export clearance, which the courier usually completes for you. Personal and household effects and gifts for people overseas don't need a full export entry, but other goods worth more than NZ$1,000 do, and the sender needs a Customs Number at NZ$1,000 or more. Protected objects, natural pounamu, and many wildlife items are restricted.

Documents

A packing list with values
The sender's passport or ID details
A Customs Number (form NZCS 224A) if the shipment is worth NZ$1,000 or more
A CITES permit for protected wildlife items; check with the Department of Conservation

Can't leave the country

Protected New Zealand objects are restricted, including Māori artifacts over 50 years old, moa bones and feathers, and goods over 50 years old of national, scientific, or artistic importance, such as documents, photographs, stamps, coins, and works of art
Pounamu (greenstone) in its natural state can't be exported. Articles made from pounamu, such as jewelry and carvings, are allowed, as are consignments with no more than 5 kg of pounamu from one exporter
Wildlife items under CITES, such as ivory, whalebone, coral, shark teeth, and some orchids and cacti, need permits
Cash can't be sent, and neither can anything illegal, explosive, dangerous, or poorly packaged

Before pickup

Check the destination's food rules with its embassy or high commission before packing snacks or souvenirs.
Sending antiques, taonga, old photographs, or documents? Check with Customs first.
Pack early before the December and January summer holidays, when pickups slow down.
Keep a copy of the packing list and photos of valuable items.

Addresses, delivery and timing

Writing the address

Write the street address, then the suburb, then the town or city with the 4-digit postcode. Rural addresses should include the RD number. Add a phone number for the courier.

Maria Example12 Example StreetMount EdenAuckland 1024New Zealand+64 21 000 0000

Example only; not a real address.

Delivery coverage

Fastest to: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, Dunedin.

Remote areas: Rural addresses, the West Coast, Northland, and offshore islands like Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands can add days and surcharges.

Give the receiver's phone number and email so the courier can arrange clearance, payment, and delivery. Rural delivery addresses need the RD number.

When things slow down

The Christmas and New Year summer break slows customs and couriers from late December to mid-January. Public holidays also cause short delays: Labour Day (October 26, 2026), Waitangi Day (February 6), Easter (March 26-29 in 2027), Anzac Day (April 25), King's Birthday (June 7, 2027), and Matariki (June 25, 2027).

Advice for your situation

Students

Student visa holders don't qualify for the household effects concession, but you may bring items you need to complete your studies, such as a desk, textbooks, or a computer. Keep other shipments at NZ$1,000 or less where that's honest.

Returning home

New Zealanders back after living overseas for the 21 months before they arrive can bring used household effects free of duty and GST with form NZCS 218. Goods arriving more than five years after you need a Customs officer's consent.

Expats and relocations

New residents, people on work visas issued for 12 months or more, and holders of visitor visas issued for 3 years or more qualify for the household effects concession. Leaving? The courier usually files the export clearance for you.

Tips for a smooth delivery

Scrub shoes, tents, bikes, and sports gear clean before packing, and declare them.
List food, wooden items, and outdoor gear clearly on the packing list. If in doubt, declare it.
Moving there? Complete NZCS 218 and keep proof of your 21 months overseas and your residence document.
Sending a gift? Keep the whole shipment at NZ$1,000 or less. Above that, duty and GST apply to its full value.
Shipping NZ$1,000 or more? Get the receiver's Customs Number before the boxes arrive. The entry must be made within 20 days of arrival.
Sending medicine? Pack a copy of the New Zealand prescriber's letter or prescription with the shipping papers.

Shipping to and from New Zealand: questions

Can I send gifts to New Zealand duty-free?

Yes, if the whole shipment is worth NZ$1,000 or less and has no alcohol or tobacco. Since April 1, 2026, gifts have no special concession, so a gift worth more than NZ$1,000 pays duty and GST like any other goods.

How much will the receiver pay above NZ$1,000?

Duty at the item's rate (often 0%, 5%, or 10%) on the value of the goods, plus 15% GST on the value, duty, freight, and insurance, plus a goods levy of NZ$51.81 plus GST for an air shipment. A NZ$1,300 box of clothing comes to about NZ$404 (about US$230) before GST on the freight.

Do I pay GST on household items when moving to New Zealand?

Not if you hold a residence document, lived overseas for the 21 months before you arrive, and owned and used the items before you left. A goods levy still applies to each shipment.

What is form NZCS 218?

It is the Customs form for bringing your personal household items into New Zealand. It claims the duty and GST concession and asks the biosecurity questions. Send it with your passport bio-page, packing list, and shipping document.

Do international students get the household effects concession?

No. Student visa holders don't qualify, but you may bring items you need to complete your studies, such as a desk, textbooks, or a computer. Other shipments worth NZ$1,000 or less usually pay nothing.

What can't I send to New Zealand?

Objectionable material, cannabis or methamphetamine utensils, some dog-tracking collars, Russian luxury goods and gold, and CBD products. Food, plant and animal products, and outdoor gear must be declared and may be inspected. Couriers also refuse aerosols, flammables, loose batteries, and weapons.

How long does shipping boxes to New Zealand take?

Express door to door usually takes 2-4 business days from Australia and 4-7 from Asia, North America, or Europe, plus any biosecurity inspection.

How do I ship boxes out of New Zealand?

Book an express courier, which usually files the Customs export clearance for you from your packing list. Shipments worth NZ$1,000 or more need a Customs Number. Protected objects, natural pounamu, and many wildlife items are restricted.

Official help in New Zealand

New Zealand Customs Service: National Contact Centre (opens in a new tab)
0800 428 786 in New Zealand, 1800 301 861 from Australia, or +64 9 886 4651 from elsewhere. Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, except public holidays.
Medsafe: importing medicines (opens in a new tab)
Questions about importing medicines: use the general enquiry form on this page or email medclearance@health.govt.nz.

Official sources

Every section above is checked against these official pages. Rules change, and customs in New Zealand makes the final decision on every shipment. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

1.
New Zealand Customs Service
Receive items from overseas (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026
2.
New Zealand Customs Service
Duty and allowances (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026
3.
New Zealand Customs Service
TSW Fact Sheet: Importing goods for personal use (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026
4.
New Zealand Customs Service
Changes to duty-free entry of heirlooms, inherited goods and gifts (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026
5.
New Zealand Customs Service
Goods levies and hourly rate (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026
6.
New Zealand Customs Service
Household effects (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026
7.
New Zealand Customs Service
NZCS 218: Bring personal household items into New Zealand (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026
8.
New Zealand Customs Service
Send items overseas (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026
9.
New Zealand Customs Service
Duty-free shopping (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026
10.
Medsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority)
Importing Medicines (opens in a new tab)
Health regulator · checked September 26, 2026

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