Country Guide

Shipping Luggage to New Zealand from South Africa

Shipping luggage and personal effects from South Africa to New Zealand: who qualifies for duty-free entry, MPI biosecurity and documents.

WhatsApp 068 058 2700

Call Johannesburg 011 972 1111

Be there for clearance

You must be in New Zealand when your personal effects are cleared, otherwise duty and GST can be charged. Used effects for your own use are free of duty and GST for people moving there, and returning New Zealanders generally need to have lived abroad for 21 months.

Documents

Passport copy, your visa (usually valid for at least 12 months), the airway bill, the Unaccompanied Personal Baggage Declaration and a detailed inventory. 'Misc' or 'packed by owner' leads to a full inspection; keep receipts for new items.

Cartons being checked against a delivery list

Biosecurity

Goods are checked by the Ministry for Primary Industries. Anything with soil or insects is cleaned or fumigated at your cost. Canned meat, honey, dairy, eggs, seeds and plants are prohibited.

Medicines

Medicine must be in the original container with the prescription, and may delay clearance. It is better carried with you.

Checklist

Documents for New Zealand

South African citizens: a copy of your ID (customs wants the ID, not the passport)

Foreign nationals: a copy of your passport

If you ship for someone else, a copy of their ID or passport as well

A signed clearing instruction for customs, which we send you to sign

A valued inventory list of what is in each piece (complete it online)

Full addresses in South Africa and at the destination on the inventory

Contact details at the destination: telephone, mobile and email

Describe what is in every bag or box: many countries reject inventories that just say 'misc' or 'packed by owner'

Your visa or residence permit, and any customs relief form New Zealand requires

Two Options

Door to Airport or Door to Door

Door to airport (CFR): recommended

Includes collection, customs clearance in South Africa, airline handling in South Africa and transport to the destination airport. You clear it and collect it at the destination.
Excludes destination clearance, depot or terminal charges at the destination, storage and examination fees if stopped, and AMS filing for sea freight to the USA.

Door to door (DAP)

Available to some countries only, and much more expensive. Includes collection, delivery to your door abroad, customs clearance in South Africa and at the destination, airline handling and all transport fees.
Excludes storage and examination fees if customs stops the shipment, and AMS filing for sea freight to the USA.

Our tip: save by clearing it yourself

Door to airport is by far the cheaper option. You pay the airline handling fee at the destination, process customs yourself with your passport and the inventory, and collect your baggage at the airport. Ask us for both prices and we will tell you what the destination's customs office will ask for.

Customs rules change. We confirm the current requirements for New Zealand when we quote.

Questions

Shipping Luggage to New Zealand: Questions

Tap a question to open the answer. For anything else, WhatsApp us.

Can my baggage arrive before me?

It can arrive, but it can only be cleared duty-free once you are in New Zealand.

Will I pay GST on my belongings?

Used personal effects are usually exempt for new residents and qualifying returning New Zealanders; new goods may be taxed.

Can I send gardening tools?

Only if they are completely clean. Soil is one of the most common reasons for treatment.

Collection

We Collect Across South Africa

More Destinations

Other Country Guides

Sending Luggage to New Zealand?

WhatsApp 068 058 2700 with the number of pieces and your destination city.