Despite being comprised of a small group of islands, New Zealand has embraced air travel, with approximately 25 flight destinations spread all across the country.
Domestic flights in New Zealand are a cheap and quick way to reach all larger airports. It is common for people not only to take internal flights to move fast from one place to another but also to see the beauty of stunning New Zealand from above.
If you plan a trip within the country and wonder whether you would need a passport for domestic flights, we have good news! In this blog article, we reveal all information you need to know about flying domestically and passport requirements.
Is passport required for domestic flights in New Zealand?
Domestic flights in New Zealand are essentially just another means of transportation like a bus or train in other countries. Therefore, you will not need a passport for travelling on national flights in NZ. The same rule applies to foreign citizens who are for touristic purposes in the country.
Nevertheless, if you check-in at the airport, you will need to carry any document that can serve as your identification. Acceptable documents include:
- passport
- driving licence
- birth certificate (original or certified copy)
- student ID
- ID issued by the aviation or airport authorities
- community service card
- credit card with your name on it.
Suppose you are travelling on Air New Zealand. In that case, they will even allow you to use Koru or Airpoints membership cards as proof of identity. Remember that whichever document you decide to use must be an original or certified copy and, most importantly, unexpired.
On the contrary, if you choose to check in online and print your boarding ticket in advance, you will not need to show any kind of identification at the airport. However, it is always recommended that you have an official ID with you.
Got the travel bug? Try reading these articles for more ideas:
- Do You Need a Passport to Fly to Scotland?
- Do I Need a Passport to Fly Domestic in US?
- Do You Need a Passport to Go to Canada? [Ultimate Guide]
- Passport Lost Before a Flight—Can You Still Travel? [And What to Do]
- Can I Book an International Flight with an Expired Passport?
- Do You Need a Passport to Go to Cancun? [2024 Update]
- Can You Visit Niagara Falls Without the US Passport?
Does a child need a passport for domestic flights?
All passengers on flight including infants (younger than 2 years) and children (between 2 and 17 years old) might be required to have an identification document with them. However, it does not have to be a passport, but could be a birth certificate or immunisation record of your child.
Your children can also travel alone as unaccompanied minors if they are older than 5 years.
In that case, you as a parent or a legal guardian must accompany children to the airport where your documents will be checked. Furthermore, if your children are between 5 to 11 years old they will be given an Airband which they must wear during their journey.
This small device that resembles a wrist watch will be scanned by the airport personnel at different stages such as check in, when boarding the plane, after the plane has landed and when the assigned person picks up the child from the airport and you as a parent or a legal guardian will be notified at every stage.
Online passport photo tool
Although you are not required to have your passport on domestic flights, you will always be on the safe side if you have it with you. Suppose you don’t possess a valid passport or photo ID and need a passport photo. In that case, we can recommend our Passport Photo Online tool for New Zealand ID photos.
It is a convenient substitution for traditional photo booths. The best thing about this digital ID photo creator is that you can get a perfect picture within a minute, and you do not even need to leave your house.
The tool is also available in the form of a mobile application for both iOS and Android users.
You just need to take a photo with your smartphone or camera against any background, upload it to the app or online, and the app will do the rest. The AI technology will remove the background in your photo, adjust its lighting, and crop the picture to the required size.
And not only that! Our human photo expert will double-check your image to ensure that it meets all requirements before you receive it.
If you decide to buy a digital version of your photograph, this service will cost you only $6.95. You can also select an option to receive a physical copy sent to your home, and in that case, it will cost you $9.95. Passport Photo Online guarantees compliance, and in case your photo is rejected, we will give you 200% of your money back.
FAQ – Do you need a passport for domestic flights
Please find the most frequently asked questions about passport requirements for domestic flights below.
Do you need a passport for domestic flights in New Zealand?
If you fly domestically in New Zealand, you will not need a passport. Still, if you check in at the airport, you must carry some identification with you because the airport personnel will check it.
Can I fly domestically with an expired passport?
You cannot fly domestically with an expired passport. Although you will not need a passport to fly domestically, if you decide to travel with your passport, it must be valid. Nevertheless, you can use some other ID instead. Besides passports, accepted identification documents are a driver’s licence, student ID card, original or certified birth certificate, or any other ID that can serve as proof of identification.
Does my child need a passport to fly domestically?
No, children do not need a passport for domestic flights in New Zealand when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. However, you must be able to provide proof of identification and proof of age, which can be in the form of a child’s birth certificate.
Do you need a passport for domestic flights – Final thoughts
New Zealand has been rated by the Rough Guides as the third most beautiful country in the world. So, if you live in NZ or just plan your holiday there, you will have enough beautiful places to visit and explore by using different transportation options.
Still, we might be often unsure which documents to take with us when making a domestic holiday.
In this article we revealed that when travelling by domestic flights, you will not need to carry your passport with you. However, if you decide to check in at the airport you will have to show proof of identity with your name on it such as a credit card, birth certificate, driver’s licence, student ID and similar.
Although you will not need any ID if you check in remotely, it is always advisable to have it with you.
Sources
Anisa is a Media and Convergence Management student at AAU in Klagenfurt. She is a passionate poetry reader, games lover, and enthusiastic writer. When she is not writing, Anisa loves to spend her time traveling and exploring new cities. Her professional interests include consumer behaviour, organizational communication, and cross-media management.
