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How to Clear Goods Through Customs Importing commercial goods into New Zealand does not need to be complicated, but delays can quickly become expensive when Customs or biosecurity requirements are dealt with too late. Whether you are importing by sea freight, air freight or courier, understanding the clearance process before your goods arrive can help avoid unnecessary storage, demurrage and other delays. What happens when commercial goods arrive in New Zealand? Imported commercial goods need to meet New Zealand Customs requirements. Depending on the goods, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity requirements may also apply. Customs and MPI perform different roles. Customs deals with matters such as import entry processing, tariff classification, duty and GST, restricted imports and border compliance. MPI manages biosecurity risks and the requirements that apply to risk goods such as food, plant material, timber, animal products, used machinery and some packaging. For a fuller explanation, see our guide on MPI vs New Zealand Customs. What documents will your customs broker normally need? The documents required depend on the shipment, but commercial imports commonly require: Commercial invoice Packing list Bill of Lading or Air Waybill Freight and insurance information where applicable Country of origin information Import permits, certificates or other approvals where required Some goods may also require phytosanitary certificates, health certificates, treatment certificates or other supporting documentation. Providing complete documents before the shipment arrives gives your broker an opportunity to identify problems early. New Zealand Customs allows documentation to be submitted before arrival, and early preparation can help reduce avoidable storage or clearance delays. How is the Customs entry prepared? Your customs broker reviews the shipment information and determines the tariff classification and other information required for the import entry. The entry is then lodged electronically with New Zealand Customs. Depending on the goods and circumstances, Customs may release the shipment or require further information, examination or another form of intervention. Read more about our New Zealand Customs clearance service. What about MPI clearance? Customs clearance does not necessarily mean the goods have also met MPI biosecurity requirements. If the shipment contains biosecurity risk goods, separate MPI requirements may apply. For sea containers, MPI guidance says importers need to meet the applicable Import Health Standards, provide required documentation and arrange the appropriate transitional facility. A BACC application may also be required through Trade Single Window. See our MPI and biosecurity clearance service for more information. Why should clearance start before arrival? One of the most common mistakes is waiting until the vessel or aircraft arrives before sending documents to the customs broker. By then, storage or other freight-related charges may already be approaching. Where possible, send the documents to your broker as soon as the supplier provides them. Early preparation gives everyone more time to identify missing documents, permits or other clearance requirements. If you are still deciding whether professional help is necessary, read Do I Need a Customs Broker in New Zealand?. Importing into New Zealand for the first time? If you are planning your first commercial shipment, check the requirements before the supplier dispatches the goods. A relatively small documentation or biosecurity issue at origin can become a much more expensive problem once the cargo reaches New Zealand. Cusmode Customs Brokers assists importers with New Zealand Customs clearance and applicable MPI border-clearance requirements. We handle sea freight clearance, air freight clearance, vehicle imports, personal effects and commercial cargo. If you have a shipment coming to New Zealand, contact Cusmode Customs Brokers before it departs or before it arrives.