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UNCLASSIFIED

Kia ora David

Please find attached Customs' response to your Official Information Act request.

Ng+AQE- mihi,

Correspondence, Reviews and Ministerial Servicing
New Zealand Customs Service +AHw- Te Mana +AQA-rai o Aotearoa

UNCLASSIFIED
-----Original Message-----
From: David Singh +ADw-fyi-request-33537-e2177a1b+AEA-requests.fyi.org.nz+AD4-
Sent: Sunday, 18 January 2026 0:39
To: OIA +ADw-OIA+AEA-customs.govt.nz+AD4-
Subject: Official Information request - Dual citizens using eGate

Dear New Zealand Customs Service,

I have a question regarding eGate use by dual New Zealand citizens who are traveling with both a New Zealand passport and a foreign passport that does not have a Citizenship Endorsement or any New Zealand visa linked to it.

OIA request 24-575 notes that, to use eGate, the passport details and passenger details provided by the airline must be an exact match.

In the following scenario:

A New Zealand+IBM-United States dual citizen uses their US passport (without a Citizenship Endorsement) to check in for a flight departing New Zealand to the United States (as US citizens cannot be granted a visa or ETA by CBP), and then proceeds to border control.

Can you confirm:
- Whether the person can use their New Zealand passport at eGate in this situation+ADs- and
- If not, whether the correct process is that the person must present their New Zealand passport to an officer at manual passport control.

My understanding is that the US passport could not be used at eGate, as it would not be linked to any New Zealand visa or endorsement. Please confirm whether this understanding is correct.

Do Customs have any plans to update operational guidance or systems to address this situation, given the increasing number of New Zealand dual citizens who hold and travel with more than one passport?

Yours faithfully,

David Singh

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The information contained in this email is intended for the addressees and is not necessarily the official view or communication of the New Zealand Customs Service.

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UNCLASSIFIED

Kia ora David

 

Please find attached Customs' response to your Official Information Act
request.

 

Nga mihi,

 

Correspondence, Reviews and Ministerial Servicing

New Zealand Customs Service | Te Mana Arai o Aotearoa

 

 

 

UNCLASSIFIED

-----Original Message-----

From: David Singh <[1][FOI #33537 email]>

Sent: Sunday, 18 January 2026 0:39

To: OIA <[2][email address]>

Subject: Official Information request - Dual citizens using eGate

 

Dear New Zealand Customs Service,

 

I have a question regarding eGate use by dual New Zealand citizens who are
traveling with both a New Zealand passport and a foreign passport that
does not have a Citizenship Endorsement or any New Zealand visa linked to
it.

 

OIA request 24-575 notes that, to use eGate, the passport details and
passenger details provided by the airline must be an exact match.

 

In the following scenario:

 

A New Zealand–United States dual citizen uses their US passport (without a
Citizenship Endorsement) to check in for a flight departing New Zealand to
the United States (as US citizens cannot be granted a visa or ETA by CBP),
and then proceeds to border control.

 

Can you confirm:

- Whether the person can use their New Zealand passport at eGate in this
situation; and

- If not, whether the correct process is that the person must present
their New Zealand passport to an officer at manual passport control.

 

My understanding is that the US passport could not be used at eGate, as it
would not be linked to any New Zealand visa or endorsement. Please confirm
whether this understanding is correct.

 

Do Customs have any plans to update operational guidance or systems to
address this situation, given the increasing number of New Zealand dual
citizens who hold and travel with more than one passport?

 

Yours faithfully,

 

David Singh

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[3][FOI #33537 email]

 

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Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[6]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Please ensure this email and any attachments are controlled and handled
according to their classification - PSR Classifications Quick
Guides.<[7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...>

The information contained in this email is intended for the addressees and
is not necessarily the official view or communication of the New Zealand
Customs Service.

This email may contain information that is confidential or legally
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 a. Reply promptly to that effect, remove this email and any replies from
your system.
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References

Visible links
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2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[FOI #33537 email]
4. mailto:[Customs request email]
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