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Border health equirements for arriving aircraft
Requirements for health clearance (pratique) and what to report to New Zealand health authorities.
On this page
What pratique is
Pratique is the health (quarantine) clearance process for all arriving international aircraft.
The pratique process
International flights and the people on board them can be required to quarantine. In general, the quarantine clearance process involves these steps.
- The aircraft captain must check the health status of everyone on board before arriving in New Zealand.
- If there are no symptoms of concern, the captain does not need to apply for pratique and normal arrival processes apply.
- If passengers or crew have a temperature (38°C or higher) and one or more symptoms of concern, the captain must report this to Airport Operations at the airport of arrival.
- Nationally agreed protocols will then be followed to assess the ill traveller and check if there are any public health risks.
- The captain will be advised what to do next.
- In very rare situations where health clearance has been withheld, local public health services will issue pratique when they are satisfied that there is no quarantinable disease risk on board.
Symptoms of concern and how to report them
The symptoms of concern are a temperature of 38°C or greater together with one or more of these symptoms.
- Appearing obviously unwell.
- Persistent coughing.
- Breathing difficulties.
- Persistent runny poos (diarrhoea).
- Persistent throwing up (vomiting).
- A skin rash.
- Bruising or bleeding without a previous injury.
- Appearing suddenly confused.
The captain must report any symptoms of concern to the airline's agent as soon as possible — ideally at least one hour before landing.
Provide enough information for risk assessment, such as:
- symptoms
- approximate temperature
- age
- countries recently visited
- seat number.
The airline agent or ground handler will then advise Airport Operations at the airport of arrival. Arrangements will then be made for the unwell travellers to be assessed and if necessary for the flight to be met by local public health services on arrival.