Non-scheduled commercial international flight authorisations The Civil Aviation Act 2023 comes into effect on 5 April 2025. The information and guidance on these pages applies from 12.01am on 5 April 2025.

Non-scheduled commercial international flights need authorisation if:

• they arrive and depart from different ports in New Zealand (because an air operator certificate will be required if the flight involves more than one landing and one take-off)
• the flight routing or frequency would require the operator to hold a certificate (air operator certificate or foreign air operator certificate) under the Civil Aviation Rules, or
• the operator holds a scheduled international air service licence, but the proposed route is outside those licence provisions.

Authorisation is not needed:         

• if the flight has one arrival in New Zealand and departs from that same airport, with no domestic flights in between, within a 28-day period
• for scheduled international air service licence holders, provided the flights are to or from the countries or territories that may be served under the licence, within the capacity limits of the licence
• for some other flights, such as flights evacuating sick people into, or out of, New Zealand. 

Please refer to the Authorising non-scheduled commercial international flights guidance for full details on flights that don’t require authorisation.

A request for authorisation must be made by or on behalf of the operator of the aircraft - not by a charterer (although either can make preliminary inquiries about whether authorisation is needed).

Requests for authorisation can be received from the operator, and from/via an agent or the ground handler, a flight dispatch service, or New Zealand border agencies.

A request for authorisation must be made to the Ministry by contacting:  airservices@transport.govt.nz

Requests for authorisation should be made as early as possible, and not less than five working days before two or more flights and 30 days before a prolonged series of flights.

The following information is required.

We will check and assess your application based on the information provided and may request additional information or clarification from the operator or other relevant parties. The assessment process includes checking:

• if the effect of authorisation would circumvent any convention, agreement, or arrangement between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of any other country or territory; and
• if the flights have all other necessary approvals to operate, including certification and border agency requirements.

A 48-hour window either side of the stated times for arrival and departure in New Zealand is provided as part of the authorisation. Changes beyond the 48-hour window require a new authorisation.  Any change to the routing or to the aircraft type to be used will also require a new authorisation.

Border agency requirements

All airlines operating services to and from New Zealand must meet the requirements of the New Zealand border agencies. 

New Zealand border process for airlines

Arrival, departure and transit requirements

Consult the Facilitation Section of the New Zealand Aeronautical Information Publication Planning Manual for information on New Zealand airport arrival, departure and transit requirements.

Aeronautical Information Publication New Zealand