Border Clearance Levy

Purpose of the Border Clearance Levy

Biosecurity New Zealand (an MPI business unit) and the New Zealand Customs Service work together at New Zealand's border. They check everyone who arrives in or leaves New Zealand. Part of that work is checking that international travellers don't bring biosecurity risk goods into New Zealand.

The Border Clearance Levy (also known as the Border Processing Levy) was introduced in 2016. It pays for technology and staff to improve:

• our border protection
• customers' experiences
• processing of travellers.

This has made New Zealand's border services better, and helped protect New Zealand. Processing of people at the border has become more efficient.

The levy rate is based on:

• border processing costs
• forecast traveller numbers
• any surplus or shortfall from the levy's operation to date
• planned biosecurity investment.

Border processing levies – NZ Customs

Current levy rates

This table shows the levy rates (excluding GST) current from 1 December 2021.

These charges are included in the price of air travel and cruise tickets. Private aircraft and yachts will be invoiced.

Find out about the Border Processing Levy changes from 1 December 2021 – NZ Customs

Latest performance report

The June 2020 report shows performance for the 12 months to 30 June 2020. It also provides a forecast through to 30 June 2021.

The report includes:

• forecast traveller numbers
• agencies' forecast costs
• agencies' work programmes
• agencies' performance.

The Border Clearance Levy performance report for the year to 30 June 2020 [PDF, 963 KB]

If you have questions about the report, email costrecovery@mpi.govt.nz