| The days of getting your passport stamped on arrival are long gone for many Kiwi and Aussie travellers since the advent of eGates made for easy processing.
From next week, it is set to become the norm not only for NZ and Aussie residents but also permanent residents on foreign passports.
That's because the arrival stamps that once greeted us and our neighbours across the Tasman will by and large be confined to the stamp scrap heap, thanks to a decision by the Immigration Border Operations (IBO) and Customs.
Current Approach
We currently stamp all passports except for NZ and Australian citizens and those who are processed through our eGates.
From Monday, 19 March, 2018
We will no longer use the oval stamp that was used for Australian permanent residents. These will be returned to the IBO.
Kiwi residents on foreign passports will no longer need to get their passports stamped with the NZ entry stamp, although this will continue to be used for temporary visa holders, except passengers arriving on visa waiver.
All changes will come into play nationally at airport and marine borders. |