On this page, you’ll find some general advice about how to be prepared to stay healthy while you travel. You should consult your doctor for advice about your specific circumstances.
Before you travel anywhere, you should do some research to understand the local conditions and how they could affect your health.
Some things to look into:
The local health ministry or health authorities should have information for travellers. Health New Zealand also has advice on keeping healthy while travelling.
Find out more on the Health New Zealand website.
Also, read our travel advice about your destination.
Your doctor can give advice about your health and whether you should travel, especially if you:
Your doctor can also advise on protecting yourself from other risks, like:
When preparing for your travel, don’t forget to have plenty of essential medications and other supplies. Pack essential medication in your hand luggage in case your checked bag gets lost. Check whether you need to have a medical certificate to travel with your prescription medication.
Travel with a first aid kit that includes:
Don’t travel without travel insurance. If you are sick or injured while travelling and you don’t have insurance, you will have to pay for your medical care. Buy travel insurance, and make sure it covers the activities you have planned.
Find out more on our travel insurance page.
If you are injured overseas and need treatment after you return to New Zealand, it might be covered by Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). You may need to advise ACC within a certain timeframe of your accident or injury. ACC does not cover treatment overseas.
Find out more on the ACC website.
The Government has put together a brochure with tips for travelling about things like handling your passport, and going through security.
Taking a trip can be a great experience for your mental health, but it can also cause stress and anxiety and have other negative effects.
If you have any mental health conditions, talk to your doctor or relevant healthcare professionals before you go. Work with them to create a plan for how to keep yourself well and what to do if things go wrong. Share this plan with your whānau or the people you’re travelling with.
Your healthcare professional can write you a letter that explains your conditions, medications, and their own contact details.
Don’t forget to declare mental health conditions when you buy travel insurance to make sure all your conditions are covered by your insurance policy.
Travellers with disabilities will have extra things to consider when they go abroad, like accessibility.
Find our advice on the People with disabilities page.
We encourage all New Zealanders to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before travelling anywhere overseas.
Most countries no longer have entry requirements for COVID-19 vaccination. If you need to show proof of vaccination, you can find health records by logging in to My Health Record.
