International paperwork

It's an inescapable fact – sending items internationally involves completing some additional paperwork. With our quick guide* you can check what's what for where you want to send.

*Note: ePost has different paperwork requirements to international courier. Talk to our international helpdesk on 0800 655 010 for more information.

What you need

For sending documents, complete:

Confirmed

A consignment note

For sending non-documents, complete:

Confirmed

A consignment note
Confirmed

A Commercial Invoice

To complete the paperwork simply follow the step-by-step instructions below. If you're unsure about anything (i.e. whether your item is a non-document) give our international team a call on 0800 655 010 or email us.

Completing a Consignment Note

All International items require an original consignment note. These are free from your local branch or you can order them online. The bill or charge to your account will itemise the weight, destination and consignment type.

Sender's contact details

Please complete:

  • Your New Zealand Couriers account number
  • Company / individual name
  • Address where the consignment is to be collected from; including City, Postal Code (if applicable), Region / State and Country
  • Contact name (of the sender)
  • Contact telephone number (of the sender)

Receiver's contact details

Please complete:

  • Receivers' company / individual name
  • Receiver's address; including City, Zip / Postal Code
  • Region / State and Country*
  • Contact name (of the receiver)
  • Contact telephone number (of the receiver)

Description of goods

Please complete:

  • A general description of the items being shipped
  • The number of packages
  • The weight of the individual packages
  • The dimensions of the individual packages
  • Consignment's value

Select the service

Please complete:

  • The service you require in the relevant box under Document or Parcel
  • Tick the appropriate box if you require Priority Service or International Express
  • Tick 'yes' or 'no' for dangerous goods
  • If you require enhanced liability cover, tick the box and indicate the currency and content's value
  • Sign and date the consignment note

Completing a Commercial Invoice

A commercial invoice form must be completed for any non-document item and a value provided regardless if the shipment has no commercial value. Four copies of this form are required to be sent together with each New Zealand Couriers' international consignment note. You can download a commerical invoice form here or call our International Helpdesk.

If you need any help with answering questions 4 and 5 on the form, you can call New Zealand Customs on 0800 4 CUSTOMS or if calling from overseas 0064 9 300 5399.

Please complete:

  • Receiver's full details including a contact name and telephone number
  • Record the consignment note number and the number of packages you are sending
  • Full description of the goods (e.g. 'sample' or 'gift' is not acceptable)
  • NZ Customs' Client Code (only required for shipments valued NZ$1000 or more)
  • Number of items enclosed
  • Unit value of each piece
  • Total value by product (i.e. the number of items x unit value)
  • Total invoice value of all items
  • Country from which the goods originated (i.e. where they were manufactured)
  • Reason for export (e.g. sale, repair or gift)
  • Write your company's name and address, print your name, sign and date

Additonal Paperwork

There are commodities which require additional paperwork in addition to the standard consignment note and commercial invoice. This will depend on what the commodity is and also where it is being sent to. The additional paperwork examples could include:

  • Certificate of Origin
  • Material Safety Data Sheets
  • Ingredients List
  • Animal Products E-cert
  • Power of Attorney
  • Letter of Indemnity

Please contact our International Help Desk if you are sending commodities such as food, food stuffs, animal products, soil samples, plant products, drugs, medical samples / supplies, tea, coffee, perishables and personal effects or if you are unsure of what may be required for your particular freight item.

Apart from additional paperwork certain destination countries prohibit or restrict certain commodities from entering or leaving their country. As a result the freight item may not be able to travel via our standard courier service and may have to be sent via our Special Services channel. Please contact the International Help Desk for further information and pricing if this may be required.