New Zealand’s prime minister has announced, 1 October, that if his party is re-elected it will trial paperless travel between Australia and New Zealand. Premier Luxon’s National Party’s proposal is for eligible citizens to use a smartphone, digital credentials and facial recognition through more of the airport journey, with no paper passport needed at the gate. Travellers would submit their passport details and Traveller Declaration on their phone before departing.
Although the plan is an election commitment, rather than a policy, it does set out changes at New Zealand airports only, and Luxon admits they would need to bring Canberra on board.
Arrivals into New Zealand from Australia hit a record 1.59m in the year to July 2026, with travellers from Australia making up 43% of all overseas visitor arrivals.
Tom Walley, Corporate Traveller global managing director, commented on the plan: “New Zealand is by far our most frequented international destination, accounting for roughly one quarter of all international travel out of Australia among our customers.
“Bookings into New Zealand in 2026 have already exceeded the total number of bookings we saw into the country in 2025, with a full quarter remaining, so we are really seeing the strength of business partnerships across the Tasman continue to grow.
“Trans-Tasman is one of the most important corridors for Australian business travel, so any move to make it faster and simpler is worth backing. A digital-first approach, where travellers verify their details on their phone before they fly and move through the airport using biometrics, is the logical next step after SmartGates. It could take real time out of short-turnaround trips like same-day meetings and quick site visits.
“This is an election commitment from New Zealand’s National Party, and it would need Australian co-operation to work. Nothing changes for travellers today, and anyone flying across the Tasman should still carry a valid passport as they do now.
“But the direction of travel is right. Australia and New Zealand have one of the closest economic relationships in the world, and the border experience should reflect that. If both governments can deliver this well, it will make a busy corridor easier for the businesses and people who rely on it regularly, and we’d like to see it progress.”
