BUG - Backpackers Guide to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands

It is essential that your passport does not expire within six months of entering the UK or Ireland or you will not be allowed into the country - even if you're only planning on staying a few days.

You should allow plenty of time to apply for a new passport, although some passport agencies will rush your application for an additional cost.

Most travellers apply for a passport at the passport agency in their home country, but people living outside their country of citizenship should apply through their nearest embassy or consulate.

AUSTRALIA

You can get passport application forms and apply for a passport at one of 1700 Australia Post passport agencies.

You will need to make an appointment for an interview at a post office and bring along your completed application form and original documents confirming your citizenship and identity. Australian passports cost $150 for a 32-page passport or $226 for a 64-page passport. They are usually issued within 10 days.

Contact the Australian Passport Information Service (tel 13 12 32; website www.passports.gov.au) for further information.

CANADA

To obtain a passport you will need the following: two identical passport photos; at least one document, such as a drivers' licence, to prove your identity; proof of Canadian citizenship; any previous Canadian passport, certificate of identity or refugee travel document issued to you in the last five years; a completed application form and the application fee. A Canadian passport costs CDN$85-90 and is usually issued within eight working days, although you should allow additional time for your passport to arrive through the mail.

You can either apply at your local passport office or by sending your application forms to the main passport office in Hull, Québec.

The Passport Office, Place du Centre Commercial, Level 2, 200 Promenade du Portage, Hull, Québec J8X 4B7

Tel (819) 994 3500 or 1800 567 6868

Website www.ppt.gc.ca

IRELAND

Passport application forms are available from all Garda stations and from Post Offices that provide the Passport Express service. Completed application forms should be sent to the passport office in Cork (if you live in the counties of Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary or Waterford) or Dublin (if you live elsewhere in Ireland, including Northern Ireland). Passports should be issued within 10 working days.

A passport application should include two passport photos (which have been signed and certified) as well as proof of citizenship and the application fee. An Irish passport is valid for 10 years and costs €75 for a 32-page passport and €100 for a 48-page passport.

Passport Office Dublin Setanta Centre, Molesworth Street, Dublin

Tel (01) 671 1633

Website http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie/services/passports/

Passport Office Cork 1a South Mall, Cork

Tel (021) 494 4700

SOUTH AFRICA

Passport application forms are available at all Department of Home Affairs offices in South Africa and South African consulates and embassies abroad. South African passports are valid for 10 years and cost R 135. Passport applications take around six weeks.

Department of Home Affairs, Civitas Building, 242 Struben Street, Pretoria

Tel (012) 314 8911

Website www.home-affairs.gov.za

UNITED KINGDOM

British citizens can apply for a passport at offices of the UK Passport Agency (tel 0870 521 0410; website www.ukps.gov.uk) in Belfast, Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport and Peterborough or at one of over 2,300 High Street partners throughout the UK including post offices and Worldchoice travel agents. British passports cost £42 for a 32-page passport and £54.50 for a 48-page passport; an additional £5 fee applies when lodging your application at a High Street partner. For expedited applications lodged in person at a Passport Office passports cost £70 (32-pages) to £71 (48-pages) for a one-week service or £89 (32-pages) to £95.50 (48-pages) for same day service.

Passport applications lodged at post offices and travel agents are normally issued in around three weeks, while applications lodged at UK Passport Offices are processed in two weeks. You can apply for a passport online at https://www.passport-application.gov.uk, however online applications are not recommended if you need your application processed within four weeks.

British passports are valid for 10 years.

UNITED STATES

US citizens can apply for a passport at over 6,000 public places that accept passport applications, which include courthouses, and many post offices. Applications can take longer than eight weeks to be processed but applications lodged at one of 13 passport offices are processed quicker – usually within five weeks. Passports cost US$55 plus a US$30 execution fee.

For more information, contact the US Passport office (tel (202) 647 0518; website http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html).

Tourist Visas - New Zealand

You do not require a visa to visit New Zealand if you hold one of the following passports: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, USA and Vatican City.

You will need to apply for a visitor's visa if you are not from one of the above countries. To apply for a visa you will need to supply a completed Application for Visiting New Zealand (form NZIS 1017, available from New Zealand embassies and consulates), a passport photo and evidence of access to at least $1000 for each month you intend to stay in New Zealand. You may also be asked to show an onward ticket. Visitor visas cost $75-120 depending on your nationality and where the visa is issued.

Customs & Quarantine - New Zealand

New Zealand's customs regulations are much like those of other countries but it has some of the toughest quarantine policies in the world.

Customs

Visitors aged over 17 are allowed to bring 1125ml of spirits or 4.5 litres of wine or beer and 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco into New Zealand without paying import duties. You are also allowed to import personal items such as cameras and electronic goods without paying duties, as long as you take these items out of the country.

Like many other countries, you are not allowed to bring weapons or prohibited drugs into New Zealand.

Visit the New Zealand Customs Service website (www.customs.govt.nz) for more information.

Quarantine

Because of New Zealand is free of many pests and diseases that plague other countries, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Quarantine Service (tel (09) 256 8547; website www.maf.govt.nz/quarantine/) is extremely vigilant about keeping these out of the country.

You will have to declare any food and animal or plant products that you have with you and most unpackaged food will not be allowed into the country. Quarantine officers will also check for dirty boots or shoes as well as camping equipment that may contain dirt that could introduce pests and diseases into New Zealand. You will also be questioned if you have visited a farm or engaged in any outdoor activity or if you have visited certain African or South American countries within the past week.