With winter school holidays in full swing, New Zealand Customs is encouraging Kiwis heading overseas—or returning home—to ditch the paper forms and complete their arrival declaration online.

More than five million digital declarations have already been submitted, and Customs hopes even more travellers will give it a go these holidays.

“It’s easy, it’s free, and it can be done within 24 hours of your flight,” says Holly Stringer, Manager of the New Zealand Traveller Declaration programme.

“You can even save your details for next time.”

The online form is available at travellerdeclaration.govt.nz or through the official app.

It supports multiple languages, and those needing help can have someone complete it on their behalf.

Across June, about 68 percent of New Zealand passport holders submitted their declaration digitally, compared to 73 percent of Australians.

Customs is keen to see that local figure rise as more Kiwis get comfortable with the system.

Stringer adds that digital is now the standard for most travel tasks.

From booking tickets to ordering Ubers, and this is just one more way to streamline the journey.

While most Coasties are more likely to head off from Auckland Airport, anyone travelling overseas will need to complete the declaration, so it’s worth spreading the word.

If you're not flying, Customs is asking locals to let friends and family know—going digital makes everyone's arrival smoother.

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