What to Expect When Arriving at Hanan International Airport
After a flight to Niue, the airport arrival process is the only thing standing between you and your island paradise! It’s an aspect of the holiday process, however, that stresses many of us out. What hurdles will we have to jump through this time? Our aim with this handy step-by-step guide is to relieve the stress of airport hurdles and make your transition into island time as easy as possible. By the time you’ve read through, you’ll know what to expect from the airport arrival in Niue’s Hanan Airport.
5 Steps for Arriving at Hanan Airport
Arriving in Niue is more than just getting your passport checked and being on your way. The procedures include Quarantine checks, Passport Control and more, which can be split into five simple steps:
- Complete the Passenger Arrival Card given to you during your flight or available in the arrivals area
- Land at Hanan Airport and pass through Passport Control, allowing Immigration Officers to view your passport and Passenger Arrival Card
- Collect your baggage from Baggage Claim
- See Biosecurity/Quarantine Officers, handing over your Passenger Arrival Card and declaring potential risk items
- Get your airport transfer or pick up your rental car and start your holiday in Niue!
(c) niuepocketguide.comStep 1: Complete the Niue Passenger Arrival Card
The first part of the arrivals process comes during your flight to Niue. Airline staff will distribute Niue Passenger Arrival Cards to each passenger. The form is an A5-sized doubled-sided card with a tear-off strip down the side. Don’t tear off the strip. The card must be completed for each individual passenger, including children and infants, and be completed in English with blue or black ink.
What is on the Niue Passenger Arrival Card?
The Niue Passenger Arrival Card asks for your personal details, such as your name, date of birth, sex, marital status, passport number, occupation, address, etc. You must also tick appropriate answers to the purpose of your trip, as well as answer some simple “Yes” and “No” questions to declare things concerning Customs, Biosecurity and Health. To see the Passenger Arrival Card with its complete list of questions, see our guide to the Niue Passenger Arrival Card here.
(c) niuepocketguide.comStep 2: Go Through Passport Control
You’ve landed in Niue! On arrival at Hanan International Airport, you will be directed to the arrivals area where you have another opportunity to complete the Niue Passenger Arrival Card (perhaps if you fell asleep on your flight or they run out of arrival cards) then you will go through Passport Control.
The Passport Control Desk
At Passport Control, hand over your passport, Niue Passenger Arrival Card and evidence relating to your visa if applicable to the Immigration Officer. If you are from one of the 40 visa-exempt countries, you will be granted a Visitor Permit allowing you to stay in Niue for up to 30 days. To see a list of countries on the visa-exempt list and to see how to get an Entry Permit if your country is not visa-exempt, see Do You Need a Visa to Visit Niue?
The Immigration Officer may also ask you questions in relation to the answers you have given on the Passenger Arrival Card. You will then be told what further action needs to be taken or be handed your passport and arrival card and be directed to the Baggage Claim area.
(c) niuepocketguide.comStep 3: Pick Up Your Baggage from Baggage Claim
Signs behind Passport Control will direct you to the Baggage Claim area of Hanan Airport (i.e. just turn right after going through Passport Control). Alternatively, you can visit the Niue Bond Store selling duty-free goods located just behind the Passport Control desks. Remember you can only purchase up to the duty-free allowance, which is explained in The Duty-Free Allowances for Niue.
At Hanan Airport, there are no baggage carousels, so simply look out for your bags on the baggage carriages brought in one or two at a time.
(c) niuepocketguide.comStep 4: Declare any Declarable Items at the Quarantine – Customs Desk
Once you have your baggage, you’ll notice a queue forming for the Quarantine – Customs Desk at the back of the Baggage Claim area. Here, you will hand over your Passenger Arrival Card to a Biosecurity/Customs Officer. They will ask questions regarding your answers given on the Passenger Arrival Card. This is also your last chance to declare something verbally if you have not done so on the Passenger Arrival Card.
While we have a complete list of declarable items in What to Declare When Arriving in Niue, here is an overview of things you need to declare to Biosecurity and Customs Officers:
- Goods that may be prohibited or restricted, including medicines, weapons, indecent publications, endangered species of flora or fauna, illicit drugs or drug paraphernalia
- Alcohol over the personal concession (3.5l of spirits or 3.5l of liqueur or 3.5l of wine or 8l of canned beer or a combination of the above provided that the total does not exceed 3.5l). See The Duty-Free Allowances for Niue for more information
- Goods including gifts and souvenirs obtained or purchased duty-free with a combined value of more than NZ$500
- Goods carried for business or commercial use or goods carried on behalf of another person
- A total of NZ$10,000 or more in cash (including bearer negotiable instruments) or the foreign equivalent currency
- Any food
- Animal or animal products
- Plant or plant products
- Equipment used with animals, plants or water
- Items that have been used outdoors
- If you have visited a forest, had contact with animals or visited properties that farm/process animals or plants in the last 30 days
- Human remains or holy water
- If you have an infectious disease
- If you have any of the Passenger Arrival Card’s listed health symptoms.
If you are unsure of whether you should declare something, declare it anyway! You do not get penalised for declaring something that doesn’t need to be declared. However, not declaring a risk item can lead to penalties, as explained in Arrival Advice: Biosecurity and Customs in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comStep 5: Get Your Airport Transfer or Pick Up Your Car Rental
After you have passed through Biosecurity and Customs, you are officially in Niue! You will be in an open-air airport lounge with pop-up kiosks for Niue’s largest accommodations and car rental companies.
Airport Transfers
If you’re getting an airport shuttle or transfer to your accommodation, go to the appropriate kiosk for your accommodation to sign in for your shuttle transfer. Alternatively, accommodation representatives will be waiting with a sign to greet you.
Car Rentals
Car Rental companies have a kiosk with their name and logo so they are easy to identify. Car rental staff will go through the car rental paperwork and car inspection process with you before handing over the keys to your awaiting vehicle.
Learn more about the Airport Transfer Options in Niue here.
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