• 99.99% of travellers do not have their electronic devices searched.
  • Customs officers must have "reasonable suspicion" of criminal offending before searching an electronic device.
  • Customs officers must have "reasonable cause to believe" that an electronic device has offending material on it before detaining it.
  • There are penalties for not giving Customs access to an electronic device.

Electronic devices are items such as:

  • mobile phones
  • iPads
  • Android tablets
  • hard drives
  • laptops
  • digital cameras.

From 2018-19, Customs conducted 671 initial searches and 47 full searches of electronic devices. These devices were carried by 364 travellers. This means 99.99% of the 14.5 million passengers travelling to and from New Zealand each year do not have their electronic devices searched.

Since 1 October 2018, updated Customs legislation has provided greater protection for the right of travellers to be free from unreasonable search and seizure, while also balancing the need for border protection.

Searching an electronic device

Before a Customs officer can search an electronic device they must be able to establish facts or circumstances that provide a “reasonable suspicion” that the traveller in possession of the electronic device is involved in criminal offending.

Searching an electronic device takes place after a traveller is questioned. This can take some time depending on the device. To search the electronic device a Customs officer can:

  • ask the traveller to enter the electronic device’s password
  • ask for the password so the Customs officer can enter it.

Customs does not keep passwords or alter personal data.

The electronic device is searched with its transmitting function turned off (in flight mode). This is to prevent inadvertent access to material not stored on the electronic device.

At the end of the search:

  • the electronic device is returned to the passenger, or
  • Customs may detain the electronic device for further examination.
Detaining electronic devices

To detain or forensically examine an electronic device, a Customs officer must have “reasonable cause to believe” that evidential material relating to relevant offending is in the device.

"Reasonable cause to believe" is a higher threshold than the "reasonable suspicion" required to search an electronic device.

If Customs needs to detain a traveller’s electronic device for further examination, a Customs officer will explain this process to the traveller.

Penalty for not giving access

Only a New Zealand Court can impose a penalty of up to $5000 on a traveller who does not give Customs access to an electronic device. This is only possible if Customs decides to prosecute the traveller. Where the password is not provided, Customs may also seize the device as forfeit to the Crown.