Are khat legal in New Zealand?

Khat may not be brought into New Zealand. Khat import prohibited This page covers what New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS) allows across the border; whether you may then possess or carry it in public is a separate matter of New Zealand's domestic law, which can differ by state, province, or city. Check both before travelling.

What are the penalties for undeclared khat in New Zealand?

Fine up to 5000–500000 NZD; imprisonment up to 84 months. Source: New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS).

ITEM RULE · TRAVELING

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Khat 🇳🇿 New Zealand

Q: Can I bring Khat to New Zealand?

Khat import prohibited Khat is legal and widely consumed in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti, and Yemen but is a controlled substance in many Western countries. The UK classified khat as a Class C drug in 2014. The US lists cathinone as Schedule I, making khat illegal. G

PROHIBITEDVERIFIED · 2026-07-25MEDIUM CONFIDENCE

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Khat import prohibited

ANSWER

Can I bring Khat into New Zealand?

PROHIBITEDVERIFIED · 2026-07-25MEDIUM CONFIDENCE

Khat import prohibited

DECLARATION

Required at the destination customs authority

SOURCE

customs.govt.nz

Verify against the official customs authority before acting on this answer.Report a correction

Full details

Khat is legal and widely consumed in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti, and Yemen but is a controlled substance in many Western countries. The UK classified khat as a Class C drug in 2014. The US lists cathinone as Schedule I, making khat illegal. G

PENALTIES

Fine: 5000–500000 NZD
Imprisonment up to 84 months
Criminal penalty

ENFORCEMENT

Active — Customs actively enforces this rule.

Leaving New Zealand with khat

PROHIBITEDKhat is a controlled substance in New Zealand — cathinone scheduling means there is no lawful personal export.

Khat (Catha edulis) contains cathinone and cathine, which are scheduled substances in New Zealand under Misuse of Drugs Act 1975; Customs and Excise Act 2018 — fresh khat is treated as a controlled drug, so possession and export are offences. Khat found at departure screening is seized and the carrier prosecuted under the same framework as at arrival. The plant is a licit commodity only in a small number of producing countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Yemen); everywhere in this site's coverage of this route, carrying it across the border is unlawful.

PRACTICAL ADVICE

Do not carry khat (Catha edulis), fresh or dried, into New Zealand. NZ Customs treats it as a controlled drug; carriage triggers seizure plus possible criminal charge under the local misuse-of-drugs statute. There is no permit pathway for personal use.

OFFICIAL SOURCES · VERIFIED 2026-07-25

customs.govt.nz

RULE DETAILS

CUSTOMS AUTHORITY

New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS)

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AIR TRAVEL IS SEPARATE

This page covers destination customs rules in New Zealand. Whether you can carry khat through security, in carry-on, or in checked baggage depends on airline and screening rules — see air travel rules.

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