Flying and Travelling with a Vape in NZ: Airline, CAA and Battery Rules (2026)
Vaping devices are lithium-battery items, so they are treated as dangerous goods on aircraft. The rules are straightforward once known, but getting them wrong means items being removed at security. This page covers the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority and airline requirements as at September 2026, along with the destination rules that most often catch travellers out.
The five rules
- Carry-on only. The device, any spare batteries, pods containing batteries and power banks must travel in carry-on baggage. New Zealand airlines do not permit spare batteries in checked baggage, and the CAA's Pack Smart campaign lists vapes among the items that must be carried in the cabin.
- Do not use it on board. Vaping on an aircraft is prohibited, and airlines treat it as a serious breach.
- Do not charge it on board. Keep the device switched off. A device with a child lock or five-click power-off should be locked so it cannot fire in a bag.
- Protect spare battery terminals. Spare cells must be in retail packaging, a battery case or a pouch, or have their terminals taped. Loose cells in a pocket or bag are not accepted.
- Stay under 100 watt-hours. Vaping batteries are well within this: a small pod battery is a few watt-hours and a single 18650 cell around 11 Wh. Batteries between 100 and 160 Wh need airline approval and anything above 160 Wh is prohibited.
E-liquid
- Domestic flights: there is no liquid limit at domestic screening, but keep bottles sealed in a zip-lock bag, because cabin pressure changes cause leaking.
- International flights: the standard liquids rule applies. Each container must be 100 mL or less and all containers must fit within a single resealable one-litre bag. A larger bottle will be removed at screening even if it is part full. Larger bottles can travel in checked baggage.
- Prefilled pods count as liquids for screening and belong in the same bag.
Before you leave
Air pressure drops as an aircraft climbs, which pushes e-liquid out through the airflow holes of a full pod or tank. Either empty the pod before flying or fill it only halfway, and store the device upright in a sealed bag.
Destination rules
- Australia: personal importation of vaping products is prohibited. Do not pack a vaping device or nicotine e-liquid for a trip to Australia.
- Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Brazil and a number of other countries prohibit vaping products entirely, with fines or confiscation at the border. Rules change, so check the destination's customs website before travelling.
- Pacific Islands, the United Kingdom, most of Europe, Canada and the United States generally permit personal use, though nicotine strength limits and packaging rules differ from New Zealand's.
- Returning to New Zealand: rules on bringing vaping products into the country are administered by New Zealand Customs. Check their current requirements before you travel. Products bought overseas are not necessarily notified for sale in New Zealand — see how to check whether a product is notified.
Packing checklist
- Device, spare batteries and power bank in carry-on.
- Device switched off or locked; pod emptied or half filled.
- Spare cells in a case or with terminals taped.
- E-liquid in containers of 100 mL or less for international flights, inside a resealable bag.
- Destination and customs rules checked.
Related reading
Sources: Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, Pack Smart campaign; Air New Zealand, Travelling with batteries and Restricted items; Aviation Security Service screening rules; New Zealand Customs Service.