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Travel to New Zealand: the 5-step border opening explained

New Zealand
18.03.22
2
Written by
Kiely Thompson Caisley, New Zealand’s leading boutique employment law firm.
New Zealand is in the process of reopening its border to travellers in five steps.

 

On 3 February 2022, the New Zealand Government announced a plan to reopen its border progressively over nine months. A further announcement took place on 15 March 2022, where new changes to Steps 3 – 5 were introduced.

 

Step 1: from 23:59 on 27 February 2022

During this phase, vaccinated New Zealanders and eligible travellers from Australia were able to enter New Zealand without the need to enter Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ). Vaccinated travellers were still required to self-isolate on arrival.

Unvaccinated travellers were still required to enter MIQ on arrival.

Step 2: from 23:59 on 4 March 2022

Currently, vaccinated New Zealanders and eligible travellers from anywhere in the world can enter New Zealand without the need to enter MIQ.

From 13 March, New Zealand started accepting applications for working holiday visas. In addition, the application process for the ‘other critical worker’ border exception has been simplified. Skilled workers who earn at least 1.5 times the median wage will not need to demonstrate that their skills are not readily obtainable in New Zealand.

Step 3: from 23:59 on 12 April 2022

The border will re-open to the following vaccinated people:

  • temporary work and student visa holders, currently outside New Zealand, who can still meet their visa requirements;
  • temporary work and student visa holders currently inside New Zealand can leave and return at any time (where their visa conditions allow);
  • Travellers from Australia are also able to enter New Zealand; and
  • Up to 5,000 international students from anywhere in the world, studying for semester 2.

 

From 23:59 on 1 May 2022

The border will re-open to vaccinated visitors from visa-waiver countries, and vaccinated temporary visitor visa holders who are outside of New Zealand.

Step 4: from July 2022

The border will re-open to holders of the Accredited Employer Work Visa who are vaccinated.

Step 5: from October 2022

New Zealand’s border is expected to fully reopen to all visitors and accordingly, applications for all New Zealand visa categories will re-open (unless the visa is closed or paused).

During the announcement on 15 March 2022, the Government indicated that it is likely it will bring the dates for Steps 4 and 5 forward in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information about foreign workers

Authors
Simon Lapthorne
Executive partner - New Zealand
Meilun Chen
Solicitor - New Zealand