New Zealand reopened its borders to international travellers at midnight on 31 July 2022, including cruise ship passengers and overseas students, ending two years and four months of some of the strictest COVID-19 controls in the world.
The final step of NZ’s five-stage reconnecting plan will now allow fully vaccinated (two jabs) visitors from non-visa waiver countries to apply for entry into the country.
Eligible citizens of more than 60 visa-waiver countries, including Australia, the UK, Germany and the US, have been able to travel to New Zealand since 13 April 2022.
Pre-arrival testing to enter Aotearoa also ended on 21 June 2022, paving the way for easier travel to New Zealand as Karryon recently discovered.
The official NZ government immigration website confirms that the international border is open for eligible travellers to be able to apply for a visa, inviting student, visitor and work visa applications.
In addition, the maritime border is open, allowing eligible travellers to enter New Zealand by sea via cruise ships, recreational boats such as ocean yachts and specialist vessels.
Pre-pandemic, tourism was Aoteroa’s largest export industry, contributing NZD$41 billion annually or NZD$115 million per day, while the NZ cruise industry contributed more than NZD$500 million a year, according to Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) data.
NZ Tourism Minister Stuart Nash told NZ Herald that he expects the full reopening will mark the final milestone for the country’s reconnecting strategy and boost New Zealand’s tourism and education sectors.
International travellers to New Zealand via air, cruise ships and recreational boats still need to meet COVID-19 vaccination requirements, which include providing proof of vaccinations.
You must be fully vaccinated to travel to New Zealand (two jabs) and all travellers need to fill out a New Zealand traveller declaration before departing Australia.
To find out more, visit immigration.govt.nz