New Zealand begins to welcome global travelers. The welcome mat will roll out slowly throughout the year with a 5-step plan.
It will begin with a slight opening for those traveling from Australia who are fully vaccinated and are New Zealand citizens and residents primarily (for other eligible travelers from Australia will also be able to travel to the country). All will have to self-isolate upon arrival.
On March 13, 2021, fully vaccinated New Zealanders and other eligible travelers from anywhere in the world will be able to enter New Zealand and self-isolate on arrival. All travelers will have to meet health requirements before travel, including pre-departure tests and proof of vaccine.
Step 3 on the plan takes place on April 12, when temporary visa holders as well as international students will be able to enter the country.
Come July 2022, New Zealand will open to Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and other foreign nationals traveling from Australia as well as visitors from visa-waiver countries, including the United States.
During the announcement, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern noted that, “There is a high likelihood of this [July] date coming forward as we progress through the next stage of the pandemic.”
The 5-step plans wraps up on October 2022, when New Zealand will open for all other New Zealand visa holders, including visitor and student visas, unless the visa is closed or paused.
Many protocols will be in place throughout this process. For more information, visit covid19.govt.nz/international-travel/travel-to-new-zealand.
