The international border is reopening in stages for eligible travellers to enter New Zealand.
Who can travel to New Zealand now
You can travel to New Zealand now if you are:
- a New Zealand citizen
- a New Zealand permanent resident or resident visa holder
- the partner or dependent child of a New Zealand citizen or resident, and you hold a visa based on this relationship
- an Australian citizen or permanent resident visa holder
- a working holiday visa holder
- a work visa holder and you still meet the visa conditions
- a student visa holder and you still meet the visa conditions
- a visitor visa holder
- a visa waiver traveller who holds a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
- someone who met a critical purpose reason to travel and was granted a visa as an exception to the border restrictions
a transit visa holder.
Visa waiver travellers and work, working holiday, visitor and student visa holders can leave and return to New Zealand, if their visa conditions allow for this.
- Visa waiver travellers
- Visitor visa holders
- Critical purpose reasons for New Zealand travel
- Australian citizen and permanent resident travel requirements
- Working holiday schemes and visas
- You want to study in New Zealand
- Other critical workers and their employers
- Transit visa holders
Before you can travel to New Zealand you must hold a valid visa or NZeTA.
Entry into New Zealand later in 2022
From July 2022
As part of step 4 New Zealand’s borders will open to Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders.
The AEWV will mainly be limited to roles that pay above the New Zealand median wage. More information on this is available:
The maritime border reopens on 31 July 2022.
Visitor visa applications open to Pacific Island Forum countries from 16 May 2022
From 16 May, you can apply for a New Zealand visitor visa from a Pacific Island Forum country (excluding Australia).
The countries included are Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
You can apply for a visitor visa if you are living in one of these countries, even if you are a citizen of another country.
Applications will need to be submitted online.
Remaining visas open in July 2022
Applications resume for all visa categories:
- 4 July 2022 – applications for work visas open, including the Accredited Employer work visa
- 31 July 2022 – applications for visitor visa and student visas open
Border exceptions will be phased out.
COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements
Before travelling, check the COVID-19 website for guidance on:
- Pre-departure tests to enter New Zealand
- Vaccination requirements for travel to New Zealand
- How to enter New Zealand if you are self-testing on arrival
Temporary visa applications
Applications for most temporary visas from people outside of New Zealand are suspended.
The following offshore temporary entry class visa applications can still be made:
- relationship-based visas for partners and dependent children of New Zealand citizens and residents
- visa applications made by people invited to apply because they have a critical purpose for being in New Zealand
- visas for diplomatic, consular and official staff and accompanying dependants
- Antarctic Traveller Visitor Visas and Antarctic Work Visas
- Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Limited Visas.
