When New Zealand's borders open
Who can enter New Zealand now
The following people can enter New Zealand now from anywhere in the world and self-test on arrival.
- Vaccinated and unvaccinated New Zealand citizens
- Vaccinated and unvaccinated New Zealand residents
- Vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents
- Unvaccinated Australian citizens who live in New Zealand
- Current temporary work and student visa holders, with a valid visa who can still meet their visa requirements. This includes both visa holders currently offshore, and those in New Zealand who choose to travel overseas and wish to return
- Up to 5,000 international students, for semester 2
- Vaccinated travellers with a border exception
- Vaccinated travellers on a working holiday scheme
- Vaccinated travellers from countries who do not need a visa (visa waiver visitors)
- Vaccinated travellers from other countries who already hold a valid visitor visa
- Other vaccinated eligible travellers under current border settings
Visa waiver countries and territories | immigration.govt.nz (external link)
Check if you need to apply for a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before you travel
Who can enter New Zealand later in 2022
From 4 July 2022
The following vaccinated people can apply to enter New Zealand and self-test on arrival:
- Travellers arriving under the Accredited Employer Work Visa categories
- Travellers applying for a Work Visa in New Zealand
Accredited Employer Work Visa | immigration.govt.nz (external link)
From 11:59pm Sunday 31 July 2022
From 11:59pm Sunday 31 July, all visa categories including visitor and student visas will reopen for applications for travellers from anywhere in the world.
You must be vaccinated to enter New Zealand, and have evidence of a negative COVID-19 test before your first international flight.
If you are unvaccinated or do not meet vaccination requirements
Most travellers must be vaccinated to enter New Zealand. If you do not meet the vaccination requirements, you are not able to enter New Zealand — unless you are exempt or do not need to have proof of vaccination.
Travellers who do not need proof of vaccination
You do not need to have proof of vaccination if you:
- are a New Zealand citizen
- have a New Zealand residence class visa
- are an Australian citizen living in New Zealand
- are aged 16 years or under
- cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons — you will need electronic or paper evidence from a health practitioner
- are a refugee arriving in New Zealand for the first time
- are a citizen of Afghanistan and you are being evacuated
- are arriving from Antarctica
- have been granted a visa under the 2022 Special Ukraine Visa Policy; or if you are or were ordinarily resident in Ukraine at any point on or after 1 January 2022
Vaccination requirements to enter New Zealand
New Zealand residence class visas | immigration.govt.nz (external link)
Vaccination exemptions
Some travellers may be able to get an exemption if they are travelling to New Zealand from a country with no, or limited access to COVID-19 vaccines.
You will need to apply to the Ministry of Health for an exemption, along with evidence of why you need one. The Director-General of Health will decide if you can get an exemption.
Check if you might qualify for an exemption, and apply at the Ministry of Health.
Health requirements
To enter New Zealand, you must meet some health requirements.
You must provide a negative COVID-19 pre-departure test
You must take 2 rapid antigen tests (RATs) on arrival
After you enter New Zealand you must do 2 rapid antigen tests (RATs) on Day 0/1 and Day 5/6 and declare your results. Children under 6 months do not need to be tested. All positive RATs must be registered and followed up with a PCR test.
Testing requirements after arriving
If you are travelling from the Pacific Islands
Travellers from some Pacific island countries are not required to get a pre-departure test or test on arrival.
Last updated: at