New Zealand prepares to welcome back international visitors

This week the New Zealand Government announced it is removing the self-isolation requirements for vaccinated travellers arriving in New Zealand. As per the government’s re-connecting plan, visitors from visa waiver countries (including the US and Canada) are expected to be allowed to enter New Zealand starting no later than July this year.

Following the announcement, Sarah Handley, General Manager for Americas & Europe for Tourism New Zealand said “we are thrilled to be one step closer to being able to welcome back international visitors to New Zealand and showcasing the best New Zealand has to offer. We look forward to keeping industry and our partners closely updated on New Zealand’s plan to reconnect with the world”.

Getting to New Zealand is easy. From Los Angeles, Auckland is a non-stop 12 hour overnight flight. You can literally ‘wake up in New Zealand’. Prior to the pandemic, you could also fly to New Zealand non-stop from San Francisco, Vancouver, Houston, Chicago and Honolulu with all of these routes scheduled to return in 2022.

A land of diverse regions and landscapes, New Zealand stretches across two main and a myriad of small offshore islands. Here you can experience adrenaline, luxury and unique culture all in the same day. Thrill-seekers can add the adrenaline-rush of bungy jumping or exhilarating jet boat safaris, while the more sedate will enjoy world-class golf courses and award-winning wine and cuisine. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s fascinating Māori culture provides unique opportunities to connect and learn. A multicultural nation made up of vibrant and embracing cultures, Kiwis pride themselves in the warm welcome, or manaakitanga, travellers receive when visiting Aotearoa (New Zealand). You can find all the resources you need to plan a trip to New Zealand at newzealand.com.

The high-level summary of entry requirements for all travellers to New Zealand pertaining to COVID-19 is as follows:

• All travellers entering New Zealand must be fully vaccinated in line with New Zealand government entry requirements.
• A negative pre-departure test (PCR, LAMP or Rapid Antigen) in line with New Zealand government requirements is required for all travellers.
• No compulsory requirement for all arriving travellers to either self-isolate or enter a government-managed isolation hotel, i.e. all forms of isolation for arriving travellers (including foreign nationals) are removed at all border reopening steps except for unvaccinated New Zealand citizens and residents returning to the country.
• All travellers will be provided with two rapid antigen tests at no charge on arrival at Auckland Airport which is self-administered after exiting from the airport.
• Travellers will be asked to undertake the first test on the day of arrival and then a second test on day 5 after arrival, this can be done once travellers have left the airport e.g.at home or hotel.
• Travellers who test positive via either of their arrival day or day 5 RAT test will be required to take PCR test to confirm positive status, if positive they will then be asked to self-isolate in line with the requirements that apply to all community COVID-19 cases in New Zealand.