2 Dec 2021
Reconnecting New Zealand to the world
By Francesca Giansanti
Senior Immigration Adviser
On 24 November 2021, the Government has announced the intention to ease the county travel restrictions. The plan has been named "Reconnect New Zealand to the world' and will happen in stages. The changes will be implemented throughout the first months of the year 2022.
The first phase will kick in on 16 January 2022, when fully vaccinated Kiwis and other eligible travellers can travel to NZ from Australia without staying in MIQ.
Fully vaccinated Kiwis and other eligible travellers will be allowed to travel to New Zealand from all other countries, excluding those defined as 'Very High-Risk Countries' starting from 13 February 2022.
Eventually, all fully vaccinated individuals will travel to NZ from 30 April 2022 onwards, with the re-opening staged over time.
The plan to gradually reconnect New Zealand to the rest of the world in 2022, once most New Zealanders are vaccinated, had been already revealed in August this year. However, the Government contemplated three different types of a possible implementation of this re-aperture to the world. The three options included a high-risk pathway involving the complete opening of the border, a low-risk one involving maintaining the 14 days of MIQ, and a medium risk pathway. The last has been eventually adopted by New Zealand and officially announced to the world on 24 November 2021.
The news has understandably caused much excitement and euphoria. The enthusiasm has affected people onshore who want to resume travelling and those stuck offshore alike.
After all, New Zealand had been the first country to implement the border's closure in March 2020. So many people have been unable to return to their lives for such a long time.
The announcement has been perceived as a breath of fresh air by all those who have endured sacrifices and longings for their loved ones for almost two years.
However, the plan is at this stage an announcement; it will be implemented over several months and in phases. Furthermore, nothing prevents the Government from changing the plan or moving the changes forward, should the Covid pandemic worsen in the international scene, especially considering the new Omicron variant threat.
In particular, opening the border to all international travels in April 2022 will happen in stages. The Government will reserve the right to decide which categories of travellers will be allowed in the country at each of them. This might result in some categories being postponed.
The general sense of rejoicing for a gradual return to normality is understandable. Still, it is essential to remember that the changes might affect everyone's ability to travel in and out of the country differently and in different stages.
For now, we have already received clear and detailed information about how the MIQ system will be replaced from February for people who will be exempt from it step by step. All travellers exempt from it and not required to go into MIQ will still require:
- a negative pre-departure test
- proof of being fully vaccinated
- a passenger declaration about travel history
- a test on arrival
- a requirement to self-isolate for seven days, and
- a final negative test before entering the community
These measures are aimed to protect the population while gradually putting an end to the expensive and onerous MIQ.
We are expecting more detailed information about the plan's implementation and its stages later this month.
As an immigration company, we especially look forward to knowing which migrants will be allowed into the country from April and when, since they will be most likely staged by categories and type of held visa.
We hope top consideration will be given to those visa holders who have been unable to return to New Zealand given the strict requirements of the border's travel exceptions. These have kept many valuable workers suddenly out of the country because they did not earn enough, left New Zealand at the wrong time or held the wrong type of work visa.
However, we are also aware that the staged opening of the border to migrants will happen following the current Government policy. It is likely to be developed on the same lines of the current borders exceptions requirements and prioritise workers who meet those strict criteria.
Let's wait and see. For now, we share the general feeling of excitement and anticipation at the welcomed news and are eager for a gradual return to normality.
Mostly, we look forward to seeing the return of those work visa holders who have not been able to come back to their lives in New Zealand since March last year. Their return is anxiously awaited by their employers, families, friends, and communities.
For an up-to-date list of very high-risk countries please follow the link: