New Zealand Reopens Its Border To Tourists After Over Two Years

Simple Flying

By Pranjal Pande

Published May 2, 2022

Visitors from 60 visa-free countries can now visit New Zealand for the first time since early 2020.

Photo: Getty Images

Air New Zealand

IATA/ICAO Code:

NZ/ANZ

Airline Type:

Full Service Carrier

Hub(s):

Auckland Airport, Christchurch Airport, Wellington Airport

Year Founded:

1965

Alliance:

Star Alliance

CEO:

Greg Foran

Country:

New Zealand

Region:

Oceania

Today is finally the day: New Zealand's border is once more open to international visitors. Starting 11:59 PM on May 1st, travelers from 60 visa-waiver nations can enter the country again. This is bound to cause some tearful reunions as one of the world's strictest COVID-control nations dropped its policies.

The door is open

New Zealand has officially moved into Step 3 of its border reopening policy: allowing visa-free travelers to return to the country, subject to COVID checks and an NZeTa (Electronic Travel Authorization). This means thousands of families and friends waiting to come back to visit their loved ones can return to the Pacific island country.

After schedule cuts, the first international flight was Air New Zealand's service from Los Angeles to Auckland at 05:30 AM. Another flight from San Francisco came in at 07:30 AM, with scores of excited family and friends waiting to see their loved ones for the first time in weeks, months, and even over two years.

Air New Zealand's flights are set to get a lot more full from some destinations. Photo: Getty Images

New Zealand previously had the world's strictest COVID regulations, creating a 14-day quarantine system for any returning citizens or essential travelers, and maintaining a zero-case strategy. Now, as the country has increased its vaccination rate and COVID has become a part of daily life, travel is allowed to open again.

Not everyone yet

Currently, the New Zealand border is still restricted to some international visitors from visa wavier countries. While citizens, residents, work and student visa holders from other countries can enter as previously, new visa applications and short-term visitors remain suspended. This means tourists from over 100 countries cannot return to New Zealand until as far as October.

Notably, the country brought forward the timeline for its border reopening to visa-free countries by two months. Originally set for July 1st, the government opted to bring the date forward, given the global COVID situation. Now, all eyes will be on when New Zealand fully opens its borders once again, and if the wait until October will remain.

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Australians have been able to fly in and out of the neighboring country since April. Photo: Qantas

Here's a quick look at the COVID entry requirements for those eligible to travel.

Testing needed

While the border might be opening, New Zealand is still hoping to avoid a surge of imported cases. To this end, the country requires most travelers to take a PCR test within 48 hours of departure or a rapid antigen/LAMP test 24 hours before. Non-citizens will also have to be fully vaccinated to fly.

After arrival, travelers are given two antigen tests to be completed on Day 0/1 and on Day 5/6. If either of these tests come back positive, visitors will have to isolate for a full week. However, there is no quarantine for any passengers if both tests return negative results, and you can go out in between.

Source: FlightRadar24.com