NEWSFLASH – Fortress NZ no more
At IDESI LEGAL we provide help for migrants and refugees coming to New Zealand. If you’re a NZ migrant and need help with the immigration process, get in touch.
24 November 2021
In welcome news to all concerned. The New Zealand government has announced the pathway to borders reopening to New Zealand.
Announcement
Minister Chris Hipkins has announced that starting from January 2022 – the borders will slowly reopen. First to Australia and then to other countries.
“Fully vaccinated New Zealanders will find it easier to come home from January 2022, with foreign nationals to follow from April onwards, as the Government removes the requirement for MIQ for most travellers, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today.
“Closing our border was one of the first steps we took to keep our country safe from COVID-19 and it’ll be the last thing we open up, following our transition into the traffic light protection framework system and lifting of the Auckland boundary,” Chris Hipkins said.
Australia First – 16 January 2022
On 23 July 2021 the Travel Bubble between Australia and New Zealand closed. From 11:59pm on 16 January 2022 the trans-Tasman bubble will reopen.
Kiwis and Eligible Travellers – 13 February 2022
Fully vaccinated Kiwis and other eligible travellers can travel to NZ from all other countries from 11.59pm Sunday, 13 February 2022. Eligible travellers have not been specified although they are likely to be those who hold visas and those who have been issued with border exemptions.
All Travellers – 30 April 2022
All fully vaccinated travellers will be able to come to New Zealand with a staged reopening over time.
Very High Risk classification – Good news for some
Over the past few months, several countries have been declared ‘Very high risk’ for Covid-19. This designation has particularly affected India, Pakistan, Brazil and Indonesia.
From early December – India, Pakistan, Fiji, Indonesia and Brazil will have this status removed from early next year.
Due to the continued Covid outbreak in Papua New Guinea – the ‘Very High Risk’ classification will continue and those from or who have been in Papua New Guinea will be subject to the same requirement of spending 14 days in a lower risk country before coming to New Zealand.
Off-shore Visas
No announcement has been made as to when off-shore work, student and visitor visas can be applied for. This is up to Immigration New Zealand. Idesi Legal will make these details available once they are announced.
More to come.
If any of the above raises questions – please contact Idesi Legal for further information.
