New Zealand borders will start opening from 27 February with people coming from Australia. The Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) system will also end for all but “high-risk” unvaccinated travellers.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed that the country is ready to open its border. In a speech to Business NZ in Auckland on Thursday, Ardern said there was life before, and there will be life after, Covid.
“We are well on our way to reaching that destination. But we are not quite there yet.”
Ardern said she would outlay the path to a “new normal”.
“I recall the emergency cabinet meeting where we discussed the very first border closure – which in the first stages was country by country. I remember the moment we decided to require every traveller to self-isolate.
“I remember the cases that arose from people who then didn’t self-isolate. And I remember the establishment of our managed isolation and quarantine system on 10 April almost two years ago.”
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Ardern says it is “easy to hear the word MIQ and immediately associate it with heartache”.
“There is no question that for New Zealand, it has been one of the hardest parts of the pandemic.
“But the reason that it is right up there as one of the toughest things we have experienced is in part because the large-scale loss of life is not.
“The anguish of MIQ has been real, and heartbreaking. But the choice to use it undeniably saved lives.
“MIQ meant not everyone could come home when they wanted to. But it also meant that Covid could not come in when it wanted to, either.”
Ardern says now, though, with the community better protected, was time to move again.
The 5-step plan
According to the plan presented by PM Ardern, fully vaccinated Kiwis and other currently eligible travellers from Australia will be able to travel to New Zealand from 11.59 pm Sunday 27 February, and instead of going into MIQ, will be able to self-isolate.
In step 2, from Sunday 13 March, fully vaccinated New Zealanders and other currently eligible travellers from the rest of the world will also be able to travel into New Zealand without going through MIQ.
“The two weeks between each of these steps has been requested by public health advisors to give time for our systems to adjust for the likelihood of more cases in our community, and for our border systems to keep scaling up in the safest way possible,” Ardern said.
Step 1 — From 11:59pm, 27 February 2022
The following fully vaccinated people can enter New Zealand from Australia and self-isolate upon arrival:
- New Zealand citizens and residents
- Other eligible travellers under current border settings.
Unvaccinated travellers, and those who do not meet New Zealand’s vaccination requirements, who are eligible to enter New Zealand will continue to enter managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ).
Step 2 — From 11:59pm, 13 March 2022
The following fully vaccinated people can enter New Zealand from anywhere in the world and self-isolate upon arrival:
- New Zealand citizens and residents
- Other eligible travellers under current border settings.
- Skilled workers earning at least 1.5x the median wage.
- Travellers on a working holiday scheme.
- Partners and dependent children of New Zealand citizens and residents, provided they meet the usual visa and vaccination requirements. A family group does not need to travel to New Zealand together.
Unvaccinated travellers, and those who do not meet New Zealand’s vaccination requirements, who are eligible to enter New Zealand will continue to enter MIQ.
Step 3 — From 11:59pm, 12 April 2022
The following fully vaccinated people can enter New Zealand from anywhere in the world and self-isolate upon arrival:
- Current offshore temporary visa holders with a valid visa who can still meet their visa requirements.
- Up to 5,000 international students for semester 2
Step 4 — July 2022
The following fully vaccinated people can enter New Zealand and self-isolate upon arrival:
- All travellers from Australia.
- Visitors from countries who do not need a visa (visa waiver visitors)
- Travellers arriving under the Accredited Employer Work Visa categories.
Visa waiver countries and territories | immigration.govt.nz(external link)
Accredited Employer Work Visa | immigration.govt.nz(external link)
Step 5 — October 2022
All visa categories will reopen in October 2022, including visitor and student visas.
Self-isolation requirements
Self-isolation is only available for fully vaccinated travellers who are eligible to enter New Zealand.
Travellers will self-isolate for 10 days. If New Zealand’s self-isolation period changes, such as a drop to 7 days, the self-isolation period for travellers will also change.
Travellers will be provided three rapid antigen tests at the airport, one for use on day 0/1, and one for use on day 5/6, with one extra for backup.
Anyone who tests positive will need to take a PCR test at a Community Testing Centre or GP for whole genome sequencing in order to quickly identify and respond to new variants coming across the border.
We will provide more information about self-isolation requirements when it is available.
Health requirements
While you do not have to enter MIQ at each step, you must meet some health requirements, including:
- You must provide a negative pre-departure test.
- You must meet vaccination requirements.
- You will self-isolate for a period of time after you arrive.
- You must do 2 rapid antigen tests (RATs) during your self-isolation period on day 0/1 and day 5/6 and declare your results.
