Border closures and exceptions

The New Zealand border is closed

The New Zealand border is currently closed to almost all travellers wanting to travel to New Zealand by either air or sea.

There are some exceptions to the closure

There are 2 reasons why you might be allowed to travel to and enter New Zealand while the border is closed — either:

• you qualify as someone to whom the border closure does not apply, or
• we consider that you have a critical purpose for travel while the border is closed and grant you a visa which recognises this.

To gain approval to travel under one of these reasons, most people must:

• submit a request to INZ
• be invited to apply for a visa or variation of conditions, which if approved will allow them entry.

A small group of people do not need to seek approval before they travel, such as New Zealand citizens. Note

The starting point for consideration is that the New Zealand border is closed for all but critical travel, and that protecting public health in New Zealand is paramount.

Who may travel to New Zealand without first seeking approval

If you belong in one of these categories you may travel to and enter New Zealand without first seeking approval:

• New Zealand citizens, permanent residents and residents with valid travel conditions (excluding people granted a resident visa outside New Zealand and who are travelling to New Zealand on that resident visa for the first time).
• Partners, dependent children (aged 19 years or under if they hold a temporary visa or 24 and under if they hold a resident visa) of New Zealand citizens or residents who hold a visa based on their relationship with a New Zealand citizen or resident partner or parent.
• Diplomats who hold a post in New Zealand.

Who should seek approval before travelling to New Zealand

There are a small number of additional, limited exceptions to the ban on travelling to and entering New Zealand. This applies to people who already hold a temporary New Zealand visa as well as to people who don’t have a New Zealand visa.

If you belong in one of these categories you should request approval to travel to New Zealand:

• Partners, dependent children (aged 19 years or under) or legal guardians of New Zealand citizens or residents who do not hold a visa based on their relationship and either:
  • are travelling with their New Zealand citizen or resident family member, or
  • ordinarily reside in New Zealand.
• Australian citizens and permanent residents who normally live in New Zealand.
• Critical health workers.
• Samoan and Tongan citizens making essential travel which has been agreed to by their government and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• Partners and dependent children (aged 19 years and under) who hold a valid visitor, work or student visa and are normally resident in New Zealand, if they are the partner or child of a work or student visa holder who is currently in New Zealand.
• Critical humanitarian travel.

You will need to demonstrate in your request to travel that you meet one of the critical purposes above. If we believe you have a critical purpose, you will be invited to apply for a visa or variation of conditions. You will need to provide sufficient evidence with this application to demonstrate you meet the requirements of the visa and that you should be granted a visa that allows you to travel to New Zealand while the border is closed.

Employers may also apply to bring critical workers to New Zealand. This cannot be applied for by individual workers.

News source from – https://www.immigration.govt.nz