For the first time since suddenly shutting its borders in March 2020, New Zealand is fully reopening to visitors from all over the world starting from 11:59PM of 31 July 2022.
Also known as the Land of the Long White Cloud, New Zealand started a phased border reopening in February 2022, allowing fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and residents to come home from Australia, followed in March 2022 by New Zealand citizens and residents from the rest of the world. Afterwards, travelers from specific categories were allowed in in phases: fully vaccinated skilled workers (mid-March), fully vaccinated temporary work and student visa holders (mid-April), and visitors from visa-waiver countries and those from other countries with a valid visitor visa (May 2022), and fully vaccinated Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders (July 2022).
As a final step in the phased reopening, all tourists and visa holders, including cruise ship passengers and international students from non-visa waiver countries, will be able to travel again to New Zealand starting 11:59PM of 31 July 2022.
International visitors will need to be vaccinated, unless exempt. Check the vaccination requirements for travel to New Zealand.
Travelers arriving by air are required to complete two rapid antigen tests (RATs) after arriving and be vaccinated, unless exempt. Travelers arriving by sea are required to either be vaccinated or test on disembarkation, depending on the category of vessel they arrive on.
Travelers flying into New Zealand need to apply for and receive a travel pass through the New Zealand Traveller Declaration website, before boarding their aircraft.
For the latest New Zealand travel advisory, check the following official sources:
SafeTravel website from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
COVID-19: Travellers information page from the Ministry of Health
COVID-19 requirements for travel to New Zealand from the New Zealand Customs Service