Summary of key points
- Five-step plan prioritises returning New Zealanders and brings forward the reopening of key visa categories from 13 March.
- Border will reopen to vaccinated New Zealand citizens and residents travelling from Australia at 11.59pm 27 February
- Border reopens to New Zealand citizens and residents in the rest of the world on 13 March
- MIQ removed for most travellers in phased reconnection, replaced by self-isolation and tests on-arrival
- 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.
- Further visa categories reopen throughout the year.
Overview of 5 Steps:
| Step 1 | From 11.59pm, Sunday 27 February 2022 | Reopen to New Zealanders and other eligible travellers under current border settings (e.g. people with border exceptions) from Australia |
| Step 2 | From 11:59 pm, Sunday 13 March 2022 | Reopen to New Zealanders and other eligible travellers under current border settings from the rest of the world Open to skilled workers earning at least 1.5 times the median wage Open to Working Holiday Scheme visas |
| Step 3 | From 11:59 pm, Tuesday 12 April 2022 | Open to current offshore temporary visa holders, who can still meet the relevant visa requirements, Open to up to 5000 international students for semester two Further class exceptions for critical workforces that do not meet the 1.5 times the median wage test will be considered |
| Step 4 | By July 2022 | Open to anyone from Australia Open for visa-waiver travel The Accredited Employer Work Visa will open, meaning the skilled and health worker border exception can be phased out |
| Step 5 | October 2022 | Border fully reopens to visitors from anywhere in the world, and all visa categories fully reopen. |
Read on for more detailed information on reopening 5 Steps:
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, as it does in Phase 2 of the Omicron recovery plan 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.
Health requirements
While vaccinated travellers do not have to enter MIQ at each step, they must meet some health requirements, including:
- They must provide a negative pre-departure test.
- They must meet vaccination requirements.
- They will self-isolate for a period of time after you arrive.
- They must do 2 rapid antigen tests (RATs) during your self-isolation period on day 0/1 and day 5/6 and declare your results.