New Zealand plans to ease border controls

New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has revealed a five-step plan for the phased reopening of the country’s borders.

New Zealand has announced it will begin reopening to the world, signalling an end to nearly two years of strict border rules that have separated families and shut out the rest of the world.

The country closed its borders and banned almost all foreign travellers in March 2020, requiring incoming visitors to spend time in a state-run quarantine facility at their own cost. 

NEW ZEALAND IN ‘NEW PHASE OF COVID RESPONSE’

In October last year, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that New Zealand would begin to move away from a zero-COVID strategy toward living with the virus. Ardern said the anguish of quarantine had been challenging for locals and visitors alike.

“We are in a new phase in our COVID response,” Ardern said. “COVID as an illness hasn’t touched many of us to date. But with the transmissibility of Omicron we know we will experience the virus more directly. But the difference here is that we have all the tools possible now to prepare.”

PHASED BORDER REOPENING

New Zealand’s border reopening will occur over several months, allowing entry to specific individuals at different times in the year.

According to CNN, fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens may start travelling from Australia later this month. They will need to self-isolate on arrival but they won’t need to enter New Zealand’s state-run quarantine facilities.

NEW ZEALAND OPENING TO VISA-FREE VISITORS

By July, fully vaccinated individuals from Australia and visa waiver countries – which includes the United Kingdom, the United States, and many European nations – will be able to enter New Zealand but will have to self-isolate on arrival, according to the plan.

A government website states that self-isolation can be done in one’s home or suitable alternative accommodation,so it is not yet known whether non-residents will be able to use hotels, rented apartments or other similar accommodations for self-isolation purposes.

OPENING TO VISA-REQUIRING VISITORS

Visitors that require visas to enter New Zealand will not be allowed to enter the country until later in the year.  All visa categories will reopen in October 2022, including visitor and student visas.

This means that nationals from South Africa and neighboring countries – who require tourist visas to enter New Zealand, will not be able to travel there until the later part of this year.

ALSO READ: Australia eases entry requirements with new border restrictions

By: Lorne Philpot