New Zealand restarts issuing visas and reopens its borders to international visitors.
Finally, the government of New Zealand has chosen to open its borders to foreign tourists. Many in the foreign education industry are relieved, as they are ready for a rough few years ahead.
International students and visitors, including those from non-visa waiver nations, will be permitted to enter with the reopening of borders. Prime Minister Jacinda Arden described it as an “enormous occasion,” but said it was a “structured and meticulous process.”
While no quarantine is required, travelers must provide proof of vaccination to visit the country.
The maritime border, which permits qualified visitors to enter New Zealand by boat, is now open as well. Visa exemption Travellers, as well as holders of work, working holiday, visiting, and student visas, are permitted to leave and return to New Zealand if the terms of their visa permit.
In May, it began inviting tourists from more than 50 visa-free nations, including important tourist markets such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Japan, and South Korea.
“We will continue to handle a very live global epidemic alongside the rest of the globe while keeping our people safe,” Ardern said during the China Business Summit in Auckland. “However, keeping people safe affects their income and well-being.”
Stakeholders highlighted worries regarding visa processing at the start of 2022, which will increase uncertainty for returning students. However, with the reopening of borders, visa processing has now restarted in its entirety.
International students used to be New Zealand’s fourth greatest export, bringing in roughly USD 5 billion each year. However, by 2021, that figure is likely to shrink considerably.
“Everything we have done—to support each other, support students, establish new initiatives, sustain and build new relationships in our partner countries, keep the New Zealand brand alive, and much more—all this work means that we are now able to focus on rebuilding the international education sector,” said Grant McPherson, Chief Executive of Education New Zealand, in an open letter to the sector.
“While we’ve continued to assist the industry with border exceptions during the epidemic,” he says, “the complete restart of visa processing is fantastic news for our universities, polytechnics, and wananga, as well as schools, English language schools, and private training facilities.