Good news for business is that New Zealand's border will fully reopen from July 31, two months earlier than expected.
The final part of the staged border reopening will open the country to all visa categories - including tourists, workers, families and students. Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, confirmed the new date this week.
In addition, she announced a number of immigration changes including pathways to residency for highly skilled workers in global demand. The changes are set to help address immediate skill shortages and speed up the economic recovery from COVID-19, she says.
The July timeframe is in line with travellers under the Accredited Employer Work Visa, while allowing time for Immigration NZ to prepare to process the visas, she adds.
"This will be welcome news for families, businesses and our migrant communities. It also provides certainty and good preparation time for airlines and cruise ship companies planning a return to New Zealand in the peak spring and summer seasons."
It will also provide relief to industry and split migrant families from countries needing visas, who will have been separated for nearly two and a half years.
