But holidays to Bali or Thailand will remain off the cards for much longer. Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters this afternoon the ‘bubble’ is an important “part of the road back”, but both leaders stressed nothing would happen immediately. New Zealanders should expect new border entry restrictions to stay in place for some time, but the measures are important to control the spread of coronavirus in New Zealand and the Pacific. As of today, Australians and New Zealanders can visit each other for the following reasons, New Zealand is one of the safest places to visit during COVID-19 due to its low infection rates. However, the government remains vigilant so that, for the time being, travel into this island nation is severely limited. New Zealand had only 2,096 confirmed COVID cases and only 25 deaths. There is also a bus network if you don’t want to drive. Visited 72 countries but for now, taking a little break in Barcelona. I've been actively traveling & working online around the world for 8+ years. The reopening date has not been set yet. Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern announced the reopening of the long-expected travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the country will not have open borders with the rest of the world for "a long time to come". When it does open up, however, it provides much to attract those who love adventure, nature, and distinctive culture. Arden made her comments following a meeting of Australia’s cabinet, which she joined via video link to discuss the feasibility of a safe travel zone, or ‘bubble’, between the two nations. There is ample opportunity for outdoor adventure as well. ... Land borders are closed. New Zealand has closed its borders to everyone but citizens and residents in an attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus. Back; Already have a visa ; If your situation changes Managing your visa and passport Your visa conditions Transferring my visa to a new passport Becoming a permanent resident Moving to and settling in New Zealand; Employ migrants. Much of the domestic economy is back to its pre-COVID-19 levels. New Zealand had only 1,801 positive COVID cases and only 24 deaths due to the virus. Given Ardern’s comments, along with the fact that travel between the UK and New Zealand is logistally awkward, involving at least two long flights, the chances of a 2020 holiday look increasingly remote. Your email address will not be published. If you are a fan of ethnic restaurants, you’ll want to spend some time there. New Zealand holidays unlikely until 2021 as PM warns borders will remain closed for 'a long time' Visitors staying longer than a week must take an additional test at a cost of about $155 on the eighth day of their trips. Checking your visa application status How long it takes to process a visa application; Already have a visa. New Zealand first went into lockdown on 25 March, setting up a new four-stage alert system and going in at level four, where most businesses were shut, schools closed and people told to stay at home. Australia & the Pacific - Any News on How Long NZ Borders will Be Closed - Checking for a friend who has atrip in January to NZ. New Zealand remains one of the best countries that was able to eliminate the virus infection rate. People from the Pacific were exempt from the previous rule of mandatory self-isolation for 14 days upon entering New Zealand. (Source: theguardian.com). Any move to open the international border would need to take into account state and territory movement restrictions in Australia, he added. New Zealand will close its border to all non-residents for the first time in the nation’s history, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. New Zealand must consider opening borders soon says Helen Clark, Peter Gluckman and Rob Fyfe . It was the first time a New Zealand leader had attended such a meeting since the Second World War. New Zealand should buckle down, with the border unlikely to be reopened for several months, according to Health Minister David Clark. Some exceptions … New Zealand is a nature-lovers paradise. This small, flightless bird has become New Zealand’s national symbol and the friendly natives also often call themselves Kiwis. The New Zealand borders continue to be closed to almost all visitors. The border between the United States and Canada remains closed through at least Jan. 21, 2021. The New Zealand borders are currently closed to almost all visitors and only national citizens and residents are allowed transit or entry to the country. Due to a new COVID outbreak in South Australia, the chances of reopening the travel bubble between Australia in New Zealand before 2021 are very low, said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Any News on How Long NZ Borders will Be Closed Checking for a friend who has atrip in January to NZ. New Zealand’s first Covid-19 case was diagnosed on February 26th. Hiring a migrant during COVID-19. The roads are well marked and towns all have information centers to advise tourists. The country has an inviting camper culture for those who want to set out and explore all of these natural wonders on their own. Also, Do the have a date for the alert 1 to begin? Several barriers stand between British travellers and a trip to New Zealand. The Foreign Office needs to lift its warning against all but essential travel, New Zealand needs to open its borders to Britons, and airlines need to offer services that meet social distancing guidelines. Britons make up one of the largest numbers of overseas visitors to the country, with more 200,000 travelling there annually. New Zealand shuts the border New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has closed the country's borders to all but residents and citizens to stop the spread of coronavirus . Required fields are marked *, Travelinglifestyle.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Citizens and permanent residents of New Zealand. The reopening date has not been set yet. NIGERIA . Australia and New Zealand closed their borders to foreign tourists in March as part of a stringent response to the spread of Covid-19, and this has severely impacted tourism in both nations. Unfortunately, a reopening date between the two nations has not been set yet. (CDC.gov). I had read they may keep the border closed for quite some time into 2021. This article is more than 9 months old . It has beautiful beaches and offshore islands as well as subtropical forests, snow-capped mountains, glaciers, lakes, fjords, volcanoes, hot springs, beautiful rolling hills, and areas of flat plains. Apply to Immigration for an exemption to the border closure Managed isolation and quarantine Managed isolation and quarantine is a key measure to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 into our … This would mean some or most of the country remaining in lockdown for longer than four weeks. Find out more, The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. The national stay-at-home order was in effect for 7 weeks. New Zealand has successfully controlled the 2nd wave of the Coronavirus and got their daily rates down to 0-5 cases. The ‘trans-Tasman bubble’ would remove the need for travellers to enter quarantine on arrival, a plan Ardern described as having “huge advantages” to both. Your email address will not be published. New Zealand's alert system allows the Government to impose different levels of … Some exemptions may be made for non-permanent residents, Partners and dependent children of citizens and residents, Those who hold a diplomatic post in New Zealand. The West Coast has had a challenging year, with ongoing closed borders and no foreign visitors since March. The health care community and government officials knew by mid-March that there wasn’t enough contact tracing and testing capacity in the country so another strategy needed to be tried. Quarantine-free flights will be determined by your airline. New Zealand is home to plant and animal species, such as the kiwi, that can be found nowhere else. The restriction will be in place until March 31. The Canadian government says that the border will likely remain closed until COVID-19 cases stop climbing in the U.S. Canada is allowing province-to-province travel, although travel between regions designated with an orange or red alert is discouraged. A quarantine-free flight only carries passengers who have declared they have been in New Zealand for 14 days or more and have not been in a COVID hotspot in New Zealand in the last 14 days before travel. I had read they may keep the border closed … New Zealand and Australia close borders to foreigners amid coronavirus crisis. Bungee jumping was invented here and there are many locations where you can give it a try, as well as places to go surfing, skiing, kayaking, and sailing. The country of five million has registered just 19 deaths and fewer than 1,500 cases of coronavirus, but Jacinda Ardern has warned it “must remain vigilant if we are to keep it that way”. The news will be a blow for Telegraph Travel readers, who have chosen New Zealand as their favourite country on Earth in every Telegraph Travel Awards since 2012. Therefore, on March 26th, a lockdown was mandated. There are also unique plants such as the ancient, towering kauri trees and the nikau palms. For the first time in New Zealand’s history, the country’s borders are closed to everyone except New Zealand citizens and residents. Due to the rise in COVID-19 coronavirus cases, the land borders with Canada and Mexico will remain closed through Jan. 21, Chad Wolf, acting secretary of the U.S. Department of … You can also check out the distinctive Maori culture, or try some of the world-class wine. I’m an international student. The dramatic steps, which came into effect at 11.59pm yesterday, are an attempt to "protect New Zealand" from the Covid-19 virus, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said last night. The only people permitted to enter the country, either by air or sea, are those who belong to the following categories: Other exemptions may be made for critical health and humanitarian workers, for citizens of Australia who normally live in New Zealand, for Samoans and Tongans under some circumstances, and for those with student visas under some circumstances. Dismiss. Australians hoping for an overseas holiday have had their hopes dashed, with the Tourism Minister saying the nation's border is likely to stay closed until next year. In early May, the pandemic was declared over and life has essentially returned to normal. The New Zealand borders are currently closed to almost all visitors and only national citizens and residents are allowed transit or entry to the country. Employer-assisted temporary work visas expiring between 11 September and 31 December 2020 held by religious workers in New Zealand on 11 September will be extended by 6 months. Because the country is so sparsely populated, it has a very friendly, small-town feel once you leave Auckland, which is the largest city, and the best place to find diversity. RNZ . New Zealand has taken halting the spread of the coronavirus seriously. Because of its strict measures, the country is now operating as normal, for the most part. New Zealand has successfully controlled the 2nd wave of the Coronavirus and got their daily rates down to 0-5 cases. While there is little certainty on when and how the New Zealand border will reopen, here are a few likely scenarios. The country is, however, considering how to open its borders to its geographical neighbour. You need to be a subscriber to join the conversation. Visas held by partners and dependent children based on their relationship with these temporary work visa holders will also be extended by 6 months. Australia, New Zealand Closing Borders To Foreigners In Bid To Contain Coronavirus : Coronavirus Updates Both travel bans will be implemented … The government says borders will likely stay closed until 2021. Are there any news regarding if they will open the borders soon for international students? Answer 1 of 14: Hello, I’m thinking of traveling to NZ in june or july. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. 03/07/2020. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has responded forcefully after copping criticism of her government’s coronavirus border policies from both sides. If the COVID numbers stay low in Australia, the reopening of the border could begin in early 2021. You can take a hot-air balloon ride over Hobbiton, where the Lord of the Rings was filmed, or explore mammoth caves, as well. Australia’s borders have been shut to non-essential travel since March 2020, and look like staying that way for a while. The restriction will be in place until March 31. The level of warning by CDC is only 1 which means the risk is very low. I love writing and publishing content for digital nomads, remote workers, and passionate travelers like me. Britons hoping to visit New Zealand this year look likely to be disappointed after the country’s prime minister warned it will be “a long time” until borders are reopened to international travellers. Trump to lift the U.S. travel ban on the E.U., U.K. and Brazil, Singapore airlines wants to be the first to vaccinate all crew, Australia’s international borders unlikely to open in 2021, says Federal Health Secretary, US open for tourism and business-travel with specific entry restrictions, Vaccine tourists flock to Florida for coronavirus shots, Mexican resorts offering free COVID-19 tests to American tourists, Tbilisi, Georgia, second on the list of best cities for digital nomads in 2021, U.S. companies can save up to $11,000 per each remote working employee, Tallinn ranked as n.1 city for digital nomads in 2021, U.S. holiday airport traffic increasing despite travel warnings. Around six per cent of New Zealand’s GDP comes from tourism; the industry employees almost 230,000 people – around 10 per cent of the workforce – and generates NZ$17.2 billion (£8.3 billion) a year. Bolivia closed its borders to non-residents and suspended all international flights since March 17. There is so much diversity here for those who love nature, not only in terms of the landscape but also in terms of the flora and fauna. New Zealand is still not allowing any tourists. For those who enter the country, a Covid-19 test is mandated as is a 14-day quarantine. Related:– Australia reopening might not happen until April 2021, says Prime Minister.– Singapore is opening borders to New Zealand– Bali reopening to tourists before 2021? Daily rates are down to 0-6 cases in the last few days. Queensland border restrictions. To protect New Zealanders from the coronavirus, from 11:59 p.m. The reopening of the border with New Zealand could mean Australians could travel there in the coming months. Read our community guidelines in full, The latest offers and discount codes from popular brands on Telegraph Voucher Codes, Exploring New Zealand's natural beauty won't be happening any time soon for people in Britain, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaking today, Auckland, the most populous urban area in New Zealand, feasibility of a safe travel zone, or ‘bubble’, between the two nations, chosen New Zealand as their favourite country on Earth in every Telegraph Travel Awards since 2012, The perfect holiday in New Zealand – for after this is over, Australia and New Zealand hoping for travel bubble in time for Christmas, Why Wales is the perfect alternative to New Zealand, A postcard from New Zealand: 'We were stranded in paradise until things took a sinister turn', 'The stillness and silence of total isolation': In search of New Zealand's remote luxury lodges, The world's most beautiful places – according to film location scouts, 10 beautiful sacred sites to visit in 2020, Why this is the greatest country on Earth, How to visit the world's most spectacular wine region, 10 amazing ways to see the best of New Zealand, The 10 greatest train journeys in Australia and New Zealand, Eight reasons why New Zealand offers the best scenic cruising in the world, Sam Neill: 'I met two men who said their ancestors ate Captain Cook', How Queen Victoria left her mark on every corner of the planet, How to see your favourite country on a budget, Stanley Johnson discovers the birdlife of New Zealand, your favourite country, How to explore the most pristine corner of New Zealand. 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