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New Zealand Travel Bubble 2.0 — Here’s What We Know

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Immanuel Debeer | 24/11/2021

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  • From January 16, New Zealand is set to open the border to vaccinated New Zealand residents/citizens living in Australia. However, a full border opening for vaccinated travellers (including tourists) is not due until April 30, 2022. NZ citizens/residents will need to have spent at least 14 days in Australia before being allowed onward travel to New Zealand.
  • Eligible travellers from other countries than AU/NZ will be allowed to travel to New Zealand from February 13.
  • Opening to fully vaccinated foreign nationals (possibly staged by visa category), from 30 April 2022 onwards — Australians included
  • However, there’s a catch (of course). As well as the requirement of being double vaccinated, travellers will also need to “isolate” for 7 days on arrival.
  • Travellers from high-risk countries within 14 days prior will not be allowed to travel to New Zealand. You can find the list here: https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/travel-advice-levels
  • Countries such as Indonesia, India, Fiji, Pakistan and Brazil will be removed from the high-risk country list starting early December.
  • A negative covid test before departure will also still be a requirement. At this stage, we assume this is a PCR test and not a rapid antigen test.

Entry Testing/Isolation Requirements

  • a negative pre-departure test
  • proof of being fully vaccinated
  • a passenger declaration about travel history
  • a day 0/1 test on arrival
  • a requirement to self-isolate for 7 days, and
  • a final negative test before entering the community.

Conclusion

It seems that New Zealand has very much copied Australia’s approach but managed to spoil the joy by introducing a 7 day isolation period that is essentially still the same as quarantine. At this stage, we don’t know how this will be policed (if at all) and what the rules will be for those who don’t have a private residence. At least it’s going to be a massive relief for New Zealand residents and citizens who previously had to undergo 14 days of MIQ, which was only bookable for a limited number of people. It’s rather unfortunate that most people won’t be able to reunite with family and friends over the Christmas holiday period.

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Immanuel Debeer

Chief points nerd and travel hacker at Flight Hacks

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