New Zealand is looking to start welcoming back international travellers after having kept its borders closed to the majority of the world for nearly two years.
The country's prime minister Jacinda Ardern announced the news in a press conference this week, revealing that borders would reopen in phases starting from late February.
This includes scrapping mandatory hotel quarantine for arrivals, replacing it with self-isolation at home. Other entry rules in place will include taking three antigen tests - one on arrival at the airport, one on day one, and one on day five or six of being in the country.
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The reopening will take place in five steps;
- Step one from February 27: Fully vaccinated New Zealanders and travellers from Australia.
- Step two from March 13: Other currently eligible travellers from the rest of the world will be able to visit (for example if you have a 'critical purpose'). This will also include critical workers and skilled workers. New Zealand's Working Holiday schemes will reopen.
- Step three from April 12: International students and temporary visa holders can return.
- Step four from 'no later than July': all other visitors and business travellers who can normally enter New Zealand without a visa.
- Step five from October: All other visitors and students who require a visa to enter New Zealand
Jacinda Ardern added that the government would "be continually monitoring the need for and the value of self-isolation" throughout the reopening phases.
She also noted that travellers deemed 'high risk' such as those who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated would still be required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a hotel if travelling to New Zealand.
When will NZ open to the UK?
As part of the phased reopening, from March 13 those who are fully vaccinated and are considered eligible to travel - such as having an essential reason - will be welcomed back.
For the majority of UK travellers however, it's step four which will likely be the appeal, as UK travellers don't need a visa to visit New Zealand, so they will fall under this phase.
Step four hasn't got a confirmed start date, but the NZ government has said that this will take place 'no later than July'.
At the time of writing, New Zealand's borders continue to be closed to almost all arrivals, with a handful of exceptions for those deemed to have a 'critical purpose' for travel.
You can find out more in the UK Foreign Office's latest New Zealand travel advice.
Do you think the UK should have kept borders closed throughout the pandemic like New Zealand? Let us know in the comments below.
