New Zealand will begin reopening its borders from next month according to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Australians will be the first to be welcomed back, with entry granted from April 12, after one of the lengthiest lockdowns amid the pandemic.
Passengers from Ireland, the US, and UK will then be allowed to enter from May 1, 2022.
However, the change in rules will only apply to those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, have a negative test result before departure, and all the relevant visa requirements.
The move comes in an effort to relaunch the country's economy after some of the most isolating border shutdowns seen globally over the last two years.
Speaking on Wednesday, Jacinda Ardern said: "We are sending a very clear message that we are accelerating our economic recovery."
She confirmed that a decision was made after receiving new guidance from health officials in relation to New Zealand’s handling of the Omicron variant.
They confirmed that it would now be a safe and manageable process to open the borders and welcome back tourists.
“Closing our border was one of the first actions we took to stop Covid-19 over two years ago, and its reopening will spur our economic recovery throughout the remainder of the year.
"In short, we are ready to welcome to world back," she said.
"We are a safe place to visit and New Zealand will be ready with open arms," Ms Ardern added.
The new will be welcomed by hundreds of Irish people with families members living there - who they’ve been unable to visit for nearly two and half years.
