Travelers to New Zealand who currently do not need to obtain a visa for their stays may soon be subject to new immigration requirements.
Nationals of visa waiver countries and transit visa waiver countries may be required to obtain a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) in order to enter New Zealand on or after October 1, 2019. The NZeTA application will be available in July 2019, via website (fee: NZ$12) and smartphone app (fee: NZ$9).
Nationals of visa waiver countries may also be required to pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, or IVL. The IVL, according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment, is “a way for travellers to contribute directly to the tourism infrastructure they use and to help protect and enhance the natural environment they will enjoy during their stay in New Zealand.” The IVL is anticipated to cost NZ$35, and will be charged to travelers in the same transaction as the NZeTA.
Here are some steps you can take to determine how new immigration policy developments in a destination country may affect short term business travel:
- Most important: Consult your company’s immigration and compliance resources as early in advance of travel as possible.
- Bookmark government resources. New Zealand has created an informative webpage for the NZeTA and the IVL.
- Sign up for updates and notifications when the option is available — in this particular case, you’ll find it at the hyperlinked word “Register,” on the NZeTA/IVL information page.
- Review related official information. For example, the New Zealand government also provides lists of visa waiverand transit visa waiver
Early awareness of potential immigration and compliance issues, as well as other travel challenges, can dramatically affect cost, employee satisfaction, and assignment success.
Written by Erin Fitzgerald, GMS, Content Manager
