Emigration New Zealand

  • Visas
  • Our Advisors
  • Testimonials
  • Book Consultation
  • Blog
  • Newsletter
  • Australia

COVID-19: South Africa’s lockdown and Intergate Emigration’s way forward

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 by Intergate Emigration

 

Just like New Zealand, South Africa is fighting the coronavirus. At the time of writing, both countries have entered into a nationwide lockdown. As Intergate Emigration have offices in South Africa, we wanted to brief you on South Africa’s lockdown and how it will affect our operations.

South Africa’s decision for a nationwide lockdown

All of South Africa have been called upon by President Ramaphosa, to unite in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak. Due to his swift and decisive decision making, South Africa entered into a nationwide lockdown for 21 days at midnight, on 26 March. The lockdown will last until midnight on the 16th of April.

What is a lockdown?

This is an emergency protocol taken by the South African government in terms of the country’s Disaster Management Act. It requires that all those in South Africa stay at home with exception of certain individuals and industries providing essential services.

How will this affect Intergate’s business operations?

Intergate Emigration has had to close our South African offices during the lockdown period, but our aim is to offer clients full operational continuity and service delivery. Our team will remain available by email, and our administrators are equipped to stay connected from home.

If you are interested in immigration to New Zealand, you can still contact us. We’ll proceed with the parts of the process that we can, considering New Zealand’s lockdown. Our advisers will be able to discuss with you what’s possible and what’s not. As a starting point, please book a consultation call.

Please note, however, that we will be operating on a reduced schedule and we kindly ask for your understanding at this time.

Keep in touch to stay updated

To know when things change, join our newsletter or follow us on either Facebook or LinkedIn.

Read more
  • Published in News
No Comments

COVID-19 and New Zealand: National lockdown and more in effect

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 by Intergate Emigration

New Zealand is battling the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, just like most other countries around the world. At the time of writing, New Zealand has entered a four-week lockdown. During this lockdown, all New Zealanders have to stay at home.

Below we’ll summarise all the important information to know about the lockdown as well as other measures that New Zealand have taken to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Four-week lockdown, but not for essential services

New Zealand’s lockdown began at midnight on Wednesday, 25 March. For now, the lockdown is set to continue for four weeks but it may last for longer.

During the lockdown, New Zealanders have to stay at home with the exception being those working in essential service businesses. These are businesses in industries such as food, medicine, healthcare, energy, fuel, waste-removal, internet and financial support.

Furthermore, New Zealanders returning from overseas during the lockdown will have to quarantine in airport hotels or motels if they did not have anywhere to self-isolate in the city they arrive in.

Prime Minister Ardern has received praise for how she’s handled the pandemic thus far, specifically for providing clarity and compassion at a time when it’s sorely necessary.

New Zealand borders have closed to almost all travellers

New Zealand has closed their borders to all travellers during the lockdown, except for New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, residents with valid travel conditions and their immediate family.

These immediate family members, which include partners, spouses, legal guardians and dependent children under the age of 24, must have a valid visa or NZeTA and travel with the New Zealand citizen or resident family members on the same flight to New Zealand.

Australian citizens and permanent residents who normally live in New Zealand can also return to New Zealand.

All travellers must isolate themselves for 14 days upon arrival, either at home or at an airport hotel or motel as discussed above.

Entry restriction exceptions

Immigration New Zealand are making exceptions to the border closure on case-by-case basis for:

  • Humanitarian reasons.
  • Health and other essential workers.
  • Citizens of Samoa and Tonga for essential travel to New Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand has advised that those with a valid visa who think they may be eligible for an exception should contact their airline.

All INZ’s overseas office are closed

Unfortunately, all of Immigration New Zealand’s overseas visa processing offices have closed for the foreseeable future. Moreover, INZ only have skeleton staff in New Zealand and their only priority is dealing with COVID-19 requests. INZ are prioritising responses based on the government’s direction and are only intended for exceptional cases.

See the Immigration New Zealand website for more

Immigration New Zealand has a page on their website dedicated to their coronavirus response. You’ll find all the latest restrictions and measures on this page. See it here.

If you have an urgent immigration query, you can still contact Immigration New Zealand by using the following numbers:

  • Outside New Zealand: +64 9 952 1679
  • Within New Zealand: 0508 225 288

You can also follow Intergate Emigration on either Facebook or LinkedIn where we’ll inform you of updates and developments as it happens.

Read more
  • Published in News
No Comments

Recent Posts

  • 10 Top New Zealand recruitment agencies

    You could look for a job in New Zealand on your...
  • Partner Work Visa changes coming in April 2023

    In December 2022, Immigration New Zealand was s...
  • Emigration to New Zealand: 9 Tips for setting yourself up for success

    Do you have your heart set on emigration to New...
  • Green List and Employer Accreditation changes announced

    On 12 December 2022, New Zealand announced chan...
  • New Zealand work visas: These are your options

    Did you know there are five New Zealand work vi...

Archives

  • Feb 2023
  • Jan 2023
  • Dec 2022
  • Nov 2022
  • Oct 2022
  • Sep 2022
  • Jul 2022
  • Jun 2022
  • May 2022
  • Apr 2022
  • Mar 2022
  • Feb 2022
  • Jan 2022
  • Nov 2021
  • Oct 2021
  • Sep 2021
  • Aug 2021
  • Jul 2021
  • Jun 2021
  • May 2021
  • Apr 2021
  • Mar 2021
  • Feb 2021
  • Jan 2021
  • Nov 2020
  • Oct 2020
  • Sep 2020
  • Aug 2020
  • Jul 2020
  • Jun 2020
  • May 2020
  • Apr 2020
  • Mar 2020
  • Feb 2020
  • Jan 2020
  • Dec 2019
  • Nov 2019
  • Oct 2019
  • Sep 2019
  • Aug 2019
  • Jul 2019
  • Jun 2019
  • May 2019
  • Mar 2019
  • Feb 2019
  • Nov 2018
  • Oct 2018
  • Sep 2018
  • Jul 2018
  • Jun 2018
  • Apr 2018
  • Feb 2018
  • Dec 2017
  • Nov 2017
  • Oct 2017
  • Sep 2017
  • Aug 2017
  • Jul 2017
  • May 2017
  • Apr 2017
  • Jan 2017
  • Dec 2016

Categories

  • Family Immigration
  • FAQs – New Zealand Immigration
  • Latest posts
  • Life in New Zealand
  • New Zealand Immigration Advice
  • News
  • Tips for Your Move to New Zealand
  • Uncategorised
  • Work Visas for New Zealand
  • Working in New Zealand
  • Your Visa Application

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Hamburg, Germany

Kallmorgenweg 1

Groß Flottbek

+49 (0) 40 896 987 13 

Zürich, Switzerland

Spyristrasse 8

+49 (0) 40 896 987 13 

Cape Town, South Africa

Graphic Centre

199 Loop Street

+27 (0) 21 202 8200

Email:

info@intergate-emigration.com

Licenses:

Our advisors are licensed and registered to give immigration advice New Zealand. Our Immigration Adviser Authority numbers are 201400975 and 201600505, and our Licensed Immigration Adviser Association number is 220104. Our advisors are also authorized under §1 AuswSG in Germany.

Copyright © 2023 Intergate Emigration. All rights reserved. 

TOP