Full vaccination required for non-citizens arriving in New Zealand from November
New Zealand announced that non-citizens arriving in the country from 1 November must be fully vaccinated.
Immigration New Zealand is putting this measure in place to further reduce the possibility of the COVID virus getting through New Zealand’s border.
Who’s affected by this new requirement?
You’ll have to be fully vaccinated to enter New Zealand if:
- you’re 17 or older,
- travelling by air,
- and not a New Zealand citizen.
Some exceptions do apply.
How do you prove your vaccination status?
You’ll have to declare your vaccination status when registering with the Managed Isolation Allocation system. You’ll also have to present proof of vaccination or a relevant exemption to your airline and to Customs officers once you land in New Zealand.
Are all vaccines acceptable?
The COVID-19 Technical Advisory Group has recommended that a full course of any of the 22 COVID-19 vaccines approved by a government or approval authority will be accepted at this stage.
You would’ve had to get the last dose of your vaccine at least 14 days before your arrival in New Zealand.
Would you still have to isolate once you’ve arrived in New Zealand?
Yes, you’ll still have complete 14 days in Managed Isolation and Quarantine. You’ll also still have to present evidence of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of your first scheduled international flight. The latter won’t, however, apply to you if you’re from an exempt country.
A word of caution!
If you’re subject to this new requirement and you fail to present proof of vaccination, you may be subject to an infringement notice under the COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Act 2020, which under a Bill currently before the House would carry a maximum fine of NZD4,000.
Please also see this article for the latest information about border restrictions for New Zealanders.
