New Zealand government has announced international border opening plan which is a welcome and positive step for international education sector.
The announcement outlines a five-step process for reopening borders from 28 February 2022, initially for New Zealanders to return from Australia and then from the rest of the world. The Government also announced a fourth border class exception for up to 5,000 international students to enter New Zealand for study from July this year, in addition to the earlier cohorts approved in 2020 and 2021.
From October 2022 normal visa processing will resume, enabling international students to enrol for study in New Zealand in 2023.
Details of the steps included in the announcement are outlined below:
| Steps | ||
| STEP | TIMING | TRAVELLERS |
| STEP 1 | From 11.59pm, Sunday 27 February 2022 | Reopen to New Zealanders and other eligible travellers under current border settings (e.g. people with border exceptions) from Australia |
| STEP 2 | From 11:59 pm, Sunday 13 March 2022 | Reopen to New Zealanders and other eligible travellers under current border settings from the rest of the worldOpen to skilled workers earning at least 1.5 times the median wageOpen to Working Holiday Scheme visas |
| STEP 3 | From 11:59 pm, Tuesday 12 April 2022 | Open to current offshore temporary visa holders, who can still meet the relevant visa requirements,Open to up to 5000 international students for semester twoFurther class exceptions for critical workforces that do not meet the 1.5 times the median wage test will be considered |
| STEP 4 | By July 2022 | Open to anyone from AustraliaOpen for visa-waiver travel The Accredited Employer Work Visa will open, meaning the skilled and health worker border exception can be phased out |
| STEP 5 | October 2022 | Border fully reopens to visitors from anywhere in the world, and all visa categories fully reopen. |