New Zealand: Visitor Visa Applications Drop Despite Facilitated Remote Worker Visa Rules
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A decrease has been marked in the number of people applying to visit New Zealand, in spite of the announcement of a digital nomad entry to this territory.
In late January, the government of New Zealand launched a policy for tourists on a visitor visa to work remotely in this country, VisaGuide.World reports.
Back then ministers hoped that welcoming people engaged in the field such as IT professionals to work remotely while staying legally in New Zealand would boost tourism numbers and revenue.
However, the Immigration New Zealand statistics revealed a larger number of people had been looking at the electronic travel authority (ETA) and visitor visa pages on the website, an increase of more than 50,000 in the last two weeks, compared to the same period last year.
According to Immigration New Zealand, the timing of the Lunar New Year affected these figures, and it was earlier than last year.
It is usual to see lower application numbers throughout the Lunar New Year period, as many people apply for a visitor visa before the Lunar New Year so they can celebrate in New Zealand.
According to a report from RNZ, the new visa policy permitted visitors, taking also into account people visiting family or tourists, to work remotely for companies or clients located outside the country.
Facilitated Visitor Visa Rules to Attract Remote Workers
In a bid to further boost the country’s economy, authorities in New Zealand announced that from January 27, 2025, holidaymakers would be eligible to work remotely while visiting the country.
The Immigration Minister of New Zealand, Erica Stanford said that New Zealand wants people to see it as the ideal place to visit while also being eligible to work.
The Minister was sceptical about the number of people from other countries that would take such an opportunity, however, she emphasized that digital nomads have been very popular overseas, stressing that NZ is targeting persons who would love to work and travel to this country.
I expect in their time here that they will spend longer than they normally would, they will spend more because they’re here for longer, and the thing that we’re really hoping for is that they fall in love with the place.
The Minister of Economic Growth, Nicola Willis, said the new changes aim to put New Zealand for talents from other countries.
