New Zealand opens borders for international travelers

New Zealand Opens Borders For International Travelers

After a long hiatus, overseas students can breathe easy! New Zealand has finally recommenced the processing of international visas and reopened its borders to international visitors. This is good new indeed for the international education sector, as international students and tourists, including those from non-visa waiver countries, will now be able to enter.

Prime Minister Jacinda Arden termed this as an “enormous moment,” but was quick to state that it was a “staged and cautious process” and they would be keeping a close watch on the emerging healthcare situation.

There will no longer be any more quarantine requirements, but all visitors must provide proof of vaccination in order to enter the country. The maritime border is also now open, which means that qualified visitors can also enter New Zealand by sea.

All travellers with visa waivers, as well as holders of work, working holiday, visitor, and student visas, are now permitted to leave and return to New Zealand in accordance with their visa conditions.

Starting May 2022, New Zealand began welcoming tourists from more than 50 countries on the visa-waiver list. This included major tourism markets such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Japan, and South Korea.

In a speech at the China Business Summit in Auckland, Jacinda Arden said that “We, alongside the rest of the world, continue to manage a very live global pandemic, while keeping our people safe. But keeping people safe extends to incomes and wellbeing too.”

In January 2022, stakeholders raised some very valid concerns about visa processing, as it was causing uncertainty for returning students. Now, along with the reopening of borders, visa processing has now resumed in full swing like before.

Overseas students were considered to be New Zealand’s fourth largest export earner, as prior to the pandemic they used to bring in around USD 5 billion per year.

In an open letter to the sector, Grant McPherson, Chief Executive, Education New Zealand, said “everything we have done – to support each other, support students, establish new initiatives, sustain and build new relationships in our partner countries, keep the New Zealand brand alive, and much more – all this work means that we are now able to focus on rebuilding the international education sector.”

He added, “While we’ve continued to support the sector with border exceptions through the pandemic, the full resumption of visa processing is great news for our universities, polytechnics and wānanga, and schools, English language schools, and private training establishments.”

As our students resume their educational journey in New Zealand, our counsellors are at hand to help! Please visit MWT Education Consultancy for the latest updates, and check in with our team if you require personalised support.

Documentation required

The CAP costs will be reimbursed if found eligible when you have completed your course. You will have to provide evidence of the following:

• Successful completion of a Competence Assessment Programme (CAP) offered by a provider accredited by the NCNZ.
• Registration from the NCNZ.
• A confirmed offer of employment in a direct patient-facing role, such as in hospitals, aged care, GP practices or mental health and addictions.
• Required work visa to work in New Zealand.
• Confirmation of a bonding agreement with the employer for up to two years.

What funding can you expect?

The Internationally Qualified Nurses CAP Fund applies to CAPs that begin from 1 August 2022, and will provide financial assistance. The costs of a CAP offered by providers accredited by NCNZ will be reduced. 

You can avail of a maximum amount of up to NZ$ 10,000 per applicant.

This funding will be prioritised for nurses who have secured full-time employment. For those who are intending to work part-time, pro-rated financial assistance based on the work hours will be provided. 

For example, if an overseas nurse undertakes a CAP at the cost of NZ $8,000 and is working 20 hours a week, the amount they can claim is NZ$ 4,000.

If you are an international nurse seeking employment in other areas of nursing, such as policy, education/training, corporate or administration, you will not be eligible to apply for this fund. Only nurses seeking patient-facing roles can apply. 

New Zealand nurses based overseas

Note that nurses based overseas who want to return to work in New Zealand are not required to undertake the CAP, and therefore are not eligible for this fund. 

Such New Zealand nurses who want to return to nursing can apply to get financial support from the Return to Nursing Workforce Support Fund. This fund is also available to the following:

• Overseas nurses working in New Zealand as a Health Care Assistant/Support workers for an aged residential care provider,
• Te Whatu Ora or NGO, who intend to work for the employer as an Enrolled or Registered Nurse. 

Need to know more?

To know more about the Internationally Qualified Nurses Fund and the Return to Nursing Workforce Support Fund, please connect with an MWT Education Counsellor today!