Smart Immigration

28/07/2023

The next selection for the Parent Resident Visa Category expressions of interest (EOIs) will take place on 8 August 2023.

Selection of EOIs submitted before 12 October 2022

There will be 1100 EOIs selected on 8 August from the queued EOIs (those submitted before 12 October 2022). We select the oldest EOIs from the queue until we select enough to reach 2000 visa approvals each year. This will continue until there are no EOIs remaining in the queue. The number of EOIs selected each quarter will continue to be adjusted as more data about the rate at which EOIs turn into approved visas becomes available.

Please make sure EOIs meet the requirements of the category and are updated or withdrawn before selection.

Who can sponsor you?
You can be sponsored for the Parent Resident Visa by:

- your adult New Zealand citizen or resident child
- jointly by your adult child and their partner, or
- jointly by your adult child and another adult child of a parent included in the application.
- Your sponsors need to be New Zealand citizens or residents who have been resident here for at least 3 years.

If you are being sponsored by a child and their partner, they must have been living together for at least 12 months.

Your sponsors must earn enough.
They must have earned at least the minimum income we require for 2 years in the 3-year period before your expression of interest was selected.

The minimum income they need changes depending on if you have single or joint sponsors.

To calculate your sponsor or sponsor's minimum income
You need to know:

if you have 1 or 2 sponsors
- how many parents are being sponsored — this includes any parents they are also currently sponsoring.
- which two 12-month periods your sponsor will use to have their income assessed on
- what the New Zealand median income was on the last day of each 12-month period that your sponsor’s income will be assessed on.

EOI Submission

A person notifies that they are interested in being invited to apply for a resident visa under the Parent Category by submitting an EOI to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) in the prescribed manner. In order to submit an EOI in the prescribed manner, a person must submit to an immigration officer:

- a completed Parent Category EOI form; and
- the prescribed fee (if any).

By completing an EOI, a person provides a declaration about their and their partner’s:

- identity, health and character; and
- English language ability or an intention to agree to pre-purchase -- English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tuition; and
- relationship to their sponsoring adult children and any other children the applicants have; and
- sponsor’s or joint sponsors’ eligibility to sponsor them for New Zealand residence under the Parent Category; and
- sponsor’s or joint sponsors’ income for the past three years.

At any time, a principal applicant and/or secondary applicant may have:
- only one EOI in the Queued Pool; and
- only one EOI in the Ballot Pool.

An EOI will be removed from the Ballot Pool if it includes a person already included in an EOI in the Ballot Pool.
It is the responsibility of the person submitting the EOI to ensure that the information given is correct in all material respects.

Contact [email protected] or +64 21 0811 5415 for more information.

Send a message to learn more

21/06/2023

Changes to Skilled migrant residence category from 09 October 2023.

Last draw under current Category is 16 August 2023.

Download the Image and see if you Qualify.

Contact Smart Immigration on 02108115415

Good luck to everyone 🤞🏻🤞🏻

13/10/2022

Looking For Beautician and Hairdressers in NZ!

Anyone with Genuine experience looking to move to New Zealand please email your CV on [email protected]

You must have atleast 2 years genuine experience and be willing to work in New Zealand on a 3 years work visa. Bringing family is possible. Starting Pay rate of $27.80 per hour.

Evidence and reference will be checked alongwith previous employment details. Recruiters and Agents welcome as long as the experience is all genuine and relevant details can be provided.

Looking on an Urgent basis so Passport must be valid.

Thanks,
Smart Immigration.

11/05/2022

IMMIGRATION UPDATE

The New Zealand border will be fully reopened by 1 August 2022.

All work visa categories, including the new Accredited Employer Work Visa, will open for applications on 4 July 2022.

At 23:59 (NZST) on 31 July 2022 the maritime border will reopen, as will applications for student and visitor visas.

Accredited Employer Work Visa

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is being introduced on 4 July 2022.

The visa will be available mainly to workers earning over the median wage. From 4 July the median wage will be $27.76 per hour.

The Essential Skills Work Visa will close to applications on 3 July 2022.

From December 2022, most partners of temporary migrant workers will need to qualify for their own AEWV or Visitor Visa.

In 2023, we will require all employers to be accredited to employ any migrant, including those with open work rights (such as working holidaymakers or students).

A new GREEN LIST of occupations will make it easier for employers to hire and attract migrants for specified high-skilled, hard-to-fill occupations, including in the construction, engineering, trades, health, and ICT sectors.

Transition arrangements will allow for certain roles within construction, care, tourism and hospitality sectors to be recruited at rates slightly lower than median wage.

If the role is on this list an employer can complete the job check without proof of advertising as long as the minimum requirements for the role at least match the minimum requirements on this list.

The Green List also provides a fast-track to residence and a work to residence pathway. More information about these residence pathways will be provided soon.

All qualifications listed as requirements are based on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) unless stated otherwise.

Occupations that have a fast-track to residence

- Construction roles
- Engineering roles
- Health and social services roles
- Primary industries and science roles
- ICT, electronics and telecommunications roles
- Health and Social services
- Trades roles
- Agriculture Roles

If you are eligible and have work in any of these jobs you can come to New Zealand on a work visa from 4 July 2022 and apply for residence from September 2022. Minimum salary requirements will apply for some jobs and will change with the median wage each year.

We will provide more information about eligibility and the application process for residence soon.

INZ will email eligible visa holders by the end of the month (May 2022). Online records for the new visas and extensions will be updated by 25 May 2022.

Contact on www.smartimmigration.co.nz

Best Licensed Immigration Advisor in Auckland. Fall in love with New Zealand and its Beauty and help us help you achieve your dream.

22/03/2022

Accredited Employer Work Visa announcement:

Visit https://www.smartimmigration.co.nz/for-employers

Best Licensed Immigration Advisor in Auckland. Fall in love with New Zealand and its Beauty and help us help you achieve your dream.

24/02/2022

Applications for the next phase of the 2021 Resident Visa will open from 10am on 1 March 2022. Those eligible will be able to apply online any time from then until 31 July 2022.

There is no advantage to submitting an application in the first week. Applications made in the enhanced Immigration Online system received from 1 March will be held in our system. We will not start processing these until the end of March.

Applications will then be released for processing in order of the principal applicant’s current visa expiry date at the time of their 2021 Resident Visa application.

Our enhanced Immigration Online system has been designed to cope with more applications, as this is expected under Phase 2.

However, there is still a maximum number of people that can use the system at one time.

When the Immigration Online system reaches maximum capacity, people already using the system will be able to submit their applications. However, those who try to log on will be advised to try again later or will be asked to wait until a space becomes available.

We encourage you to be patient and to come back later, or the next day. We would like to make it clear that there is no advantage to applying on the first day or in the first few weeks.

There is no limit to the number of applications a person can submit each day in the enhanced Immigration Online system.

This means you do not have to apply for 'High Volume User' status.

A new form on the enhanced Immigration Online system for all other applicants. Payment is required upfront if applying on this form.

For further updates - Contact Martina on 02108115415
www.smartimmigration.co.nz

Best Licensed Immigration Advisor in Auckland. Fall in love with New Zealand and its Beauty and help us help you achieve your dream.

25/11/2021

You will get an extension on your Current Visa if you apply for the 2021 Resident Visa.

Full details below:

If you apply for a 2021 Resident Visa and your current visa expires while you are waiting for the resident visa to be processed, you can get a 2021 Interim Visa so you can stay in New Zealand.

How to get a 2021 Interim Visa

If you have applied for a 2021 Resident Visa and your current visa expires in the next 7 days, we will process a 2021 Interim Visa for you which will come into effect the day after your current visa expires. You do not need to apply.

We will send you an E-Visa with the appropriate duration and conditions.

Conditions

If you have a work or visitor visa the 2021 Interim Visa will let you stay in New Zealand with your current visa conditions.

If you have a student visa you will get open student visa conditions, allowing you to study any programme at any educational institute at any location.

How long the visa lasts

The 2021 Interim Visa is valid for 12 months unless your 2021 Resident Visa application is declined or withdrawn within this 12 month period.

In this case the interim visa will expire 2 months from the date of the decision to decline or withdraw.

If you want to apply for a further temporary visa instead

If your current visa is about to expire you may want to apply for a further temporary visa, rather than getting a 2021 Interim Visa, because the temporary visa's conditions are more suitable for you. For example, you may want to move from work to study.

If you want to do this you must apply for a further temporary visa before your current visa expires.

ALERT
If you do not apply for another temporary visa before your current visa expires you will automatically get a 2021 Interim Visa and you will not be able to apply for a further visa.
If your resident visa is declined or you withdraw

If you withdraw your 2021 Resident Visa application or your visa is declined you will only be able to apply for further visas if you have applied for or hold a temporary visa (not an interim visa).

Contact 02108115415 or email for more details [email protected]

24/11/2021

Borders are Opening for Fully Vaccinated Travellers 🎉🎉🎉

Fully vaccinated Kiwis and other eligible travellers can travel to NZ from Australia without staying in MIQ from 11.59pm Sunday, 16 January 2022

Fully vaccinated Kiwis and other eligible travellers can travel to NZ from all other countries from 11.59pm Sunday, 13 February 2022

All fully vaccinated individuals will be able to travel to NZ from 30 April 2022 onwards, with the re-opening staged over time

The Very High-Risk classification for Indonesia, Fiji, India, Pakistan and Brazil will be removed early next month

Fully vaccinated New Zealanders will find it easier to come home from January 2022, with foreign nationals to follow from April onwards, as the Government removes the requirement for MIQ for most travellers, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today.

“Closing our border was one of the first steps we took to keep our country safe from COVID-19 and it’ll be the last thing we open up, following our transition into the traffic light protection framework system and lifting of the Auckland boundary,” Chris Hipkins said.

“We have a clear, simple and safe plan, including a mandatory period of self-isolation. The border will open in three steps and all travellers not required to go into MIQ will still require:
a negative pre-departure test
proof of being fully vaccinated
a passenger declaration about travel history
a day 0/1 test on arrival
a requirement to self-isolate for seven days, and
a final negative test before entering the community

“We are making this announcement today to give families, businesses, visitors and airline and airport companies certainty and time to prepare. It’s very encouraging that as a country we are now in a position to move towards greater normality.

“We always said we’d open in a controlled way, and this started with halving the time spent in MIQ to seven days. Retaining a seven-day isolate at home period for fully vaccinated travellers is an important phase in the reconnecting strategy to provide continued safety assurance. These settings will continue to be reviewed against the risk posed by travellers entering New Zealand.

“For details around when travellers can enter New Zealand without going into MIQ:
Step 1 – opening to fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and those residence-class visa holders and other travellers eligible under our current settings from Australia from 11.59 pm on 16 January 2022 (provided they have been in Australia or New Zealand for the past 14 days)
Step 2 – opening to fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and those residence-class visa holders and other travellers eligible under our current border settings, from all but Very High-Risk countries, from 11.59pm Sunday 13 February.
Step 3 – opening to fully vaccinated foreign nationals (possibly staged by visa category), from 30 April onwards

“Some people and businesses want us to start to open up before Christmas, and that’s understandable, but others want us to be more cautious. We acknowledge it’s been tough but the end of heavily restricted travel is now in sight,” Chris Hipkins said.
“There continues to be a global pandemic with cases surging in Europe and other parts of the world, so we do need to be very careful when reopening the border.

“In the end, we’ve done what we’ve always done, and that is to follow expert advice – which continues to show us the border is our biggest risk for new cases. For example, our current outbreak which now has over 7000 cases associated with it, stems from a single traveller traveling from Australia to New Zealand.

“A phased approach to reconnecting with the world is the safest approach to ensure risk is carefully managed. This reduces any potential impacts on vulnerable communities and the New Zealand health system.”

“Our dates for opening of borders logically follows the bedding in of the traffic light system, the lifting of the Auckland border, time for regions to get their vaccination rates higher still and for booster shots to be rolled out.

“Further details on how self-isolation will be implemented will be made available in December, and include guidance on how people can travel from their arrival airport to their location of self-isolation and requirements for the places where they can self-isolate.

“This does not mean the end of MIQ as a system, which was always intended to be temporary at this scale and has served us incredibly well – with more than 190,000 people brought home since our borders closed in March 2020.

“There will continue to be role for it in the foreseeable future.”

More detail will be provided in December for people holding existing MIAS vouchers for MIQ dates after the steps commence and on self-isolation for groups.
For Step 1, agencies will work with airlines on implementing checks of passengers’ compliance with travel requirements, including vaccination status and pre-departure testing, ahead of a rollout of a digital Traveller Health Declaration System (THDS) towards the end of March.

The availability of both New Zealand’s and Australia’s international COVID-19 vaccination certificates will support compliance checks. Immigration New Zealand airline liaison officers will be deployed on the ground as support in Australia.
The three steps constitute a medium risk pathway. Those who don’t meet the requirements for medium-risk pathway, but are still permitted to enter New Zealand under current border settings, will continue to enter MIQ upon arrival under the new regime of seven days in managed isolation, followed by three days of home isolation.
This will include those who do not meet vaccination requirements (including unvaccinated New Zealand citizens) and those from Very High-Risk (VHR) countries.

The Very High-Risk classification for Indonesia, Fiji, India, Pakistan and Brazil is to be removed in early December and travellers from these countries will be able to enter New Zealand on the same basis as travellers from most other countries.
This allows New Zealand Citizens and those residence-class visa holders and other travellers eligible under our current border settings to travel directly into New Zealand.

Papua New Guinea will continue to be classified as Very High-Risk. Only New Zealand Citizens and dependants can travel directly to New Zealand.
All travellers from Papua New Guinea must spend 14 days in a non-VHR country before coming to New Zealand. Exemptions are provided for humanitarian reasons.

The COVID-19 situation in these countries will continue to be monitored as part of a regular surveillance and assessment process.

29/10/2021

Contact 02108115415 or visit smartimmigration.co.nz

2021 Resident Visa application process update

The 2021 Resident visa will be open for applications in two phases, with the first group of people able to apply from 1 December 2021.

From 1 December 2021 you can apply if:

you have already applied for residence under the Skilled Migrant or Residence from Work categories on or before 29 September 2021, or
you have submitted a Skilled Migrant Category Expression of Interest, and have included your dependent child in the Expression of Interest aged 17 years or older on 29 September 2021.
From 1 March 2022 all other eligible applicants can apply, including all others who have submitted a Skilled Migrant Category Expression of Interest.

All applications must be made by 31 July 2022.

Applications can only be submitted online.

As part of the online application process, Phase one applicants must enter their Skilled Migrant Category, Residence from Work application or Expression of Interest number before they can proceed with their application. The application number can only be used for one application.

If you are eligible to apply from 1 December 2021 you will receive an email from Immigration New Zealand by the end of October with more information.

Visa conditions

The visa conditions for the 2021 Resident Visa will be the same as other resident visa holders, including standard travel conditions.

As is standard for resident visa holders, people need to apply for permanent residence to be able to travel in and out of New Zealand with no restrictions or conditions.

Fees and refunds

The total of cost of the 2021 Resident Visa will be $2,160 including GST. This includes a $1,330 application fee and $830 immigration levy.

Immigration New Zealand operates on a cost-recovery basis and the visa application fee paid by the applicant covers the cost of Immigration New Zealand processing the application.

If you have already submitted a Skilled Migrant Category Expression of Interest or Residence from Work application you will only have to pay the difference between what you have already paid and cost of the 2021 Resident Visa, provided you withdraw your previous application or EOI. If you have submitted a Skilled Migrant Category application, you will be refunded the difference if you withdraw your previous application.

If you have already paid for a Skilled Migrant Category application or Expression of Interest, a Resident from Work application the process will be:

You will not need to pay the fee upfront when you submit your application.
You must pay the application fee once an in-principle decision has been made on your application.
You must pay the application fee before the application is completed and the final decision is communicated.
A fee is payable whether the application is approved or declined.
You will have the option to withdraw your Skilled Migrant Category or Residence from Work application and receive a refund, which can be credited towards the 2021 Resident Visa application fee.
Residence from Work applicants and people who have submitted an Expression of Interest must pay the difference between the application fees before the 2021 Resident Visa application is completed.
Skilled Migrant Category applicants will be refunded the difference between the two application fees, if they agree to withdraw their onhand Skilled Migrant Category application.
Only the fee part of the application cost will be required. If you have already paid a levy with a previous Skilled Migrant Category or Residence from Work application, you will not need to pay the levy again.
If you do not choose to withdraw your other skilled residence application, you must pay the full application fee because we need to recover the costs of processing both the 2021 Resident Visa, and the Skilled Migrant Category/Residence from Work application. You will not need to pay another levy.
Dependent children aged 25 and over applying under this category will not need to pay a separate fee or levy.

The process for refunds for those who may be entitled to one is to be decided.

Processing timeframes
It is expected the majority of applications will be processed within 12 months, with most being processed much faster.

This page will be updated regularly with the latest processing times and information.

Appeals

If your application for residence is declined you will have the same appeal rights as any residence visa applicant. You will be able to appeal to the independent Immigration and Protection Tribunal. If you are not eligible for the new residence pathway you can explore other visa options if you want to stay in New Zealand permanently.

If you are not eligible for the 2021 Resident Visa you may still be eligible for further temporary work visas.

Best Licensed Immigration Advisor in Auckland. Fall in love with New Zealand and its Beauty and help us help you achieve your dream.

19/10/2021

19/10/2021

Vaccination required for offshore travellers to NZ except Citizens, children and those with medical conditions. Update on Medical Waivers for HIV patients.
Contact 021 0811 5415 or visit www.smartimmigration.co.nz for more information!

30/09/2021

The announcement and easy ex*****on is what we will be working towards. Pleased to see migrants having some relief after the excruciating year and a half.

Those in the queue already will be prioritised and eligible to apply on 01 December 2021. The remaining eligible will be able to apply from 01 March 2022 to 31 July 2022.

Contact NOW on +642108115415.

29/09/2021

New 2021 Resident Visa

Some work visa holders currently in New Zealand as well as some critical purpose visitor visa holders may be eligible to apply for residence under the new residence category – the 2021 Resident Visa.

The Government has announced today that a new one-off residence visa pathway is available for some temporary work visa holders currently in New Zealand. Those arriving in New Zealand between 30 September 2021 and 31 July 2022 on long-term critical purpose visas (for six months or more) may also be eligible for this new visa. Partners and dependents can be included as part of these residence applications.

Applications will be open in two phases from 1 December 2021 for some eligible applicants and from 1 March 2022 for remaining eligible applicants.

All applications must be submitted by 31 July 2022.

Eligibility

Applicants must have met the criteria on 29 September 2021.

To be eligible you must:

have been in New Zealand on 29 September 2021, and
be on an eligible visa or have applied for an eligible visa before 29 September 2021 that is later granted.
You must also meet one of the three criteria:

have lived in New Zealand for three or more years, or
earn at or above the median wage ($27 per hour), or
work in a role on a scarce list.
If you meet the criteria for eligibility but are in Australia and have been unable to return to New Zealand by 29 September 2021, you may be considered eligible.

Check if you are eligible to apply for the 2021 Resident Visa

Eligible visas
All applicants must be on an eligible visa. These are:

Post Study Work Visa
Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa
Essential Skills Work Visa
Religious Worker Work Visa
Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa
Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa
Silver Fern Practical Experience Work Visa
Trafficking Victim Work Visa
Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa
Skilled Migrant Category Job Search Work Visa
Victims of Family Violence Work
Visa South Island Contribution Work Visa
Work Visa granted under Section 61 (provided the applicant held another eligible visa type within 6 months of being granted a Section 61 visa)
Some Critical Purpose Visitor Visas (CPVV):
Critical health workers for longer term roles (6 months or longer), and
Other critical workers for long term roles (more than 6 months).
Short-term visa holders are not eligible, such as visitors, students, working holiday makers, and seasonal workers like those on the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme or those who enter as short-term critical workers.

Partners and dependent children, including those currently outside New Zealand, can be included in residence applications.

All applicants must meet the heath and character requirements for the 2021 Resident Visa. Overseas police certificates will not be required unless specifically requested by an Immigration Officer. Limited medical certificates and chest x-ray certificates may be required for some people. Immigration New Zealand may request further information as part of the application process.

Individuals who do not meet the criteria will need to look at what other residence pathways or temporary visa options may be available to them.

Critical Purpose visitor holders
Two groups of Critical Purpose visitor visa holders will be eligible, as long as you arrive in New Zealand and apply before 31 July 2022.

Critical health workers for longer term roles (6 months or longer), and
Other critical workers for long term roles (more than 6 months).
If you are in a short term or seasonal role on a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa, including fishing crew, agricultural and horticulture mobile plant operators and shearers, you will not be eligible.

Applicants who have lived in New Zealand for three or more years
To be eligible under this criteria, you must have lived in New Zealand for the past three or more years and

have arrived in New Zealand on or before 29 September 2018, and
have spent a minimum of 821 days in New Zealand between 29 September 2018 and 29 September 2021 (inclusive).
The time spent in New Zealand does not need to be consecutive. There is no minimum amount within a calendar year.

If you need to check how much time you have spent in New Zealand, you are able to request your travel movements from Immigration New Zealand.

Applicants earning at or above the median wage
To be eligible under this criteria, you must be paid the median wage of NZD $27 per hour or above on 29 September 2021.

Applicants working in a job on a scarce list
To be eligible under this criteria, on 29 September 2021 you must work in a job that is on a scarce list. These are:

Jobs on the Long Term Skill Shortage List

Jobs requiring occupational registration in the health or education sector

Personal carer and other critical health workers

Specified primary sector jobs

Application process
The 2021 Resident visa will be open for applications in two phases, with the first group of people able to apply from 1 December 2021.

From 1 December 2021 you can apply if:

you have already applied for residence under the Skilled Migrant and Residence from Work categories before 29 September 2021, or
you have submitted a Skilled Migrant Category Expression of Interest, and have included your dependent child in the Expression of Interest aged 17 years or older on 29 September 2021.
From 1 March 2022 all other eligible applicants can apply, including all others who have submitted a Skilled Migrant Category Expression of Interest.

All applications must be made by 31 July 2022.

Applications can be submitted online.

More information about fees and the application process will be available on this page by the end of October.

Those who are eligible to apply from 1 December 2021 will receive an email from Immigration New Zealand by the end of October with further information.

Processing timeframes
It is expected the majority of applications will be processed within 12 months, with most being processed much faster.

This page will be updated regularly with latest processing times and information.
Contact 021 0811 5415!!

12/08/2021

Government sets out plan to reconnect New Zealanders to the world

Vaccination rollout will speed up, with all eligible ages able to book in their vaccine by 1 September
Move to 6 weeks between doses to ensure more NZers at least partially vaccinated as soon as possible in face of Delta risk
Phased approach to reopening border with self-isolation pilot this year and set up of new testing and vaccine checking systems at border
From the first quarter of 2022 move to new individual risk based border settings that will establish low, medium and high risk pathways into the country
Elimination retained as best strategy to keep COVID out and economy open
The Government will use the second half of 2021 to vaccinate as many New Zealanders as possible and safely conduct a self-isolation trial for vaccinated New Zealanders in order to prepare for a phased resumption of quarantine-free travel, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today.
The Government’s framework for re-opening borders and moving to an individualised risk-based model for quarantine-free travel was unveiled at a forum on Reconnecting New Zealanders to the World in Wellington today. The release of the plan followed the publication of Sir David Skegg’s Strategic COVID-19 Public Health Advisory Group’s advice to Government on Wednesday.
“Getting vaccinated is the number one thing everyone can do to be protected against COVID-19, help accelerate our economic recovery, reduce the risk of lockdowns, and safely allow New Zealand’s borders to begin re-opening next year,” Jacinda Ardern said.
“The plan announced today is informed by the best available scientific evidence and public health advice. It will allow us to capture the opportunities vaccination brings, while protecting the gains New Zealanders have worked so hard for.
“Key to this is maintaining our Elimination Strategy. The advice is clear: If we open our borders now we will lose the freedoms and advantages we have achieved so far.
“If we give up our elimination approach too soon there is no going back, and we could see significant breakouts here like some countries overseas are experiencing who have opened up early in their vaccination rollout.
“Therefore the first step in our plan is speeding up the vaccination process to ensure everyone is at least partially vaccinated as soon as possible to reduce the risk and impact of Delta entering the country.
“From today we are moving to a six week period between doses, meaning more people can get their first dose quicker and ensuring everyone is at least partially vaccinated in the coming months. Those who work at our border, have underlying health conditions or wish to be fully vaccinated sooner can still get their second dose after three weeks.
“We are also bringing forward the eligibility dates for the remaining groups. As already announced 50 plus will be open from Friday 13th August, 40 plus will be open on Wednesday 18th August, 30 plus will be open on Wednesday 25th August and from 1 September we will be open for all eligible ages.
“Once enough people are vaccinated, we will be able to start the next step in the plan: a phased introduction of an individual risk-based approach to border settings in 2022.
“Low-Risk, Medium-Risk and High-Risk travel pathways will be created, and which pathway a traveller takes will be based on the risk associated with where they are coming from and their vaccination status.
“Each pathway will have testing and isolation requirements proportionate to that risk.
“The Low-Risk pathway will permit quarantine free entry for vaccinated travellers who have been in low risk countries.
“The Medium-Risk pathway would include a combination of self-isolation and/or reduced MIQ for vaccinated travellers who have been in medium risk countries.
“To prepare for the Medium-Risk pathway the Government will run a self-isolation pilot in the second half of this year to test processes and systems for the safe use of this tool.
“Businesses and organisations that need to send staff overseas will be invited to express interest in participating in the pilot which will run between October and December 2021.
“The High-Risk pathway will see the continuation of a full 14 days in MIQ and testing for unvaccinated travellers and any traveller, including vaccinated travellers, who have been in very high risk or high risk countries.
“This individual risk based approach requires new systems to be set up. We will use the remainder of 2021 to continue to prepare for the operation of borders under this system.
“This work includes ongoing work on the development of a traveller health declaration system, investigating new testing technology for rapid testing on arrival at airports and reliable pre-departure testing as well as piloting self-isolation arrangements for some New Zealanders and strengthening other public health measures such as contact tracing.
“New Zealand remains in a strong position. We don’t have COVID in the community and our economy is more open than most.
“Our plan to reopen our borders both protects the gains we have won, while setting us up to safely reconnect New Zealanders and business with the world and seize the opportunities created by our COVID success,” Jacinda Ardern said.