I am sure you would have heard about Immigration New Zealand’s announcement about ‘Digital Nomads’ now being allowed to work while holidaying in New Zealand. This article will tell you more about what it means and how this change stands up against rules for digital nomads in other countries.
Is this a new visa category?
First up, this is not a new visa category. If you are planning to visit New Zealand you will still need to apply for a General Visitor Visa or an ETA. However, you can now holiday in New Zealand and keep in touch with work back home. Kudos to the Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis and the Immigration Minister, Erica Stanford for pushing this through and telling the world that we are open to the highly skilled workers holidaying in New Zealand while they work.
Immigration New Zealand’s previous stance was that if you are visiting New Zealand as a tourist and checking your work emails, you were breaching the conditions of your visitor visa. It does not take a genius to conclude that this outlook was anachronistic and goes to show how impractical the bureaucracy is at Immigration New Zealand.
What is the rest of the world doing to attract digital nomads?
There are more than 35 million digital nomads in the world and a majority of them are from America. This number is expected to shoot up to one billion by 2035. There is definitely some serious revenue that New Zealand can earn by starting now.
Portugal
It was voted the best destination for digital nomads in 2023. The country offers a one-year temporary-stay visa to digital nomads which can be renewed for up to five years. Compared to this, New Zealand’s offer is not as attractive.
Spain
It was voted the destination which most digital nomads wanted to visit next. Spain also offers a one-year temporary-stay visa to digital nomads which can be renewed for up to five years with a monthly income requirement of about NZ$3,975.
Thailand
What better way to work and holiday than sit on a beach in balmy weather and sip Mai Tais? Thailand offers a two-year Smart Visa with a further four-year extension available. You need to be earning between $1475 - $5900. Once again, a way better option than what we have offered.
What should we expect from this new offering?
Most European and Asian countries are hotspots for digital nomads because that allows them to travel easily to other neighbouring countries. In my opinion, while New Zealand holds a certain charm and allure and we are proud of our rustic appeal, its geographical location and high cost of living may prevent us from being a popular choice for digital nomads. This effort from the government is a bit half-hearted, although they plan to spend a $100,000 on marketing our country as a destination to American and East Asian workers. Let’s wait and watch!
Hemant Kaushal is a Licensed Immigration Adviser who runs his own practice in Auckland. His practice handles various simple and complicated immigration matters. Nothing in this article constitutes immigration advice and we strongly recommend you consult a Licensed Immigration Adviser or a lawyer to discuss your specific circumstances.
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