New Zealand’s government is considering introducing a visa for digital nomads. Currently, travellers who want to work in New-Zealand for longer periods of time need to apply for a Working Holiday Visa or another type of work visa.
Digital nomad visas are becoming more common
A digital nomad visa is intended for so-called digital nomads. These are people who are not bound to a specific location, but can work from any country in the world. They are usually freelancers or entrepreneurs who can do their work from anywhere, as long as they have a stable internet connection. A digital nomad visa allows these people to spend a longer time travelling and to stay in countries where the cost of living is lower than in Europe. An increasing number of countries are offering a special visa allowing digital nomads to live and work in the country.
If New Zealand introduced a digital nomad visa, it would follow the example of dozens of other countries. Presently, around 50 countries already offer or have announced to introduce a special visa for digital nomads. This includes Asian countries, such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan and Thailand, as well as a few South American and European countries, like Italy, Spain, Greece and Turkey.
Pilot of 250 visas
In March 2024, New Zealand’s Minister for Education, Erica Stanford, announced that the introduction of a digital nomad visa is still under review. During the election campaign, Stanford’s party already mentioned that they wanted to experiment with a pilot project wherein they issue 250 visas to digital nomads. This way, they could find out whether there would be enough interest for a digital nomad visa. The visa would be valid for up to one year.
Even though the minister is an advocate of the digital nomad visa, she also mentioned that it is not at the top of the government’s priority list and that they are currently focusing on other aspects of their immigration policy. Therefore, it is expected to take a while before the new visa will finally be launched.
Economic benefits of the visa
Advocates of the digital nomad visa claim that the visa benefits both the digital nomads and New Zealand’s population. The argument is that an influx of professionals and highly skilled workers will stimulate the local economy. On the other hand, opponents criticise the tax benefits that digital nomads often enjoy as being unfair towards the local population of New Zealand. According to critics, foreigners who often earn more than New Zealanders for similar work should not enjoy additional tax benefits.
Current possibilities to work in New Zealand
It is not clear yet if or when the digital nomad visa for New Zealand will be introduced. Travellers who want to work in New Zealand now can apply for different types of visas. Which visa is most appropriate depends on the intended length of the stay and the exact type of work to be done in New Zealand. A Working Holiday Visa allows travellers up to 30 or 35 years to travel through New Zealand and to finance their trip by working at the same time. This visa allows its holder to stay in New Zealand for a year and to work for multiple employers.
If you are not interested in working for a New Zealand company and want to stay in New Zealand for no longer than 3 months, you may apply for a NZeTA. This digital travel authorisation is much cheaper than the Working Holiday Visa for New Zealand. The NZeTA allows you to conduct business meetings and to participate in events, as long as you are employed by an organisation outside of New Zealand.