AUCKLAND — After two years of tight border measures, New Zealand is finally reopening to fully vaccinated international travellers, including Canadians.

According to the New Zealand Government, the country’s borders will reopen on May 1, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. to international visitors from visa waiver countries, including Canada, without needing to self-isolate on arrival, on provision of a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test.

The reopening comes two months earlier than planned. Last month, New Zealand announced its five-step reopening plan, which included fully vaccinated travellers from visa waiver countries, including Canada, being welcomed back starting July 2022. The initial plan also required travellers to self-isolate for 10 days upon arrival.

“We look forward to welcoming manuhiri (visitors), family and friends back in May,” said Tourism New Zealand’s Chief Executive, René de Monchy. “New Zealand has plenty to offer international visitors, from breathtaking landscapes, rare and remarkable wildlife, to our rich culture and heritage. Our people and place are what make us unique, and we look forward to sharing this with the world again.”

The high-level summary of entry requirements for all travellers is as follows:

• All travelers entering New Zealand must be fully vaccinated in line with New Zealand government entry requirements.
• A negative pre-departure test (PCR, LAMP or Rapid Antigen) in line with New Zealand government requirements is required for all travellers.
• No compulsory requirement for all arriving travellers to either self-isolate or enter a government managed isolation hotel. All forms of isolation for arriving travellers (including foreign nationals) are removed at all border reopening steps except for unvaccinated New Zealand citizens and residents returning to the country.
• All travellers will be provided with two rapid antigen tests at no charge on arrival at Auckland Airport, which are self-administered after exit from the airport.
• Travellers will be asked to undertake the first test on day of arrival and then a second test on day 5/6 after arrival. This can be done once travellers have left the airport (ie. at home or hotel).
• Travellers who test positive from either their arrival day or day 5/6 RAT test will be required to take a PCR test to confirm positive status. If positive they will then be asked to self-isolate in line with the requirements that apply to all community COVID-19 cases in New Zealand.

Canadians can get to New Zealand via a nonstop, 14-hour overnight flight. Air New Zealand resumed service between Vancouver-Auckland in February 2022.