New Zealand allows foreigners with visitor visas to work remotely for an overseas employer while holidaying
Working remotely from New Zealand is no more a remote possibility for the global tourist visiting Aotearoa, the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’. New Zealand is allowing foreigners with visitor visas to work remotely for an overseas employer while they are holidaying here.
The New Zealand Government announced that visitor visa rules are changing to open New Zealand up to digital nomads and allow tourists to work for overseas employers while visiting. Essentially, the government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand.
Foreigners travelling on a passport from some countries must apply for a Visitor Visa to visit New Zealand. You can stay for up to either 6 months (multiple entry) or 9 months (single entry). Visitor visa holders cannot work, but they can study for up to 3 months.
Now, new visa conditions will now allow visitors to work remotely for an overseas employer or client. The change applies to applications received from January 27, 2025 for all visitors, including tourists and people visiting family, and partners and guardians on longer-term visitor visas.
These new conditions mean that tourists can stay in New Zealand as digital nomads and keep in touch with work back home, without breaching their visa conditions.
Both visitor visa recipients and people who enter with an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) will enjoy these conditions. However, visitor visa holders cannot work for a New Zealand employer and provide goods or services to people or businesses in New Zealand. Most importantly, visitors cannot do work that requires them to be physically present at a workplace in New Zealand.
Only remote work which is based overseas is allowed. Visitors whose employment requires them to be in New Zealand such as sales representatives of overseas companies, performers and people coming to work for New Zealand employers must still obtain visas relevant to their circumstances.
Foreigners who intend to work remotely from New Zealand for more than 92 days in 12 months should ensure they are aware of any tax implications.
New Zealand is making the country more attractive to ‘digital nomads’ – people who work remotely while travelling to boost New Zealand’s attractiveness as a destination. The change will enable numerous visitors to extend their stays, resulting in increased spending in the country.
Originally Published at Financial Express