Government wants New Zealand to be 'attractive destination' for people on workcation
The New Zealand government has eased its visa requirements in a bid to lure more digital nomads to work in the country.
Starting this week, the government relaxed restrictions to allow tourists to work remotely for a foreign employer while on holiday in New Zealand.
"Anyone who intends to work remotely for more than 90 days should look at possible tax implications," said Immigration Minister Erica Stanford in a statement.
According to Immigration NZ, visitor visa recipients and people who enter with a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority will receive these conditions.
"The change will enable many visitors to extend their stays which will lead to more money being spent in the country," Stanford said.
The change does not cover individuals who are working for a New Zealand employer, provide goods and services to people or businesses in New Zealand, and/or do work that requires them to be physically present in a New Zealand workplace.
This reform will aim to further cement New Zealand's status as a top destination for remote workers, after it landed in the top 10 of Remote's list last year.
In fact, data from YouGov last year revealed that New Zealand is already the dream destination for Australian digital nomads.
"Making the country more attractive to 'digital nomads' – people who work remotely while travelling – will boost New Zealand's attractiveness as a destination," said Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis in a statement.
In this visa reform, the government aims to compete with other nations that are already offering digital nomad visas, such as Spain and Thailand, to lure these talents.
"Many countries offer digital nomad visas and the list is growing, so we need to keep pace to ensure New Zealand is an attractive destination for people who want to 'workcation' abroad," said Tourism Minister Louise Upston in a statement.
"Compared to other kinds of visitors, international remote workers have the potential to spend more time and money in New Zealand, including during the shoulder season."
Numbers of digital nomads boomed after the pandemic, with data from Everki showing that there are 35 million digital nomads worldwide, including 16.9 million in the United States.
