New Zealand relaxes visa rules for digital nomads

New Zealand’s updated visa conditions offer the option for visitors to work remotely for an overseas employer or client during their stay in the country. The change applies to applications received from 27 January 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 a digital nomad and keep in touch with work back home, without breaching their visa conditions.

The visa can be extended up to nine months, but after the first 90 days visitors may be expected to pay tax.

Both visitor visa recipients and people who enter with a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) must not:

• Work for a New Zealand employer
• Provide goods or services to people or businesses in New Zealand
• Do work that requires them to be physically present at a workplace in New Zealand.

Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis said making it easier for remote workers to visit the country will increase its popularity as a destination. “We want more wealth and super-talented people coming in the arrival gates,” she said.

New Zealand’s tourism industry was impacted by Covid-19. Prior to the pandemic, the sector was New Zealand’s largest export industry and delivered NZ$40.9 billion to the country. The most recent figures show those numbers are growing again, with tourism bringing in $37.7 billion in 2023.

Kenya launched a digital nomad visa late last year.