New Zealand Removes Covid-19 Pre-Departure Test on Arrivals

From 11:59 p.m. on Monday, 20th June, the New Zealand government will no longer require arrivals to take a Covid-19 pre-departure test.

New Zealand had planned to repeal the rule by 31st July, but the deadline has been pushed up due to a drop in case numbers.

Fully vaccinated visitors from approximately 60 countries on a visa-waiver list, including the United Kingdom, have been able to visit since 2nd May.

According to the country’s official Covid website: “We’ve taken a careful and staged approach to reopening our borders to ensure we aren’t overwhelmed with an influx of Covid-19 cases.

“Our strategy has worked and as a result, it’s safe to lift pre-departure test requirements much sooner than planned.”

“With cases continuing to decline despite over 387,000 arrivals since borders reopened, there is evidence this measure can now be lifted.

“Around 90% of international arrivals undertake their required testing once they are in the country, with only a 2-3% positivity rate. So we don’t anticipate a significant increase in border cases once the requirement is lifted.

“In addition, the challenges pre-departure tests pose to visitors are now no longer outweighed by the public health benefits.

“Factors such as the availability of and cost of getting a test are increasingly becoming a barrier for people intending to travel here, especially as other countries wind back testing availability or the requirement for a test on entry themselves.”

Travellers will still be required to self-test on Day 0/1 and again on Day 5/6, and if either test results in a positive result, they must then undergo a PCR test.

Travellers with Covid-19-like symptoms, such as hayfever, will also have the option of presenting a negative Covid test or a certificate from a health professional stating that they are unlikely to have Covid-19 prior to departure.

In photo: Waewaetorea Passage – Bay of Islands, Northland New Zealand