The New Zealand government has recently announced that it will loosen visitor visa regulations for “digital nomads,” to boost tourism and stimulate economic growth, a move that has already garnered interest from Americans affected by the recent fires in Los Angeles.
Under this new initiative, visitors in New Zealand can now work remotely for a foreign employer while enjoying their holiday in the country for up to 90 days. After this period, they may need to consider potential resident tax obligations.
Immigration New Zealand is set to launch an advertising campaign regarding this with a budget of approximately $100,000 to reach markets in the United States and Southeast Asia.
In a conversation with RNZ, Brett O’Reilly, a member of the APEC Business Advisory Council, said he has already been approached by some individuals, including Americans impacted by the fires in Los Angeles.
“For those people impacted by the recent fires in Los Angeles, this is a godsend and gives them an opportunity to relocate somewhere temporarily while their houses and lives are being rebuilt,” O’Reilly said.
O’Reilly also noted that Aotearoa has taken too long to join countries like Spain, Germany, and Thailand in welcoming digital nomads, but he believes that it’s better late than never and anticipates that this initiative will increase visitor numbers.
Meanwhile, FCM Travel in New Zealand general manager Kelly Thomas highlighted the growing interest in digital nomad programs from employees seeking to combine work and leisure.
For Thomas, “Gone are the days of a traveller being comfortable doing multiple single-day, overnight, or really short trips throughout a month.”
“They actually want to go into a country and add on a little bit of leisure travel while they’re there to make the most of that travel.”