New Zealand has relaxed visa requirements to attract so-called “digital nomads” – people who travel while working remotely – in a bid to boost tourism.
Under the new rules, visitors can do remote work for a foreign employer while on holiday in the country for up to 90 days, after which they may have to pay residence tax.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said: “This change will enable many visitors to extend their stay, which will result in more money being spent in the country.”
New Zealand is currently suffering from an economic recession and its tourism industry has been severely affected due to the closure of its borders during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We welcome visitors of all kinds to New Zealand and, in this announcement specifically, those who are able to work as digital nomads here on our shores,” Stanford said.
The government said the changes apply to all visitor visas, including tourists, people visiting their families, partners and guardians on long-term visas.
She added that only remote work abroad is allowed, while visitors whose work requires their presence in the country must still obtain appropriate visas.
Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis said it was hoped the move would attract “highly skilled people with roles that link them to strong companies and industries globally”.
“These are jobs they have overseas that they will be able to stay in touch with while they are in New Zealand,” Willis said, adding they “will not be competing for New Zealanders’ jobs.”
Before coronavirus, tourism was the country’s largest export industry and contributed more than NZ$40 billion ($22 billion, £18 billion) to the economy, according to Tourism New Zealand. But that number has dwindled in recent years in the wake of the pandemic.
It is part of the broader economic difficulties facing the country. High interest rates due to high inflation have stagnated economic growth in the country, leading to high unemployment rates and the number of people looking for jobs abroad.
New Zealand is the latest among a number of countries to have introduced visa programs for digital nomads over the past few years – attracting a surge in people looking for opportunities to travel while working remotely.
This trend started in 2010, Mostly among young workers Who were looking to escape from their daily routine. It was reinforced by the Covid-19 pandemic, when lockdowns around the world led to a shift in attitudes towards remote working.
Countries offering digital nomad visas include Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Spain, and Portugal.
But the presence of digital nomads in some places has also sparked controversy. in Cape Town, South AfricaCritics say the influx of remote workers has increased costs.
The influx of visitors to countries such as Spain and Greece has also fueled heated protests against overtourism.
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