Wellington, January 28, 2025: New Zealand has relaxed its visa rules to attract foreign workers, enabling them to live and work remotely in the country. This move aims to boost the economy, which has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, by promoting tourism and attracting skilled professionals, especially in the IT sector. Economic Development Minister Nicola Willis emphasized the focus on professionals from Southeast Asia and the United States to accelerate recovery.
Tourism Minister Louise Upston noted that digital nomad visas are part of the strategy to make New Zealand more appealing to remote workers. The government hopes this will strengthen the tourism sector, which contributes nearly $11 billion to the economy and creates around 200,000 jobs. Upston stressed the importance of keeping up with other countries offering similar visa options to maintain New Zealand’s competitiveness.
