New Zealand recently announced changes to its visitor visa requirements, making it easier for foreign tourists to visit in a move to boost tourism.
Moreover, the country is targeting digital nomads and allowing foreign tourists, including from Malaysia, to stay in the country and work remotely for up to 9 months with the new relaxed visitor visa requirements.
New Zealand now allows foreign tourists to stay and work remotely in the country for up to 9 months
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According to New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the changes apply to any visitor visa applications received from 27 January 2025. The visa allows you to stay for up to 9 months in an 18-month period in a single entry, though you do need to renew the visitor visa once while you’re in New Zealand to do this.
These changes allow foreign visitors to now work remotely for an overseas business or client while they are visiting New Zealand, with the New Zealand Government defining remote work as “an activity you do for gain or reward for a company, employer or client that is not in New Zealand”.
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The New Zealand Government further elaborated that gain or reward includes work done for payment, or for a benefit that can be valued in terms of money, for example, accommodation, food, or services.
For self-employed or digital nomads, they can only work remotely for clients outside of New Zealand and there is no limit to the amount of remote work you can do while on a visitor visa.
What is considered “remote work” under the new visitor visa requirements
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The New Zealand Government added that remote work includes the following:
- Answering emails and phone calls
- Coding and testing
- Writing reports
- Attending meetings or giving presentations to colleagues outside New Zealand
- Creating content as a social media influencer – as long as you are not promoting an activity, event or product for gain or reward from a New Zealand business or person in New Zealand
Meanwhile, these activities are not considered as remote work by the New Zealand Government:
- Work that is for a New Zealand employer
- Working with a New Zealand business or person in New Zealand in exchange for goods or services, for example, free accommodation in exchange for a review
- Work that requires you to be in New Zealand
Malaysians don’t need to pay taxes in New Zealand if they stay and work remotely in the country for under 183 days
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Do note that if you stay for more than 92 days within a 12-month period, you may need to pay tax in New Zealand. Furthermore, the days do not need to be all at once, for example, if you visit New Zealand more than once in a 12-month period.
However, for visitors from countries and territories that have a tax treaty with New Zealand, such as Malaysia, you can stay in New Zealand for up to 183 days before needing to pay tax.
Currently, Malaysians can visit New Zealand for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa under the visa waiver programme that has been in place since 2009.
Furthermore, Malaysian citizens are required to obtain a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) to enter the country visa-free.
Given that Malaysians can work remotely in New Zealand for up to 9 months under a visitor visa, they must apply for one and enter the country using it rather than via the visa waiver programme.
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So, what do you guys think of New Zealand’s new relaxed visitor visa requirements? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Also read: M’sians Visiting China Now Able to Enjoy Visa-Free Stays of 30 Days, Extended From 15 Days
