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New Zealand has relaxed its visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting the country in an effort to boost its tourism sector.
Under the new rules, visitors to the country can now carry out remote work for a foreign employer while on vacation for up to 90 days.
The country’s government has said the move aims to make New Zealand “more attractive to digital nomads”, referring to people who travel while working remotely.
“The change will allow many visitors to extend their stays, which will lead to more money being spent in the country,” said New Zealand Immigration Minister Erica Stanford.
The government said the changes applied to all visitor visas, including tourists and people visiting relatives, partners and guardians on long-term visas.
He added that only remote work abroad was permitted, while visitors whose employment required them to be in the country still had to obtain appropriate visas.
New Zealand’s tourism industry generates revenue of almost $11 billion, according to the government.
Many other countries have introduced digital nomad visa programs in recent years in an effort to attract a growing number of people seeking opportunities to travel while working remotely.
The trend took off in the 2010s, Mainly among young workers who were looking to escape from their daily routine. It was reinforced by the Covid-19 pandemic, when global lockdowns led to a shift in attitudes towards remote working.
Countries that offer digital nomad visas include Japan, South Korea, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Brazil, Spain and Portugal.
But the presence of digital nomads in some places has also sparked debate. In it South African city of Cape TownCritics say the influx of remote workers has led to increased costs.
The influx of visitors to countries such as Spain and Greece has also fueled heated protests against abolzism.
