New Zealand has eased its visa requirements to permit tourists to engage in remote work while visiting the country to boost its tourism sector.
According to the new rules, visitors can now work remotely for a foreign employer while holidaying in New Zealand for up to 90 days, after which they may encounter potential tax implications.
The government of New Zealand emphasized that this adjustment aims to make New Zealand "more attractive to digital nomads," who are individuals that travel while working remotely.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford stated, "The change will allow many visitors to extend their stays, resulting in increased spending within the country."
The government clarified that these changes apply to all visitor visas, including tourists and individuals visiting family, partners, and guardians on longer-term visas.
Furthermore, only remote work from overseas is permitted, while individuals requiring in-country employment still need to obtain the appropriate visas.
New Zealand's tourism sector brings in revenue of nearly $11 billion, as reported by the government.
In recent years, various countries, including Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Spain, and Portugal, have introduced visa programs for digital nomads to cater to the growing interest in travel combined with remote work.
The surge of visitors in countries such as Spain and Greece has sparked passionate protests against overtourism.