Changes to New Zealand’s border restrictions means the end of New Zealand MIQ for medical specialists overseas who want to come to NZ to live or to locum. The MIQ system for critical health workers has been a laborious hit and miss situation and will finally come to a close for fully vaccinated medical specialists early- mid 2022.

Timeline

Medical specialists can enter New Zealand without having to book an MIQ stay in three stages:

• Step 1 – opening to fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and those residence-class visa holders and other medical specialists eligible under our current settings from Australia from 11.59 pm on 16 January 2022 (provided they have been in Australia or New Zealand for the past 14 days)
• Step 2 – opening to fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and those residence-class visa holders and other medical specialists eligible under our current border settings, from all but Very High-Risk countries, from 11.59pm Sunday 13 February 2022
• Step 3 – opening to fully vaccinated medical from 30 April 2022 onwards

Self-Isolation

Instead of MIQ, doctors arriving from overseas will be required to self-isolate. Evidence of a negative pre-departure test, proof of being fully vaccinated, and a COVID-19 test are required on arrival. You will also have to declare you haven’t been to a high-risk country.

For more information about travel to New Zealand, please click here

Detail on how self-isolation will be implemented will be made available in December. This will include guidance on how people can travel from their arrival airport to their location of self-isolation, and requirements for the places where they can self-isolate. Watch this space!

The Stats

According to the country’s Ministry of Health, currently 84% of New Zealand’s eligible population is fully vaccinated, while 92% have had at least one dose. There is a cautious easing of restrictions around the country in the lead up to Christmas, with families and friends longing to enjoy summer together, and the domestic retail, tourism and hospitality industries getting back on track.

New Zealand was one of the first countries in the world to shut its borders in March 2020. As a result New Zealand has recorded just over 10,000 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, and 41 deaths – far fewer than most comparable countries.

If you’re an international medical specialist or a New Zealand trained doctor looking for a job in NZ please get in touch; with the end of New Zealand MIQ for medical specialists overseas, it’s now even easier to get you working and living in Aotearoa!