New Zealand’s announces new visa rules to lure digital nomads - The push for remote workers to visit New Zealand is part of a wider push for tourism

New Zealand eases visa policies amid a recession and continued struggles to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand will introduce looser visa rules to allow holiday makers to work remotely while visiting the country, to boost its tourism sector and economy, it said on Monday.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said the change will enable many visitors to extend their stays, leading to more spending in the country.

Visitors can now carry out remote working for a foreign employer while holidaying in the country for up to 90 days.

Around 66 countries across the globe provide digital nomad visas/permits. Spain is the top destination for digital nomads, according to the Digital Nomad Visa Index. Other popular countries are Argentina, Romania, UAE, Croatia, Portugal, Uruguay, Malta, Norway, and Andorra.

Starting on January 27, 2025, the New Zealand Visitor Visa will allow employees who work remotely for a foreign company to live and work in New Zealand for up to 90 days. Self-employed remote workers with clients outside New Zealand can also apply. Unlike other digital nomad visas, there appears to be no minimum income requirement.

The country, which sank into a recession last year, is trying to entice highly skilled “digital nomads” to work in the island nation for up to nine months.