COVID-19: Advice for New Zealanders Overseas Most of New Zealand is currently at Alert Level 1 (with Auckland remaining at Alert Level 2). For more information on what this means, visit the New Zealand Government’s dedicated COVID-19 website. Advice for New Zealanders currently overseas We currently advise that you do not travel overseas at this time. Transport and transit options to return to New Zealand have been severely disrupted during the pandemic. Even booked flights may be cancelled. If you are a New Zealander overseas pleas...Read More

Protests and Demonstrations around the United States Since late May 2020, there have been ongoing widespread protests and demonstrations occurring around the United States. Some protests have resulted in violence and/or looting. Even protests which are intended to be peaceful can become violent. A strong police and/or National Guard presence can be expected at any further protests. Police measures have, at times, included the use of rubber bullets and/or pepper spray to disperse crowds. New Zealanders in the United States are advised to avoid area...Read More

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) The world is responding to an active outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus). We currently advise that all New Zealanders do not travel overseas at this time due to the outbreak of COVID-19, associated health risks and travel restrictions. Due to the difficulty travellers are experiencing returning home, some New Zealanders overseas may need to stay safely where they are. For more information on COVID-19, please refer to the New Zealand government COVID-19 website and see our COVID-19 (coronavirus)...Read More

Hong Kong: Demonstrations and National Security Legislation Large-scale protests and demonstrations have taken place in Hong Kong since July 2019. Acts of violence have occurred between police and demonstrators across Hong Kong, including at the International Airport. As crowd control measures, police have used tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper spray. Injuries have occurred. Demonstrations may be ongoing. Locations of gatherings may be unpredictable and change at short notice. National security legislation for Hong Kong came into effect on 1 July 2020...Read More

Middle East: Regional Tensions On 3 January 2020, an Iranian military commander and Iraqi paramilitary leaders were killed in a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad International Airport. On 8 January, Iran fired missiles against two military bases in Iraq containing U.S personnel. On 8 January, a Ukrainian International Airlines flight was shot down shortly after take-off from Tehran. Iranian authorities have acknowledged responsibility. On 11 March, the coalition base at Taji in Iraq was attacked, and there have been subseque...Read More

Chile: Civil Unrest Following civil unrest and violence across Chile in October and November 2019, there is the potential for further demonstrations, protests and violent clashes in Santiago and other major cities, including Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt, Concepción and Antofagasta, in March and April 2020. We continue to advise New Zealanders to exercise increased caution in Chile. Read what our advisory levels mean and the full advice on SafeTravel. New Zealanders in Chile should cont...Read More

New Zealanders in the United Kingdom New Zealand citizens who continue to live in the UK now that it has left the EU can: use the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website tool to seek guidance on visa status and rights to stay. find more information in the UK's Department for Exiting the European Union: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-exiting-the-european-union. If you are a New Zealander who holds a European passport, or who has a European spouse you should refer to guidance from the UK Governm...Read More

Travelling as a Dual Citizen What is dual citizenship or dual nationality?If you are a citizen of more than one country you are a dual citizen or dual national. This means you are a citizen of both New Zealand and another country at the same time. New Zealand allows dual citizenship and multiple citizenship but some other countries do not. A country could still consider you to be one of their citizens even if you don't accept that nationality if you: have a parent, or in some cases a grandparent, who is a citizen of that ...Read More

Pacific Cyclone Season: 1 November to 30 April The Pacific cyclone season began on 1 November and runs until 30 April. New Zealanders travelling to the Pacific are encouraged to register their details with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Travellers who register can be warned if a major cyclone approaches and given advice on precautions to take. We can also make contact with you following a significant cyclone to check on your well-being. If you are in an area affected by a cyclone, you should follow the advice of the local author...Read More

Measles Measles is a highly infectious virus that spreads easily from person to person through the air, via breathing, coughing and sneezing. It affects both children and adults. The New Zealand Ministry of Health is advising people travelling overseas to make sure they are fully immunised against measles before they go. Given the current outbreaks of measles in Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and the Philippines the Ministry of Health is asking primary care providers in New Zealand to ensure vaccinations are up-to-...Read More

Bolivia: Civil Unrest We have reviewed our advice and now advise New Zealanders to exercise increased caution while in Bolivia. Read our full advice on SafeTravel. The current political situation in Bolivia remains highly unpredictable following the abrupt resignation of the president at the urging of the military, in response to widespread protests in the wake of presidential elections on 20 October 2019. An interim government is in place ahead of new elections. Protests and the use of roadblocks are ongoing, partic...Read More

India: Severe Air Pollution Major cities in India are currently experiencing severe levels of air pollution. Some of the most common health effects of air pollution include irritation of eyes, throat and lungs. For people with existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or bronchitis, breathing in air pollution can make these conditions worse. New Zealanders in areas affected by the air pollution are advised to monitor pollution readings, such as those provided by the Air Quality Index website. If you have concerns ...Read More

Drug Crime Overseas: Don't Risk It Every year New Zealanders put themselves at risk of arrest or detention for drug-related offences overseas. Remember that when you are overseas you are subject to that country's laws and penalties - no matter how harsh they may appear by New Zealand standards. In many countries, penalties for drug-related offences are severe. Possession, use or trafficking of even very small quantities of drugs can lead to lengthy imprisonment thousands of miles away from family and friends. New Zealand does not...Read More

Outbreaks of Polio In September 2019, an outbreak of polio was declared in the Philippines. In July 2019, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced a situational update on circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 outbreaks in the WHO African and Eastern Mediterranean regions. In June 2018 an outbreak of vaccine-derived poliovirus was declared by the Papua New Guinea Government in Morobe province. In July 2018, preparations for implementation of large scale immunization activities and intensified surveilla...Read More

Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo: Ebola Virus On 17 July 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that the ongoing Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The Ugandan government has also confirmed an outbreak of Ebola in Kasese District in western Uganda, originating in the neighbouring DRC. To date, there have been over 2500 confirmed or probable cases of Ebola in the DRC, resulting in over 1600 deaths since the outbreak began in August 2018. The outbreak i...Read More

Advice for New Zealanders Overseas The terrorist attacks in Christchurch on 15 March, which were motivated by extreme right-wing ideology, have attracted global attention and strong international condemnation. International reactions to those events are difficult to predict and may change at short notice. New Zealanders travelling overseas should continue to use common sense, exercise caution and be vigilant. They should look out for and report suspicious behaviour, as they would in New Zealand. New Zealanders should continu...Read More

Mosquito-borne Illnesses Outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses are common in the tropical and sub-tropical climates in many Pacific Islands, in North Queensland (Australia), Asia (including India), tropical Africa and Latin/South America. West Nile virus is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia. Dengue fever, chikungunya virus and Zika virus are spread by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito and cannot be spread directly from person to person. Malaria is caused by a parasite s...Read More