Vaccination requirements for veterinarians coming to New Zealand
As of 1 November 2021, it will become a requirement for non-New Zealand citizens arriving into the country to be fully vaccinated.
Below are some details employers and workers arriving from overseas will need to know:
- Travellers will be required to declare their vaccination status when registering in the Managed Isolation Allocation System – this is currently being set up – as well as presenting proof of vaccination or a relevant exemption to their airline and to Customs Officers once they land.
- A full course of any of the 22 COVID-19 vaccines approved by a government or approval authority, with the last dose being at least 14 days before arrival, will be acceptable at this stage. Guidance will be prepared on what will qualify as evidence of a vaccination or an exemption. List of 22 approved COVID-19 vaccines.
- Everybody arriving will still be required to complete 14 days in Managed Isolation and Quarantine, and all travellers, except those from exempt locations, will still need to have evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result from an accredited laboratory within 72 hours of their first scheduled international flight. Pre-departure testing requirements.
- People who are subject to this new requirement but fail to present proof of vaccination may receive an infringement notice, which could carry a maximum fine of $4000. The requirement will not apply to New Zealand citizens, children under the age of 17, and those who are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons.
The procedure to seek an exemption from these vaccination requirements is in the process of being finalised and we will let you know once we have details of those requirements. We do believe however, that exemptions are more likely to be reserved for medical reasons.
For more information on immigration and the border exceptions received by NZVA, please click here or contact Megan Miller on executive@vets.org.nz
