Is there a digital nomad visa for New Zealand?
No – New Zealand has no dedicated, officially named "digital nomad visa". Neither Immigration New Zealand nor New Zealand immigration law provides such a visa category. Searches for "New Zealand digital nomad visa" mostly return guides from private providers – not an official New Zealand visa class.
Since 27 January 2025, however, Immigration New Zealand has changed the conditions of the regular visitor visa and the NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority): remote work for an overseas employer is now explicitly allowed, without requiring a separate work visa. Immigration New Zealand even markets this change using the term "digital nomad" – but it is a change in conditions to an existing visitor visa, not a new product.
The policy change since 27 January 2025: remote work on a visitor visa/NZeTA
Per Immigration New Zealand's official announcement, since 27 January 2025: "The Government announced today that the rules for visitors are changing and people arriving on a visitor visa or NZeTA can work for overseas employers while visiting New Zealand." The new condition applies to all applications received from that date onward – tourists, family visitors and longer-term visitor visa holders alike, and to both visa applications and visa-free NZeTA entry.
The related guidance page "Working remotely in New Zealand on a visitor visa" defines remote work as "an activity you do for gain or reward for a company, employer or client that is not in New Zealand" and states explicitly: "If you are self-employed or a digital nomad you can work remotely for clients outside New Zealand." Critically: "All visitor visas applied for on or after 27 January 2025 allow you to work remotely in New Zealand. There is no limit to the amount of remote work you can do while you have your visitor visa." There is therefore no separate day or hour cap on the remote work itself – the only limit is the regular length of stay under the visitor visa or NZeTA.
German nationals, as visa-waiver travellers, must apply for an NZeTA before departure; it automatically carries the same remote-work conditions as a regular visitor visa.
What is allowed – and what is not
Immigration New Zealand lists concrete examples of permitted remote activities: "answering emails and phone calls", "coding and testing", "writing reports", "attending meetings or giving presentations to colleagues outside New Zealand", and social-media content creation, "as long as you are not promoting an activity, event or product for gain or reward from a New Zealand business or person in New Zealand".
Explicitly excluded is remote work that "is for a New Zealand employer", that is done "with a New Zealand business or person in New Zealand in exchange for goods or services" (the authority's own example: free accommodation in exchange for a review), or that "requires you to be in New Zealand". Anyone wanting to work for or with a New Zealand-based employer needs a regular work visa instead, according to Immigration New Zealand.
Tax: the 92-day threshold and the 183-day DTA extension
The immigration permission to work remotely must be strictly separated from the tax treatment. Per the official 27 January 2025 announcement: "Generally, if the person's income is taxed elsewhere, New Zealand will exempt it from tax if the person does not spend more than 92 days in New Zealand in a 12-month period. The days do not need to be consecutive." Anyone who is tax resident in one of the 40-plus countries with a New Zealand tax treaty – Germany falls under what Immigration New Zealand calls "most of Europe" – can extend this threshold to up to 183 days. If the applicable threshold is exceeded, per the authority: "New Zealand will tax their income from providing services. This tax will apply from the first day of their New Zealand presence."
Separately, Inland Revenue (IRD) defines general New Zealand tax residency via its own 183-day rule: "You become a New Zealand tax resident when the first of these happens: you've been in New Zealand for more than 183 days in any 12-month period (unless you're a non-resident visitor); you have a permanent place of abode in New Zealand." IRD counts "any part of a day" as a full day, the 183 days do not need to be consecutive, and residency status is, per IRD, "backdated to the first of the 183 days." These two thresholds – the 92-/183-day rule from the remote-work announcement and IRD's general 183-day residency rule – are separate tests; specific cases should be clarified with IRD or a tax advisor.
German social security: no agreement covers New Zealand
The A1 certificate applies only within the EU, EEA and Switzerland – New Zealand is not covered. But unlike Canada, the US, Brazil or India, New Zealand also has no bilateral social security agreement with Germany. The official overview from Deutsche Rentenversicherung ("Deutschlands Sozialversicherungsabkommen") lists all existing bilateral agreements in full – from Albania through Canada and Quebec to the USA – and New Zealand appears in neither list (the social security agreements nor the separate posting agreement with China).
For German employees working remotely from New Zealand, this means: there is no country-specific proof form comparable to the Certificate of Coverage D/USA 101 or the DE/IN 101 posting certificate for India. German social security generally continues under the so-called "Ausstrahlung" rule (Section 4, German Social Code IV) for a formal posting, as long as the German employment contract and German pay continue – but there is no official, internationally recognised proof under a bilateral agreement. The exact procedure (notifying the health insurance fund and Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund, and checking any double-coverage risk on the New Zealand side) should therefore be clarified case by case before departure.
New Zealand compared to Canada and Brazil
| Feature | New Zealand | Canada | Brazil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Own digital nomad visa? | No – remote work allowed on visitor visa/NZeTA since 27 Jan 2025 | No – only the business-visitor exemption R186(a) + eTA | Yes – dedicated VITEM XIV visa |
| Regular stay length | generally up to 3 months per entry, up to 6/12 months cumulative | up to 6 months per entry (eTA) | up to 12 months (VITEM XIV) |
| A1 certificate applicable? | No – not an EU/EEA/Swiss state | No – not an EU/EEA/Swiss state | No – not an EU/EEA/Swiss state |
| German social security agreement? | No – no agreement with Germany | Yes – Germany-Canada Social Security Agreement | Yes – Germany-Brazil agreement (form BR/DE 101) |
| Tax residency threshold | 92 days (no DTA protection) or 183 days (with DTA) per the remote-work rule; 183 days generally per IRD | 183 days/calendar year (CRA sojourner rule) | 184 days (Receita Federal) |
What this means for employers
For HR and global mobility teams, New Zealand presents a distinctive pattern: entry and work authorization are now straightforward – explicitly regulated via the visitor visa/NZeTA since January 2025, with no separate day cap on the activity itself. The real compliance gap lies in social security: without a bilateral agreement, there is no official proof mechanism of the kind that already exists for Canada, the US, Brazil or India. Companies should therefore clarify early with the health insurance fund and Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund how "Ausstrahlung" coverage under Section 4 SGB IV is documented case by case for New Zealand stays, while tracking both the 92-/183-day rule from the remote-work announcement and IRD's general 183-day residency threshold. Tools like premote help capture countries without a bilateral social security agreement systematically alongside standard A1 cases, and track days of stay automatically.
FAQ
Is there an official digital nomad visa for New Zealand?
No. New Zealand has no dedicated "digital nomad visa" category. Since 27 January 2025, however, the regular visitor visa and the NZeTA explicitly allow remote work for an overseas employer, without requiring a separate work visa.
How long can I work remotely from New Zealand?
Per Immigration New Zealand, there is no separate cap on the remote work itself – the only limit is the regular length of stay under the visitor visa or NZeTA.
Does the A1 certificate apply to New Zealand?
No. The A1 certificate only applies within the EU, EEA and Switzerland. For New Zealand, unlike Canada or Brazil, there is also no bilateral German social security agreement.
Does German social security coverage continue during a New Zealand workation?
Generally yes, via the "Ausstrahlung" rule under Section 4 SGB IV, as long as the German employment contract remains in place – but there is no official proof mechanism under a bilateral agreement, since none exists. The procedure should be clarified in advance with the health insurance fund or Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund.
When do I become tax liable in New Zealand?
Without double-tax-treaty protection, after 92 days; with DTA protection (Germany qualifies), after up to 183 days, per Immigration New Zealand's remote-work rule. Separately, Inland Revenue's general 183-day residency rule also applies.
The information provided on this website does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to address any legal issues or problems that may arise in individual cases. The information on this website is of a general nature and is provided for informational purposes only. If you need legal advice for your individual situation, you should seek the advice of a qualified attorney.
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