Apply to bring film personnel to New Zealand

New Zealand's borders are reopening throughout 2022. There is a pathway for screen production personnel to enter New Zealand even though there are still some restrictions in place. Travellers able to enter New Zealand currently include:

• Returning New Zealand citizens and permanent residents
• People who Immigration New Zealand considers have a critical purpose. This group may include film cast, crew and associated travellers (e.g. spouse/partner, dependent children).
• From 4 July 2022, critical worker border exceptions are no longer required for film personnel to enter New Zealand.

Productions (i.e. employers) can apply for border exemptions to bring critical workers to New Zealand using the online form at immigration.govt.nz.

Productions can put in one border exemption request for all the employees they believe to have a critical purpose to come into New Zealand. This includes cast, crew and associated travellers (e.g. partners, dependent children).

In the assessment of applications, Immigration New Zealand will determine if the employees you have applied for meet a ‘less than/more than 6-month’ criteria. If your application states that your employees are undertaking a time-critical role for work which brings significant wider benefits to the national or regional economy, the assessment will consider the amount of economic stimulus your production will bring for New Zealand. This includes, but is not limited to, an assessment of how many people you would like to bring into the country in relation to the number of jobs the production will create for New Zealanders, and in relation to how much money the production is likely to spend in New Zealand.

You’re welcome to speak with the NZFC about including supplementary information in your application - please email [email protected].

Border entry fact sheet