From September, Fijians residing in the Cook Islands will no longer require a New Zealand transit visa to travel to and from Rarotonga to Fiji through Auckland.

Last month, Immigration New Zealand announced that Fiji will be added to the Transit Visa Waiver list from September 4, allowing Fijians to apply for a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) instead of a Transit Visa, simplifying the application process.

Fiji nationals can apply for an NZeTA to transit through New Zealand with a fee of NZD$23 for online applications or NZD$17 if using the free app. Most NZeTA requests are processed within 72 hours and are valid for two years.

Fijians working in the Cook Islands have acknowledged New Zealand and the Fiji Government for adding their country to the transit waiver list making it easier for them to travel.

Cook Islands Fijian Community acting president Kimi Narovu said: “The announcement of the transit visa waiver through New Zealand by the 4^th of September is indeed a significant development for the Fijian community residing and working in the Cook Islands.”

“This change will significantly improve the convenience of travel, making trips to and from home much easier throughout the year.”

Hotel worker, Ropate Dreu said: “As a foreign worker, it is really easy in terms of the application process. It is one of the challenges we face when we want to travel.”

Dreu said sometimes it took more than a week to get approval for normal travel but if it was urgent in terms of funerals “the process takes long and most farewell their loved ones without being able to attend the funeral”.

“These changes will help ease the pain of travelling and make it easy to go for holidays and even decide on last-minute vacation trips.”

In an earlier report, Liana Scott, the president of the Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council, said this was fantastic news and they welcomed the ease of travel for Fiji nationals via the major connecting port New Zealand.

According to NZ Immigration, those who already have an approved transit visa will continue to use it until its expiry date, even after the new waiver takes effect.

Fijian nationals who intend to visit, study, or work in New Zealand will still need to apply for the appropriate visa before travelling. Fijian nationals travelling from or to Fiji through Wellington or Christchurch on Fiji Airways will still need to apply for a visitor visa, as there are no transit facilities at Wellington or Christchurch airports.

New Zealand’s decision to lift the visa transit requirements for Fijians was announced in June this year by its Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during his inaugural Fiji tour.