NZers must be registered to enter US from next year

Photo : NZPA

A new requirement for New Zealand travellers to register online at least three days before entering the United States is a barrier, but not as bad as having to get a visa, Prime Minister Helen Clark said today.

From next year, the USA will require the registration of travellers from countries which do not currently require a visa, including New Zealand.

Intended to bolster US security, the new requirement is due to be officially announced later today by Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff.

Miss Clark said the new rules were related to legislation implemented in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

"It applies to all countries whose citizens have visa waivers obviously it puts an extra step in the way of travel to the US, but then the US has been the subject of a very serious attack, so it is not surprising to us."

Miss Clark said in most cases it would be a formality, but common sense held that a registration system would see some people from some countries blocked from entering the US.

Even though this was another barrier to entry for New Zealanders, it was still less of a burden than those from countries who had to apply for a visa, she said.

American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand executive director Mike Ahern said the rule could be an inconvenience for a small number of business executives who rely on last-minute flights for deal-clinching face-to-face meetings.

The online registrations will begin in January and will be valid for a two-year period.

Those needing to register will be travellers from New Zealand and the other 26 countries whose citizens are not required to obtain visas for US entry.

The countries include those in most of western Europe as well as Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Japan, and Singapore.

Eight other countries - the Czech Republic, Hungary and South Korea among them -- are expected to be admitted to the visa waiver programme.

Miss Clark said the New Zealand embassy in Washington was too be fully briefed tomorrow.

"The US has made its decision, so whether there are issues around the edges which countries like ours might offer some advice is another matter."