Book a Consultation

Home » Immigration News » Update on New Zealand Immigration and its borders

Update on New Zealand Immigration and its borders

As per our previous article ‘Latest New Zealand Immigration News’, New Zealand borders are still closed. Only a small number of people can travel to New Zealand, such as New Zealand citizens and people with a critical purpose to travel.

Changes for NZ resident visa holders overseas

Applicants who are granted a resident visa must travel to New Zealand within a certain timeframe to activate their visa. However, current border restrictions have prevented many individuals being able to travel or return to New Zealand, and, as a result, their visa has expired or is about to expire.

Those whose travel conditions are about to expire will receive a 12 month extension to travel to New Zealand, and those whose travel conditions have expired on or after 2 February 2020 (when travel restrictions began) will be issued a new visa, also valid for 12 months.

Does this mean these individuals will now be able to travel to New Zealand?

Non-citizens and residents will only be able to travel to New Zealand if they are exempt from the current border restrictions or have been granted an exception. Extending travel conditions for these visa holders or issuing a new visa does not mean these individuals are now exempt from the current border restrictions if they were not previously.

Other changes made by the Minister of Immigration include:

How will individuals know if their resident visa has been extended or they have been issued a new one?

Holders of a resident visa who have had their travel conditions extended or have been granted a new resident visa will have been contacted by Immigration NZ (INZ) via email by the end of September.

Published Thu 22 October 2020.

Share

Related News