New Zealand: Permits & Visas

Overview

Before making any plans to buy a home in Australia or New Zealand, you must ensure that you have a valid passport and the appropriate visa which will allow you to use the home as you wish. Nationals of Australia and New Zealand can live and work in either country with no more official documentation than their passport. All other nationalities (with some exceptions) must apply for permission to stay in Australia or New Zealand, either temporarily or permanently, before their arrival.

The information in this chapter is intended as a guide only and the rules and regulations concerning permits and visas change frequently, as well as sometimes being ambiguous, confusing and vague. It’s important to check the latest regulations with an Australian or New Zealand mission or an immigration consultant (such as The Emigration Group – see www.emigration.uk.com) before making a visa application.

For more information about permits and visas, see Living and Working in Australia and Living and Working in New Zealand (Survival Books).

Visas

If you plan to visit New Zealand for a short period (e.g. for a holiday, business trip or to assess the country before applying for residence), you must apply for a visitor’s visa, if applicable. Australian citizens don’t need a visa to travel to New Zealand, and nationals of certain countries can use a ‘visa waiver scheme’, which allows you to travel to New Zealand without a visitor’s visa and obtain a visitor permit on arrival. Countries that qualify under the visa waiver scheme are: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Kiribati, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tuvalu, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the UK, Uruguay, the USA (except for nationals from American Samoa and Swains Island), Vatican City and Zimbabwe. Everyone else needs a visitor’s visa to travel to New Zealand and you won’t even be allowed to board a plane to New Zealand without one.
A visitor’s visa is an endorsement in your passport that allows you to travel to New Zealand. The visa may be for a single or multiple journeys, but doesn’t necessarily allow you to remain in New Zealand. Those who travel to New Zealand with a visa or visa waiver must complete an arrival card on their outgoing journey, which serves as an application for a visitor permit that is processed on arrival. A visitor permit allows you to stay for a short period (usually three months, or six months if you’re a UK citizen) as a tourist, to see friends or relatives, study, take part in sporting and cultural events, undertake a business trip or undergo medical treatment. It doesn’t state on the permit that you may use it to look for a job or visit New Zealand with a view to living there, although many people use it for this purpose (and it’s perfectly legitimate).

Travellers under the visa waiver scheme must have a valid return ticket, sufficient money to support themselves (usually around $1,000 per month or $400 if staying with friends or relatives) and a passport valid for three months beyond the date they intend to leave New Zealand. They must also intend to stay in New Zealand for no longer than the period of the permit. If you comply with these requirements, you may travel to New Zealand and should be granted a visitor permit on arrival. Visitors may stay for a maximum of nine months (which can be made up of a number of shorter periods) in an 18-month period. Once you’ve reached the maximum, you’re required to remain abroad for nine months before returning to New Zealand as a visitor. Visitor permits can be extended by a further three months on application to the NZIS, although this is at their discretion, and you may be required to be able to support yourself financially without working.

You can be refused a visitor permit (and also a visitor’s visa) if you don’t meet the above requirements or are someone to whom Section 7 of the Immigration Act 1987 applies. This includes those who:

• have been deported from any country;

• are the subject of a New Zealand ‘removal order’;

• have committed a criminal offence which resulted in imprisonment of 12 months or more;

• are believed to have criminal associations or are suspected of constituting a danger to New Zealand’s security or public order.

The above restrictions also apply to Australians, who don’t need a visa or visitor permit to visit New Zealand.

Visitor’s visas can be applied for at NZIS offices and New Zealand diplomatic missions. Like Australia, New Zealand operates a system whereby applications for visas in major cities such as London and New York can be cleared almost instantly via an electronic link with the NZIS computer in New Zealand. Fees are usually charged for visas and permits, and vary depending on the country where you apply. They must be paid in local currency by bank draft, money order or in cash (if you’re applying in person). Personal cheques and credit cards aren’t usually accepted. Fees aren’t refundable, even if a visa isn’t granted.

The authority responsible for controlling entry to New Zealand is the New Zealand Immigration Service (NZIS, also called Immigration New Zealand, but hereafter referred to as NZIS), or Te Ratonga Manene in Maori, a service of the Department of Labour (www.immigration.govt.nz). A list of NZIS offices, branches and agencies in New Zealand and worldwide can be found on the website. New Zealand embassies, consulates and high commissions also provide information about immigration.

Note that as a visitor to New Zealand you aren’t entitled to use publicly funded health services unless you’re a resident or citizen of Australia, a UK national or hold a permit valid for at least two years (e.g. long-term business visa). Unless you come under one of these categories, it’s strongly recommended that you have comprehensive medical insurance for the duration of your visit (see Health Insurance Fact Sheet and Holiday & Travel Insurance Fact Sheet).

Work Visas & Permits

A work visa allows you to travel to New Zealand in order to undertake a period of temporary work. It isn’t usually applicable to those intending to take up permanent residence in the country and applies mostly to contract workers and other short-term employees. Work visas are granted to foreigners when no suitable New Zealand citizen or resident is available to do a job. Their issue isn’t based on a points system and each case is treated on its merits, taking into account the availability of local labour. To obtain a work visa you must have a firm offer of a job in writing and apply to the NZIS, which can be done outside or within New Zealand (if, for example, you arrive as a visitor and then wish to work). The visa fee is between around $150 and $290 (depending on where it’s issued) and isn’t refundable, even if your application is rejected. On arrival in New Zealand you will be issued with a work permit, which applies to a particular job only and for a specified period, usually a maximum of three years (but often for a much shorter period).

Retirement

There’s no special immigration category for those wishing to retire to New Zealand and those aged over 55 aren’t eligible to apply for residence under the Skilled Migrant category. Most retirees seek residence under the Family stream, although those with business experience and capital may qualify under the Skilled/Business stream (below). See Living and Working in New Zealand (Survival Books) for more information.

© Survival Books Limited 2006

“Buying a Home in Australia & New Zealand” 1st Edition, Graeme Chesters.
Reproduced with the permission of Survival Books Limited.

Further information on this topic can be found in “Buying a Home in Australia & New Zealand” 1st edition, by Graeme Chesters.

For extensive information about buying a property in Australia & New Zealand, you can purchase this book at www.survivalbooks.net