NZ Immigration Updates - Visa Duration Extension
B.1 VISA EXTENSIONS (As of 2 April 2020)
- Holders of a Work, Student, Visitor, Limited or Interim Visas with expiry date of 2 April to 9 July 2020 who were in New Zealand on 2 April 2020 – Extension is up to 25 September 2020. Notice of Extension is received thru email from INZ which can be confirmed by checking the Visa Verification Service on INZ’s website.
- Holders of a Work, Student, Visitor, Limited or Interim Visas with expiry date after 9 July 2020 – No Extension meaning Expiry Date remains the same. In such a case, one needs to either make an application for a New Visa or Leave NZ before visa expires.
- Holders of a Work, Student, Visitor, Limited or Interim Visas with expiry date of 1 April 2020 and have not applied for another visa – “Unlawful” status where you need to leave NZ immediately or request for a special temporary or resident visa under Section 61 of the Immigration Act. Email your circumstances to s61@mbie.govt.nz providing the following details/documents:
- your personal details — your full name and date of birth
- your Immigration New Zealand (INZ) client number, if known
- a copy of the personal details page in your passport
- your contact details — email address, phone number and postal address
- a description of your circumstances
- what type of visa you would like, for example a visitor visa?
- how long you think you might need to extend your stay for in New Zealand.
B.2 VISA EXTENSION (As of 19 August 2020)
- Partners and dependents with a visa based on their relationship with the holder of an extended employer-assisted temporary work visa will have their visas extended too. This extension applied if the holder of the employer-assisted temporary work visa was in New Zealand on 10 July 2020 and their visa was due to expire by 31 December 2020, and the partner or dependent child’s visa would have expired on or after 17 August 2020.
- Partner or dependent visa categories include:
- partner of a worker visa - work visa
- partner of a worker visa - visitor visa
- dependent child - student visa
- child of a worker - visitor visa.
B.3 VISA EXTENSIONS (As of 4 September 2020)
- Current onshore visitor visas that are due to expire between 4 September and the end of October 2020 – Extension up to five months.
- Critical purpose visa holders, guardians of students, and partners or dependents linked to a work visa holder whose visa was extended previously – No Extension
B.4 NEW COVID-19 SHORT-TERM VISITOR VISA
- This is a new two-month COVID-19 Short-Term Visitor Visa which caters to temporary migrants stranded in NZ who are holders of Visitor, Work, Student or Partnership Visa who did not meet the criteria for another visa and are reaching the end of their visas and need time to arrange their travel home.
- Applicants must show that they:
- Hold a valid passport.
- Are of good character.
- Have a genuine reason for remaining in New Zealand; and
- Cannot leave New Zealand now but will leave at the end of their stay.
- Applicants do not need to show:
- Enough money to support their stay in New Zealand.
- Existing onward travel arrangements.
- Good health; and
- Met any time-limits for how long they are able to stay in New Zealand on a visitor visa.
- Start of application is by mid-September and with a fee.
- Employment while on this visa is not permitted.