Immigration New Zealand or INZ (Māori: Ta Ratonga Manene; previously New Zealand Immigration Service, NZIS) is a part of the Workforce group of the New Zealand Department of Labour. It is responsible for managing the benefits and consequences of immigration to New Zealand.
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Visas are issued by INZ staff in offices throughout New Zealand and around the world. Visas are also issued by certain posts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand).
Under the Immigration Act 2009, a visa is an authority for an individual to travel to, or stay in New Zealand (under the Immigration Act 1987 a visa only allowed you to travel to New Zealand and a permit allowed you to stay). A visa has conditions that indicate what the holder of the visa may do.
Because of understaffing turnaround times to process visa application have steadily increased over the years. Currently INZ expects to process visa applications within 60 working days after an application is lodged. According to INZ, processing a residence application usually takes 6 to 9 months, while endorsing a passport with Residence Permits and Returning Resident's Visa after 'approval in principle' has been granted takes up to 30 working days.
Residence class visas
Temporary entry class visas
Visas are generally issued in one of three forms:
Under the 2009 Act, visa holders instead apply for ‘entry permission’ using the arrival card. Normally, a person holding a visa is granted ‘entry permission’ to allow him or her to enter and stay in New Zealand for the time period allowed by their visa. However, in some cases people may be denied entry permission, for example, if:
Unless otherwise provided for in legislation, regulations or policy all non-New Zealand citizens are required to hold a visa before boarding a flight to New Zealand. Immigration New Zealand has been using the Advance Passenger Processing (APP) system, which is cornerstone of the various border screening initiatives to risk-manage passengers. It is an electronic system connected to virtually all airlines worldwide. Passengers on arrival must apply for and be granted a permit to be in New Zealand. Certain classes of person are exempt from the requirement to hold a visa or a permit in certain circumstances.
Diplomats accredited to New Zealand are exempt from the requirement to hold a permit to be in New Zealand, as are military forces in New Zealand with the agreement of the New Zealand government.
Australian citizens are generally exempt from having to obtain a residence class visa to enter and remain in NZ. Holders of a current Australian Permanent Residence Visa (which includes a Resident Return Visa) are generally exempt from having to obtain a residence visa and will generally be granted a resident visa upon arrival in New Zealand.
British citizens and other British passport holders who produce evidence of the right to reside permanently in the UK can visit for up to six months without a visa.
Citizens of the following countries are exempt from holding a visa to travel to New Zealand for visits of up to 90 days:
1 Greek passport holders whose passports were issued on and after 1 January 2006 (Greek passports issued before 1 January 2006 are not acceptable for travel after 1 January 2007.)
2 Residents of Hong Kong travelling on Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or British National (Overseas) passports
3 Permanent residents of Taiwan travelling on Republic of China passports
4 Including nationals of the USA
INZ is divided into several groups, including:
Responsible for most onshore and offshore visa and permit branches
responsible for policy and systems development
Processes applications lodged through Online Services. This includes student applications from approved education providers and Working Holiday Visas for many countries.
The first point of contact for phone/email enquiries from clients in New Zealand and Australia.
Decides applications for refugee status made by persons within New Zealand.
Processes and provides treatment for refugees upon arrival.
Selects offshore refugees in order to meet the government’s humanitarian obligations.
The main responsibility of Compliance Operations is locating and removing persons who are unlawfully in New Zealand. Compliance Operations is also responsible for managing the detention of persons who are refused entry at New Zealand airports, including asylum seekers.
This branch is responsible for any immigration issues arising at New Zealand’s physical border (air and sea). At present all staff are located at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch airports.
This branch operates the Advance Passenger Screening Support Office in Auckland and organises the Airline Liaison Officer programme at selected offshore airports.
Fraud Investigations is tasked with investigating and prosecuting migration related offences under the Immigration Act 1987 and the Crimes Act 1961.
Responsible for verification of all aspects of residence applications under the Skilled Migrant Category.
Processes applications which are deemed to be “high risk”. This branch was established in 2005 after a number of persons associated with the regime of Saddam Hussein were found to have been issued New Zealand visas.
Receives and analyses intelligence which is relevant to the immigration field. Supported by intelligence analysts in Compliance Operations, Border Operations, Refugee Status Branch and the Immigration Profiling Group.
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