All about visas and permits

If you want to move to New Zealand to be with your sibling or parent, you may apply for residence under our Family Category (Sibling / Adult Child Policy).

You may not need a visa or permit

You don’t need a visa or permit if you’re:

• a New Zealand citizen or you hold a New Zealand Residence Permit
• an Australian citizen
• the holder of a current Australian permanent residence visa including a current Australian resident return visa. (If there are conditions on your residence visa/resident return visa, then you will need to apply for a visa to enter New Zealand.)

In some circumstances you may not be able to get a visa (check below).

What’s the difference between a visa and permit?

See our examples below to better understand whether you’ll need a visa or permit.

Can I be refused entry?

While we welcome people from overseas we need to protect the interests of New Zealand citizens and residents.

If an immigration officer believes you’re not genuine, we will not issue you a visa or permit.

In most situations we do not issue visas to people:

• under international sanction 
• involved in criminal activities 
• sentenced to, or who’ve served, certain prison terms
• deported from countries 
• involved with terrorist organisations or activity
• who have a removal order in force against them.

Want to see the wording of the policy?  Go directly to the Operations Manual. 

These conditions don’t apply to you? Then you may apply for a residence visa or permit. 

Examples of eligibility

Not sure whether you’d be eligible for a visa or permit?  These examples will give you an idea of the situations under Section 7(1) of the Immigration Act 1987 where, generally, you would not be granted a visa or permit.

All applications are thoroughly assessed before a decision is made on whether a visa or permit is granted. The guidelines given here concern character requirements for the granting of visas or permits. All other requirements must also be met for a visa or permit to be granted.