Y3.30 People unable to meet the requirements for a permit

Immigration Act 1987 ss 126(1)
Immigration Regulations 1999 regs 9, 12, 28

1. All passengers on craft* arriving in New Zealand are required to complete an arrival card and present it, together with a current passport or certificate of identity and, if appropriate, the passenger's temporary visa, at a port of entry. Presenting the completed arrival card constitutes making an application for a permit in the prescribed manner.
2. Before determining whether a permit should be granted, an immigration officer from Customs may require travel tickets or evidence of onward travel arrangements and evidence of funds for maintenance or of sponsorship to be produced.
3. People who do not meet the requirements for a permit will be referred to an NZIS immigration officer who may refuse entry. Such people include, but are not limited to:
   1. people with expired travel documents or no travel documents; and
   2. people with no visa, an inappropriate visa or an expired visa; and
   3. people with insufficient funds and no sponsorship; and
   4. people with no outward ticket; and
   5. people previously refused entry to New Zealand; and
   6. people who do not meet the bona fide applicant policy; and
   7. people who fail to apply for a permit.

Y3.30.1 People arriving without current passports or other acceptable travel documents

Immigration Act 1987 s 126(1)
Immigration Regulations 1999 regs 9, 12

A person who arrives without a current passport or other acceptable travel document may be given a special direction under regulation 9 or 12 waiving the requirement to produce a passport on arrival if, after interviewing the person, an immigration officer is satisfied that:

1. there are compelling reasons why the person is travelling without a current passport or other acceptable travel document; and
2. they have a genuine reason for visiting New Zealand; and
3. there is no other impediment to the grant of a permit.

   Note: passport waivers are most frequently granted to New Zealanders who have no passport or whose passports are no longer current and who need to return home in emergencies.

Y3.30.5 People arriving without the required visa

Immigration Act 1987 s 14D(1)
Immigration Regulations 1999 regs 9, 12

A person who arrives without the required visa may be given a special direction under regulation 9 or 12 waiving the requirement for a visa and a permit may be granted if, after interviewing the person, an immigration officer is satisfied that:

1. there are compelling reasons why the person is travelling without first having obtained a visa; and
2. they have a genuine reason for visiting New Zealand; and
3. there is no other impediment to the grant of a permit.

Y3.30.10 People who do not meet entry requirements

Immigration Act 1987 s 126(1)
Immigration Regulations 1999 regs 9, 12

1. A person who arrives without the necessary documents to meet entry requirements, such as an outward ticket or sufficient funds for maintenance while in New Zealand, may be given a special direction under regulation 9 or 12 waiving the entry requirements and a permit may be granted if, after interviewing the person, an immigration officer is satisfied that:
   1. there are compelling reasons why the person does not meet the entry requirements; and
   2. they have a genuine reason for visiting New Zealand; and
   3. there is no other impediment to the grant of a permit.
2. The officer should also consider enabling the person to meet entry requirements through purchasing tickets or arranging sponsorship.

Y3.30.15 People who do not meet the bona fide applicant policy

1. If an immigration officer is not satisfied that a person who applies for a permit by tendering an arrival card is a bona fide applicant, then they may refuse a permit and have the person placed on the first available craft* (see Y3.70).
2. If an officer refuses a permit, they must record full reasons for the refusal against the person's NZIS record and give written advice of the refusal to a representative of the carrier* on which the person arrived in New Zealand and, if requested, to the person refused entry.

Effective 01/10/1999