E4.100 DNA testing for verifying claimed relationships

1. DNA testing provides the most reliable evidence of whether or not a claimed biological relationship exists. In certain cases, DNA test evidence will be the only evidence available to satisfy a visa or immigration officer of a claimed relationship because documentary and other evidence of the relationship does not exist or is unreliable.
2. In situations where documentation does not exist or is unreliable, a visa or immigration officer may raise the possibility of undertaking DNA testing with the applicant.
3. DNA testing is voluntary for applicants and sponsors. If an applicant or sponsor, having been advised of the possibility of DNA testing, decides not to undertake such testing, no adverse inference may be drawn from this decision, and such a decision of itself will not be a reason to decline an application.
4. DNA test results must be considered in the context of all other information and evidence relevant to the claimed relationship.
5. A visa or immigration officer may accept results of a DNA test as part of an application at any time.
6. Only DNA tests carried out by an NZIS-approved laboratory in accordance with standard procedures will be accepted as evidence of claimed relationships under this policy (E4.100).
7. Usually an applicant/sponsor will be expected to pay the costs of the DNA testing used to support the claims in their residence application. On a case by case basis, the NZIS may consider paying for the DNA test costs.
8. Where the applicant/sponsor has accepted an NZIS invitation to undertake DNA testing to prove a relationship between an applicant and a sponsor who has obtained residence in New Zealand under the Refugee Quota, the costs of that test will be met by the NZIS.
9. All DNA testing carried out under this policy is done so in accordance with the Information Privacy Principles of the Privacy Act 1993.

Effective 15/12/2003