RV3.1 Applications for variations of travel conditions

1. The duration of travel conditions on a resident visa can be varied allowing for multiple journey travel to New Zealand within the following specified time periods:
   1. 12 months; or
   2. 14 days; or
   3. 24 months.
2. Travel conditions can only be varied if the resident visa is valid. A resident visa is valid when:
   1. the holder is in New Zealand; or
   2. the holder is outside New Zealand and the current travel conditions have not expired.
3. Holders of resident visas who are in New Zealand must be granted a variation of travel conditions for a duration of at least 14 days.
4. People who would otherwise be prohibited from entry or for the grant of a visa to New Zealand because they are subject to restrictions or a ban (see RA9 and R5.100) if it were not for their New Zealand resident status, may only be granted a variation of travel conditions under RV3.10 (14-day variation of travel conditions).

RV3.1.1 Declining an application for a variation of travel conditions

1. An application for a variation of travel conditions by a resident visa holder in New Zealand cannot be declined.
2. An application for a variation of travel conditions made outside New Zealand must be declined, where the applicant:
   1. does not meet any requirements of RV3.5 to RV3.20 or
   2. would be otherwise prohibited from entry or for grant of a visa to New Zealand because they are subject to restrictions or a ban (see RA9 and R5.100).
3. Applications for variations of travel conditions made outside New Zealand by applicants who have failed to meet any conditions imposed under section 49(1) or section 50 of the Immigration Act 2009, must be declined whether or not they are otherwise eligible for a variation of travel conditions.

RV3.1.5 Requests for reconsideration

1. An applicant may seek to have the decision to decline an application for a variation of travel conditions reconsidered, if it was declined because:
   1. the immigration officer was not satisfied with the evidence produced; or
   2. the application did not meet the requirements set out in instructions.
2. Another officer with a grading the same as or higher than the officer who made the original decision will review the decision.
3. The review process involves checking that the immigration instructions and procedures were correctly applied when the application was processed.

Effective 22/08/2016