H6.5 Expression of Interest and Invitation to Apply

See also Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010, Reg 14A

1. The grant of a relationship-based visitor visa under these instructions is a two-step process:
   1. interest in travelling to New Zealand must first be expressed by a requestor; and
   2. an immigration officer may then invite the requestor to apply for a relationship-based visitor visa.
2. A person may express interest in applying for a visa under these instructions by:
   1. applying on an approved form provided for this purpose on the Immigration New Zealand website; and
   2. pay the prescribed fee, which also covers any dependent children included in the expression of interest.
3. Where an applicant is expressing interest in applying for a relationship-based visitor visa based on these instructions, an invitation to apply will only be issued if the Expression of Interest was submitted on or before 31 July 2022.
4. An immigration officer may invite a person (and any dependent child of the person who is 19 years of age or younger) to apply for a relationship-based visitor visa if they are satisfied that:
   1. the expression of interest was made on or before 31 July 2022; and
   2. the information available does not indicate any health, character or bona fide issues that would prevent any person who will be included in the application to be granted a relationship-based visitor visa; and
   3. the people who are included in the expression of interest are likely to meet funds or sponsorship requirements; and
   4. the principal submitter is a person to whom the requirement to hold a visa permitting travel to New Zealand has been waived by Schedule 2 of the Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission and Related Matters) Regulations, ("visa-waiver partners") and they are satisfied based on the information available that the person meets the requirements to be granted a relationship-based visitor visa (see H6.10); and
   5. in the event the expression of interest includes one or more dependent children 19 years of age or younger, there is no evident reason to doubt the claimed relationship between the person and the child(ren).
   6. The New Zealand citizen or resident visa holder partner who is supporting the application must appear to meet the character requirements necessary for partners supporting ‘partnership based temporary entry applications’ (E7.45), based on the information available to the assessing officer.

Effective 31/07/2022