While we welcome people from overseas we need to protect the interests of New Zealand citizens and residents.
If an immigration or visa officer believes you have not made a genuine application for a visa or permit, or that you don’t intend to meet the conditions of the visa or permit we may grant you, we will not issue you a visa or permit.
You can be refused a visa or permit if:
- you’re a person who is not eligible for a visa or a permit under Section 7(1) of the Immigration Act 1987. In summary, this covers:
- people involved in criminal activities:
- who’ve been sentenced to, or have served, specified prison terms
- who’ve committed other criminal or drug offences
- people who’ve been required to leave countries:
- who’ve been served with a removal order from New Zealand that is currently in force
- who’ve been deported from New Zealand or any other country
- people involved in any way with criminal or terrorist organisations or activities
or
- you’re in New Zealand unlawfully when you apply
or
- in our view, you do not meet an acceptable standard of health and good character
or
- we believe you’re likely to stay in New Zealand unlawfully or that you would break the conditions we’d apply to the visa or permit granted to you.
Want to see the wording of the policy?
Go directly to the Operations Manual.
These conditions don’t apply to you?
Then you can apply for a visa or permit.