Summary of changes

The government has announced changes to the 2022 Special Ukraine Visa. The changes give Ukrainians in New Zealand more time to bring their families to New Zealand.

The changes will:

• extend the time family have to submit an expression of interest to 15 March 2024
• increase the time visa holders have to travel to New Zealand from 9 to 12 months for applications made on or after 15 March 2023
• expand eligibility criteria for sponsors
• expand who can be sponsored to include some extended family members.

The updates will take effect in two stages — this gives Immigration New Zealand time to implement them.

• On 15 March 2023, the expression of interest window and the travel window for visa holders will be extended.
• On 27 March 2023, the sponsorship criteria will expand and New Zealand Ukrainians will be able to nominate extended family members.

Expanding who can sponsor family

From 27 March 2023 the criteria for who can nominate family is expanding.

New Zealanders with Ukrainian heritage

From 27 March, New Zealanders with Ukrainian heritage will be able to sponsor family members.

To qualify as a New Zealander with Ukrainian heritage either you or one of your parents or grandparents must:

• have been born in Ukraine, or
• hold or have held Ukrainian citizenship, or
• hold Ukrainian permanent residence.

Acceptable sponsors and nominating family members

Each application can now have a nominating family member and an ‘acceptable sponsor’. They can be the same person, two different people, or one person and an entity. An entity can be an organisation.

The nominating family member must meet the New Zealand and Ukrainian heritage and residency requirements.

The acceptable sponsor must take on financial responsibility for the applicant.

Expanding family eligible to be nominated to include adult extended family

On 27 March 2023, eligible family members in New Zealand can nominate their extended family.

Extended family members include adults who have lived with the family for a long time. This could be someone the nominating family member grew up with and has a relationship with similar to a sibling or parent. It could also be someone who is living long-term with a sibling, parent, or grandparent.

Extended family members can include adult:

• aunts and uncles
• grandchildren
• nieces and nephews
• first cousins (an aunt or uncle’s children)
• stepsiblings.

They will be able to include their partner and dependent children in their visa application.

Ongoing support for 2022 Special Ukraine Visa holders

There are no changes to the support offered to applicants and their families.

We will continue to waive immigration fees and the requirement to provide police or medical certificates.

Once in New Zealand, visa holders can access publicly funded healthcare and can get a free initial health check.

In this health check people with this visa can:

• be supported to enrol with a general practice
• be assessed for tuberculosis (TB), including being offered testing to exclude TB
• find out what vaccinations they could have and where to get them.

Free health checks for 2022 Special Ukraine Visa holders | Te Whatu Ora

Children aged 18 years old and under can attend school as domestic students. Adults can access free English language classes.

For more information about this visa, support offered, and how to nominate a family member:

Temporary visa for family of Ukrainians in New Zealand