Good character for transit visas
To get a Transit Visa you must be of good character. If you have a criminal history, or have been deported from New Zealand or another country, we can decline your application.
Being of good character
Applicants for transit visas must meet good character requirements. When you apply you must tell us about current issues or activities in your past that may affect how we assess your character when we process your visa application.
Issues you must tell us about
You must tell us if you have been:
- involved in criminal activities
- involved in human rights abuse activities, or
- removed or deported from another country.
Issues preventing us from giving you a visa
We will decline your application for a visa if you have been:
- convicted of an offence and were sentenced to a prison term of 5 years or more
- convicted in the last 10 years of an offence and were sentenced to a term in prison of 12 months or longer
- prohibited from entering New Zealand, or
- removed, excluded or deported from any country, including New Zealand.
We may not grant you a visa if we have reason to believe you may be:
- intending to commit an offence in New Zealand you could be sent to prison for
- a risk to our security
- a threat to public order
- a risk to the public interest.
If any of these issues apply to you and you still want to come to New Zealand, you may ask for a special direction. We can grant a visa through a special direction in exceptional circumstances.
What to explain when you apply for a visa
When you apply for a visa, provide:
- a full explanation of any character issues, and
- reasons why you would like a special direction or a character waiver.
If we need more information we will contact you.