Character requirements for New Zealand visas
To be given a New Zealand visa, you must be of good character. If you have a criminal history, have provided false or misleading information, or could be a risk to New Zealand, we can decline your application.
Being of good character
Anyone applying for a New Zealand visa must meet the character requirements.
When you apply, you must tell us about any issues or activities, both current and in your past, that could affect our decision, including whether you have been:
- involved in criminal or human rights abuse activities, or
- removed or deported from another country.
If there is an issue, we may:
- decline your application, or
- give you a
or a which waive (remove) the requirements.
You can request a character waiver or special direction when you apply. If your request is approved, we can give you a visa if your application meets all other requirements.
Visas are given by special direction only in rare circumstances.
Providing police certificates
You may need to provide us with police certificates to show your good character. Whether you need to give these certificates depends on how long you plan to stay in New Zealand and the visa you are applying for.
Details of character requirements
There are different character requirements for different visas. There are also character requirements for a partner who is supporting a visa application.
Select a heading below to find out more about the requirements. You can also find out about any character issues that could prevent us from giving you visa.
- convicted of an offence and were sentenced to a prison term of 5 years or more
- convicted in the past 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.
- 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 (general wellbeing).
- been convicted at any time of an offence, in any country, that you went to prison for
- been convicted of an offence committed in New Zealand for which you could have been sentenced to 3 months or more in prison
- been charged or are under investigation for serious criminal offending
- provided false or misleading information or withheld relevant information in a previous New Zealand visa application, either personally or through an agent
- provided false or misleading information about someone else's New Zealand visa application.
- your circumstances
- the charge or conviction, or
- the significance of any false, misleading or withheld information.
- convicted of an offence and sentenced to a prison term of 5 years or more
- convicted in the past 10 years of an offence and 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.
- 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.
- any offence against immigration, citizenship or passport laws in any country
- any offence that involved violence, prohibited drugs or dishonesty
- any offence of a sexual nature
- an offence (including a traffic offence) in the last 5 years for dangerous or drunk driving, or driving after taking drugs
- an offence that resulted in you being sentenced to prison, or
- an offence for which you could have been sentenced to 3 months or longer in prison.
- provided false or misleading information or withheld relevant information in a previous New Zealand visa application, either personally or through an agent
- provided false or misleading information about someone else's New Zealand visa application
- made public racist statements or published racist documents, or
- been a member of a group with objectives or principles based on hostility against groups on the basis of race, ethnicity or national origin.
- what the nature of the issue is — for example, the significance of the false or misleading information provided
- how long ago the issue occurred
- the circumstances surrounding the offence or incident, or
- your personal circumstances, including your ties to New Zealand and whether your potential contribution to New Zealand will be significant.
- there is an active arrest warrant for you in any country, or
- your residence application is based on a relationship to a person whose New Zealand residence status is under investigation, or
- you are under investigation, wanted for questioning, or have been charged with an offence which, if you are convicted, would mean we would decline your application or you would need a character waiver.
- convicted of an offence and sentenced to a prison term of 5 years or more
- convicted in the last 10 years of an offence and 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.
- 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.
- must provide police certificates, if you are applying for a resident visa
- may be asked to provide police certificates, if you are applying for a temporary visa to work or visit.
The following are the character requirements for temporary visas and getting permission to enter New Zealand.
Character issues preventing us from giving you a visa or entry permission
We will decline your temporary visa application, or refuse you entry to New Zealand, if you have been:
We might not give you a visa or entry permission if we believe you may be:
If any of these issues apply to you and you still want to come to New Zealand, you can ask for a character waiver or special direction when you apply. For information about how to ask for one of these, go to the 'Explaining a character issue when you apply' section at the bottom of this page.
Other character issues for temporary visas and entry permission
You will not normally be given a temporary visa or entry permission if you have:
If any of these apply to you, we may consider granting you a character waiver. This would depend on:
We will also consider your involvement and intentions in providing the information (if applicable), and your reason for travelling to or staying in New Zealand.
False, misleading or withheld information in visa applications
Character issues preventing us from giving you a visa
We will decline your application for a residence visa if you have been:
We may not give you a visa if we have reason to believe you may be:
If any of these issues apply to you and you still want to come to New Zealand, you can ask for a special direction when you apply.
Other character issues for residence visas
You will not normally be given a residence visa if you have been convicted of:
You will also not normally be eligible for a residence visa if you have:
False, misleading or withheld information in visa applications
If any of these situations apply to you, we can consider granting you a character waiver. This will depend on:
Character issues that can delay residence visas
We can delay deciding your visa application for 6 months if:
If the issue is not resolved within 6 months, we can delay deciding your application for longer.
Character issues preventing us from giving you a visa
We will decline your application for a visa if you have been:
We may not grant you a visa if we have reason to believe you may be:
If any of these issues apply to you and you still want to come to New Zealand, you may ask for a
If you apply for a visa as the partner of a New Zealander or a New Zealand visa holder, your partner is known as the 'supporting partner'.
Your supporting partner must be able to show us they are of good character. They may need to provide police certificates as proof.
If your supporting partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident
If your supporting partner is a New Zealand citizen or has a resident visa, they:
If your partner needs to provide police certificates, the police certificates must be from countries where they have spent 12 months or more in over the last 10 years, since they turned 17 — even if the 12 months were not all in one stay.
Police certificates must show any criminal records they have had at any time in any of these countries — not only in the last 10 years.
Your partner does not need to provide a New Zealand police certificate, as we will get one directly from the authorities.
Your partner will not meet our character requirements if they have any convictions for domestic violence or sexual offences, whether in New Zealand or in other countries.
If your supporting partner has a temporary visa to work or study
If your supporting partner has a work or study visa, we may ask your partner to provide police certificates, if you are applying for a temporary visa.
Your partner will not meet our character requirements if they have any convictions for domestic violence or sexual offences in the last 7 years, whether in New Zealand or in other countries.
If your partner cannot prove good character
If your supporting partner cannot prove they are of good character, we may give them a
Australian citizens and permanent residents must meet the good character requirements for the Australian Resident Visa.
Explaining a character issue when you apply
When you apply for a visa, you should provide:
- a full explanation of any character issues, and
- reasons why you would like a character waiver or special direction.
If we need more information, we will contact you.
False, misleading or withheld information in visa applications