Temporary visa for family of Ukrainians in New Zealand

The 2022 Special Ukraine Visa is a 2-year temporary visa for Ukrainians with family in New Zealand.

To apply, eligible New Zealanders with Ukrainian heritage must nominate family through an expression of interest (EOI). Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will invite eligible Ukrainians to apply.

There are no fees for the EOI or the application.

Applications are open. EOIs opened on 15 March 2022 and will close on 15 March 2024.

Нова тимчасова віза для родини українців у Новій Зеландії

Новая временная виза для семей украинцев в Новой Зеландии

Who can apply

To apply for the 2022 Special Ukraine Visa, a person must meet all these eligibility criteria:

• have family members in New Zealand who are eligible to nominate them
• have a New Zealand person or entity that can sponsor them
• have been living in Ukraine as at January 2022, and
• be of good health and character.

If you are in Ukraine, once you have been nominated by your New Zealand family member, you can apply for the visa. If you cannot apply yourself your New Zealand family member can apply on your behalf.

Who can nominate family members

To be eligible to nominate someone, a person must:

• be a New Zealand citizen or have a current residence class visa
• be ordinarily resident in New Zealand
• have been born in Ukraine, or have held citizenship or be a permanent resident of Ukraine, or
• have a parent or grandparent who was born in Ukraine or has held citizenship or been a permanent resident of Ukraine.

Who can sponsor people

EOIs must include an 'acceptable sponsor'. This sponsor can be the same as the person who is nominating family or someone else. It can also be an entity like an organisation.

The sponsor must meet our criteria to be an acceptable sponsor for a temporary visa.

The sponsor will be responsible for the costs of the visa holder during their stay in New Zealand. Things the sponsor must cover include:

• accommodation
• maintenance costs like food and clothing
• healthcare.

Criteria and process to become a sponsor

Who can be nominated

An eligible New Zealander with Ukrainian heritage can nominate their family. This includes their:

• parent
• grandparent
• sibling, or
• adult child.

Adult extended family members can also be nominated if they have lived with the supporting family member's family unit for a substantial period of time. This includes their:

• aunt or uncle
• niece or nephew
• grandchild
• first cousin, or
• step-sibling.

Each nominated person can include their partners and dependent children in their visa application.

How to apply

The 2022 Special Ukraine Visa application process is:

1. An eligible New Zealander with Ukrainian heritage nominates their family members via an EOI. As part of this process, they also nominate a sponsor to take on financial responsibility.
2. We invite the family member in Ukraine to apply. We will send the application form to the nominating New Zealander.
3. The nominating New Zealander or the family member in Ukraine must send in the application within 4 months of being invited to apply.
4. We will assess the application and, if approved, grant the visa.
5. If the visa is granted the family member will have 12 months to travel to New Zealand.

INZ 1371 2022 Special Ukraine Visa Expression of interest PDF 655KB

If your application is approved

If your visa application is approved you, your partner and your children will be granted a 2-year visa. You will need to travel to New Zealand within 12 months of your visa being granted.

When you are in New Zealand on a 2022 Special Ukraine Visa:

• adults can access free English-language courses
• adults will be able to work for any employer
• children aged 18 and under can study in school as domestic students.

The sponsor in New Zealand will be responsible for your accommodation and living costs while you are in New Zealand.

Free health checks

Once you are in New Zealand, you and everyone included in your application, can get a free initial health check.

In this health check you can:

• be supported to enrol with a general practice (if you have not already)
• be assessed for tuberculosis (TB), including being offered testing to exclude TB
• find out what vaccinations you could have and where to get them.

You can ask for a free interpreter if you need one.

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

Ukraine Resident Visa for people who have a Special Ukraine Visa

A new Ukraine Resident Visa will be available in March 2024 for people in New Zealand on a Special Ukraine Visa.

Who can apply

You will be able to apply for residency if:

• you have a Special Ukraine Visa, and
• the principal applicant arrived in New Zealand before 15 March 2024.

Requirements for residency

You will need to:

• provide a Limited Medical Certificate, and
• meet the character requirements and identity requirements — this is normal for all residence visas.

Evidence you are in good health

You will not need to:

• do an English language test
• show you have enough money to live here, or
• have a sponsor.

You will need to pay an application fee of NZD$1,200. This will cover group and individual applications. There is no Immigration Levy fee.

If you need a further temporary visa

After 15 March 2024, you will be able to apply for a further Special Ukraine Visa so you can stay in New Zealand while we assess your Ukraine Resident Visa application.

More information will be available

We will have more information about the Ukraine Resident Visa and how to apply soon.

New residence pathway for Special Ukraine Visa holders in New Zealand