A2.20 When acceptable travel documents are not available

The Minister of Immigration has approved two forms to be used when an acceptable passport or certificate of identity is not available.

A2.20.1 Visa form

1. The visa form is rarely ever used and must be used only when the applicant is believed to hold an acceptable travel document which is not available to the visa or immigration officer.
2. It must not be used for endorsing permits and is only acceptable for travel to New Zealand when accompanied by an acceptable passport or certificate of identity.

A2.20.5 Certificate of identity form

1. The certificate of identity form must be used only when a person does not have any other acceptable form of travel document available, but is to be granted permission to be in New Zealand. This does not include persons who are able to obtain a passport from their own country of citizenship no matter how long or difficult it may be to do so.
2. Permits may be endorsed in this form, and it is valid only for use in New Zealand.
3. Returning residents' visas must not be endorsed in an NZIS Certificate of Identity.
4. Returning residents' visas may be endorsed in a Document of National Identity (DONI) Certificate of Identity as issued by the Department of Internal Affairs.

   Examples: Customs staff use the NZIS Certificate of Identity form for seamen coming ashore in an emergency, whose documents are either unavailable or unacceptable as certificates of identity. Visa and immigration officers use the NZIS Certificate of Identity form:
   (i) in cases involving refugees who have not been granted a refugee document, or
   (ii) in cases involving persons who have arrived at the border without documentation, or
   (iii) in other emergency cases, usually with an exceptional humanitarian element.

Effective 01/11/1999