R4.25 Evidence of sponsorship

1. Sponsors must provide the completed sponsorship form required by the category of residence instructions the application is being made under.
2. Sponsors must provide evidence that they are an acceptable sponsor and have the financial means to meet all sponsorship undertakings.
3. An Immigration Officer may request additional evidence that a sponsor is an acceptable sponsor and is able to meet their sponsorship undertakings.
4. If a sponsor is an organisation, they must provide evidence that they are registered in New Zealand as a company, incorporated society or charitable trust.

R4.25.1 Evidence for sponsors who are natural persons

1. Evidence that sponsors are New Zealand citizens may include, but is not limited to:
   • a New Zealand passport; or
   • a New Zealand birth certificate issued prior to 1 January 2006; or
   • a New Zealand birth certificate issued on or after 1 January 2006 that positively indicates New Zealand citizenship; or
   • a certificate of New Zealand citizenship; or
   • a confirmation of New Zealand citizenship by descent certificate issued under the Citizenship Act 1977; or
   • an evidentiary certificate issued under the Citizenship Act 1977 confirming New Zealand citizenship; or
   • an endorsement in a foreign passport indicating the fact of New Zealand citizenship.
2. Evidence that sponsors are residence class visa holders may include but is not limited to:
   • a current New Zealand residence class visa in their passport or a certificate of identity; or
   • evidence the sponsor is deemed to hold a residence class visa.
3. Evidence of a sponsors time spent in New Zealand as a New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder may include:
   • INZ records of sponsors' entry to and exit from New Zealand; or
   • the sponsor’s current or previous passports; or
   • any other evidence of time spent in New Zealand provided by a sponsor or sought by INZ.

Note: Periods during which a residence class visa holder has been in New Zealand are calculated inclusive of both arrival and departure dates.

Effective 07/05/2018