E3.10 Currency of visas (29/11/2010)

See also Immigration Act 2009 ss 6, 62, 63, 77

1. Temporary entry class visas with travel conditions must not be granted unless the applicant's passport or travel document is current for:
   1. at least 3 months beyond the expiry date of the proposed visa; or
   2. (in urgent cases only) one month, if the issuing Government has consular representation in New Zealand that is able to issue and renew passports.
2. The entry for the visa must specify, as appropriate:
   1. the start date (which may be the date of its grant or a future or past date);
   2. any conditions of the visa that relate to travel, including:
      • whether the visa allows travel to New Zealand on a later occasion;
      • if the visa allows travel to New Zealand, the period during which the holder may travel to New Zealand;
      • if the visa allows travel to New Zealand, whether the visa gives permission to travel to New Zealand on a single journey, multiple journeys, or a set number of journeys;
   3. in relation to the holder’s stay in New Zealand, the date or event on which the visa will expire, or the period after which it will expire;
   4. any other conditions of the visa;
   5. for those persons granted entry permission, the date or dates the entry permission was granted.
   6. such other matters as may be required or approved by the Chief Executive.
3. If the holder of a visa is in New Zealand the visa expires on the earliest of:
   1. the beginning of the day after the date specified in the visa as the expiry date; or
   2. the beginning of the day after the day on which an event specified in the visa as the event on the occurrence of which the visa will expire occurs; or
   3. the beginning of the day after the last day of the period for which the visa grants stay in New Zealand to the holder;
   4. the beginning of the day that is 3 months after the day on which an epidemic management notice expires, if the visa:
      • is a temporary entry class visa deemed to be extended as a result of an epidemic management notice; and
      • has not been cancelled earlier.
4. If the holder of a visa is outside New Zealand, the visa expires on the earlier of:
   1. the day and time the holder left New Zealand, if the conditions of the visa do not allow further travel to New Zealand;
   2. the beginning of the day after the date that is specified by the conditions of the visa as the last day of the period of time within which travel is allowed to New Zealand.
5. Unless there is a special direction to the contrary (see E7.25) or immigration instructions state otherwise, individual visas must not be granted for longer than:
   1. (in the case of a visitor visa) 12 months; or
   2. (in the case of a work visa) 5 years; or
   3. (in the case of a student visa) 4 years; or
   4. (in the case of an interim visa) 6 months.
6. There is no maximum length of stay for:
   1. a Diplomatic, Consular or Official Visa (see section H);
   2. a Military visa (see section M).
7. Since the periods listed in paragraph E3.10 (e) and (f) above relate to individual visas and not the maximum length of stay, further individual visas may be granted, provided that relevant temporary entry class visa instructions are met.

Effective 29/11/2010