E3.10 Currency of visas

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 three months beyond the expiry date of the proposed visa; or
   2. one month, if the issuing Government has consular representation in New Zealand that is able to issue and renew passports.
2. Despite (a) above, if an applicant has been approved a work visa for 24 months or longer, they may be granted the full duration of their visa, regardless of the applicant’s passport expiration date. If a visa is granted beyond the expiry of the passport, the holder must be informed in writing that their visa must be transferred into their new passport if they wish to travel in or out of New Zealand on their new passport.
3. 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.
4. 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 three 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.
5. 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.
6. Unless an appropriately delegated officer makes an exception to instructions (see E7.25) or immigration instructions state otherwise, an individual visa must not be granted for a period 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.
7. 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).
8. Since the periods listed in paragraph E3.10(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.

E3.10.1 Pregnant applicants

1. This section applies to pregnant applicants for temporary entry class visas who:
   1. intend to be in New Zealand for more than six months; and
   2. are considered to have risk factors for tuberculosis (TB) (see A4.25.5); and
   3. otherwise meet immigration instructions for the grant of a temporary entry visa.
2. These applicants may only be granted a visa for up to three months from the date that they are due to give birth, unless (c) below applies.
3. An applicant may be granted a visa for the length of their intended stay:
   1. if they have provided a Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1096) with an earlier application and A4.25(c) or A4.25.1(d) applies; or
   2. where a Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1096) has been provided in accordance with A4.25.1(f).
4. Applicants who are granted a visa in line with (b) above may apply for a further visa for the remainder of their intended stay if they provide:
   1. a completed application form; and
   2. a completed Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1096); and
   3. any associated medical or laboratory reports required for the Chest X-ray Certificate; and
   4. their current passport (or a certified copy) or certificate of identity (or a certified copy); and
   5. the appropriate fee and levies (if any).
5. If the applicant is assessed as not having an acceptable standard of health based on the Chest X-ray Certificate they provide, a further visa may not be granted unless A4.25.1(h) or A4.65 applies.

Effective 01/07/2019