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These are archived immigration instructions that are no longer current

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Y3.30 People who may be granted entry permission: COVID-19 (to 31/07/2022)

  1. Despite Y4.50(a), the following persons may be granted entry permission:
    1. Those New Zealand residence class visa holders listed in Y3.10(a)
    2. The partner, legal guardian or any dependent children of a New Zealand citizen or a New Zealand residence class visa holder listed at Y3.10(a) who:
      • are travelling with that New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder; or
      • are ordinarily resident in New Zealand; or
      • have a visa based on their relationship to the New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder.
    3. Australian citizens or a person who holds a current permanent residence visa (including a resident return visa) issued by the Government of Australia.
    4. Diplomats accredited to New Zealand and currently resident in New Zealand.
    5. New diplomatic and consular personnel filling established positions at a foreign mission or consular post in New Zealand.
    6. Other diplomatic and consular personnel authorised by the Minister of Foreign Affairs or their delegate where there is a compelling national interest.
    7. Holders of a resident visa granted under the COVID-19 Support residence instructions (S5).
    8. Persons who previously held their initial resident visa while in New Zealand, and are the holders of a second or subsequent resident visa granted offshore, and who are travelling to New Zealand for the first time as the holder of that visa.
    9. Positioning aircraft crew travelling to New Zealand as a passenger (other than a transit passenger) on a commercial aircraft for the purpose of leaving New Zealand as aircraft crew in the course of a scheduled international service.
    10. A person who has travelled to New Zealand directly from the Cook Islands or Niue.
    11. Persons who were in Afghanistan on 15 August 2021 and who on 19 August 2021 held and continue to hold either a valid temporary entry class visa or a residence class visa which was granted when the person was offshore and the person is arriving in New Zealand for the first time.
    12. The holder of a resident visa granted while outside of New Zealand who:
      • is arriving in New Zealand for the first time as the holder of that visa; and
      • the entry permission instructions in effect on the date of the resident visa application allowed holders of that visa to travel to and enter New Zealand.
    13. A person who is a Ukrainian citizen and who holds a temporary entry class visa.
    14. Holders of a working holiday visa granted under the Working Holiday Scheme instructions (WI2) or those granted a working holiday visa by special direction.
    15. Holders of a work or student visa.
    16. Holders of a visitor visa.
    17. Visa waiver travellers (see E2.1).

    Note: For the purpose Y3.30(a)(xi), dependent child has the meaning given by section 4 of the Immigration Act 2009, and parent, in relation to a dependent child, means a person on whom the child is dependent.

  2. A person may be granted entry permission if they are the holder of a temporary entry class visa which either:
    1. was granted or varied under the COVID-19 Support Restricted Temporary Entry Instructions; or
    2. ihas a condition that the holder carries out a critical purpose while they are in New Zealand.

Note:
A person who was granted a second or subsequent resident visa by special direction on 11 September 2020 (i.e a person who held a resident visa with travel conditions which expired between 2 February 2020 and 11 September 2020 and had previously been in New Zealand as a resident but were outside New Zealand on 11 September 2020), is considered to hold a second or subsequent resident visa for the purposes of Y3.30(a)(viii).

Quarantine-Free Travel is provided for by orders under the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act 2020. The COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Order (No 2) 2020 defines Quarantine-Free Travel (QFT) places, ports, carriers and persons. QFT is currently only possible for people arriving by the air border as part of a scheduled international service in accordance with the Air Border Order. Anyone arriving by private aircraft or by the maritime border are still subject to the border restrictions.

In the Air Border Order, the specified 14-day period means the period that:
(a) starts at the beginning of the 14th day before the day on which the person boards the aircraft undertaking the QFT flight concerned, and
(b) ends when the person boards the aircraft.

Effective 01/05/2022

PREVIOUS IMMIGRATION INSTRUCTIONS

Y3.1 Definition and meaning of entry permission

Y3.5 Applying for entry permission

Y3.10 Who must be granted entry permission

Y3.15 New Zealand citizens

Y3.20 People with expired resident visa (including expired returning resident’s visas (RRVs) issued under the Immigration Act 1987)

Y3.25 Powers of entry and search by immigration officers, members of the Police, and Customs officers

Y3.35 Revocation of deemed entry permission

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