H6.1 Objective

The original objective of these instructions was to support the Government’s intent to reunite New Zealand citizen and resident visa holders with partners to whom the requirement to hold a visa permitting travel to New Zealand has been waived by Schedule 2 of the Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission and Related Matters) Regulations, referred to as visa-waiver partners in these instructions. These instructions support immigration system integrity by recognising only genuine partnerships and allowing visa-waiver partners of New Zealanders to apply for a relationship-based visitor visa to travel to New Zealand while the borders are re-opening.

Note:
The instructions in this chapter are restricted temporary entry instructions. In accordance with section 76(2) of the Immigration Act 2009, Immigration officers may not grant a temporary visa as an exception to restricted temporary entry instructions. Restricted temporary entry instructions are defined in section 4 of the Immigration Act 2009:

Restricted temporary entry instructions are temporary entry instructions that require, in relation to the type of visa to which the instructions relate, that any decision made on an application for that type of visa, or on an application for entry permission in relation to that type of visa, must be made in terms of the temporary entry instructions applicable at the time the application for the visa was made, and any discretion exercised must be in terms of those instructions.

Effective 31/07/2022