Immigration Act 2009

Visas - Visas generally

43: Effect of visa

You could also call this:

“A visa allows you to travel to, enter, and stay in New Zealand under specific conditions”

If you get a visa outside New Zealand, it means you can travel to New Zealand and ask to enter the country. When you get the visa, there’s no reason to think you won’t be allowed in if you follow the visa’s rules. If you’re allowed to enter, you can stay in New Zealand following the visa’s rules.

If you get a visa in an immigration control area, it means that if you’re allowed to enter, you can stay in New Zealand following the visa’s rules. You can also travel to New Zealand again later and ask to enter, as long as you follow the visa’s rules.

If you get a visa while you’re already in New Zealand, it means you can stay in New Zealand following the visa’s rules. You can also leave and come back to New Zealand later and ask to enter again, as long as you follow the visa’s rules.

A transit visa is different. It lets you travel to New Zealand and stay for a short time. You can only stay on the vehicle you came on, in an immigration control area, or with the Police.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM1440646.

Topics:
Immigration and citizenship > Visas
Immigration and citizenship > Border control

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“You can't complain to the Inspector-General about decisions involving classified information”


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44: Person may hold only 1 current visa, or

“You can only have one active visa at a time”

Part 3 Visas
Visas generally

43Effect of visa

  1. A visa (other than a transit visa) granted outside New Zealand indicates that—

  2. the holder of the visa has permission to—
    1. travel to New Zealand in accordance with the conditions of the visa (if any); and
      1. apply for entry permission; and
      2. at the time the visa is granted, there is no reason to believe that the holder will be refused entry permission if the holder's travel is consistent with the conditions of the visa relating to travel; and
        1. if the holder is granted entry permission, the holder has permission to stay in New Zealand in accordance with the conditions of the visa (if any).
          1. A visa granted in an immigration control area indicates that the holder of the visa,—

          2. if granted entry permission, has permission to stay in New Zealand in accordance with the conditions of the visa (if any); and
            1. has permission to travel to New Zealand subsequently and apply for entry permission in accordance with the conditions of the visa (if any).
              1. A visa granted onshore indicates that the holder of the visa—

              2. has permission to stay in New Zealand in accordance with the conditions of the visa (if any); and
                1. has permission to travel to New Zealand subsequently and apply for entry permission in accordance with the conditions of the visa (if any).
                  1. A transit visa indicates that the holder of the visa has permission to travel to New Zealand, and to remain, for no longer than the transit period,—

                  2. on the craft concerned; or
                    1. in an immigration control area; or
                      1. in the custody of the Police.