Immigration Act 2009

Visas - Visas generally - Visa conditions

52: Conditions on temporary entry class visas (other than those subject to restricted temporary entry instructions)

You could also call this:

"Rules for Temporary Visas: What Conditions Might Apply to You"

Illustration for Immigration Act 2009

When you get a temporary entry class visa, the Minister or an immigration officer can add conditions to it. They can also change or cancel conditions that already apply to your visa. The Minister or an immigration officer must tell you about any new conditions. The Minister can make a special direction that adds new conditions to your visa. This can happen if there are unusual circumstances or if the immigration system is being challenged. The Minister must explain why they made the special direction and how it will affect you. A special direction is a type of secondary legislation, which means it is a law made by the Minister (see https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM7298343 for more information). It must be published and explain how it will affect you. It can only last for six months and must say who it applies to and why it was made. The Minister or an immigration officer can also change or cancel conditions on your visa after it has been granted. They can do this by agreement with you or by making a special direction. You will be told about any changes to your visa conditions.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM1440656.

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53: Conditions on temporary entry class visas subject to restricted temporary entry instructions, or

"Rules for Temporary Visas with Special Conditions"

Part 3Visas
Visas generally: Visa conditions

52Conditions on temporary entry class visas (other than those subject to restricted temporary entry instructions)

  1. On granting a temporary entry class visa, the Minister or an immigration officer may—

  2. impose conditions in addition to those specified in temporary entry instructions in relation to a visa of that class or type:
    1. vary or waive conditions that would otherwise apply to a visa of that class or type.
      1. Following the grant of a temporary entry class visa, the Minister or an immigration officer may—

      2. impose further conditions, whether or not the conditions are specified in the temporary entry instructions in relation to a visa of that class or type:
        1. vary or cancel conditions that would otherwise apply to a visa of that class or type or were imposed under subsection (1).
          1. The Minister or an immigration officer may also do 1 or more of the things in subsection (2) by agreement with the visa holder.

          2. A condition imposed, varied, waived, or cancelled under this section—

          3. must be notified to the visa holder by the Minister or an immigration officer; and
            1. takes effect—
              1. from the date the visa is granted, if the condition is imposed, varied, or waived when the visa is granted; or
                1. from the date specified in the notice (being a date not earlier than the date of notification), in any other case.
                2. The Minister may, by special direction in relation to a class or classes of persons holding temporary entry class visas,—

                3. impose further conditions on the visas, whether or not the conditions are specified in the temporary entry instructions in relation to visas of the relevant types:
                  1. vary or cancel conditions that would otherwise apply to visas of the relevant types or that were imposed under this section.
                    1. However, the Minister may not make a special direction under subsection (4A) unless satisfied that the special direction is reasonably necessary to respond to 1 or more of the following circumstances:

                    2. any unusual circumstance:
                      1. any circumstance that is unable to be dealt with under any other provision of the Act:
                        1. any circumstance that is outside the Department’s control:
                          1. any circumstance that poses a challenge to the immigration system.
                            1. A special direction under subsection (4A) may, without limiting the generality of the manner in which persons may be classified, classify persons to whom a further visa condition, or a variation or cancellation of a visa condition, applies by reference to all or any of the following:

                            2. their nationality:
                              1. the country or place from which they are travelling or have travelled (whether it is their original or an intermediate point of departure):
                                1. whether or not they hold, or are required to hold, any particular type of travel or immigration documentation, by whomever issued:
                                  1. the type of visa that they hold:
                                    1. any other type of visa that they have applied for.
                                      1. The Minister must certify a special direction made under subsection (4A) as follows:

                                      2. the Minister considers that the exercise of the power to make the special direction in the particular situation is reasonably necessary to respond to 1 or more of the following circumstances:
                                        1. any unusual circumstance:
                                          1. any circumstance that is unable to be dealt with under any other provision of the Act:
                                            1. any circumstance that is outside the Department’s control:
                                              1. any circumstance that poses a challenge to the immigration system; and
                                              2. the Minister considers that the exercise of the power to make the special direction in the particular situation will—
                                                1. benefit the class or classes of persons to whom it applies; or
                                                  1. not disadvantage the class or classes of persons to whom it applies; and
                                                  2. the Minister has undertaken any consultation that they consider to be appropriate in the particular situation.
                                                    1. A special direction under subsection (4A)—

                                                    2. is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements); and
                                                      1. commences in accordance with section 378(3), even if it is not yet published; and
                                                        1. must be published together with an explanation of the effect of the special direction; and
                                                          1. must specify—
                                                            1. its duration, which can be no longer than 6 months; and
                                                              1. any statutory power exercised; and
                                                                1. the class of persons to whom it applies.
                                                                2. Nothing in this section applies to a temporary entry class visa that is subject to restricted temporary entry instructions.

                                                                Notes
                                                                • Section 52(4A): inserted, on , by section 8 of the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 75).
                                                                • Section 52(4B): inserted, on , by section 8 of the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 75).
                                                                • Section 52(4C): inserted, on , by section 8 of the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 75).
                                                                • Section 52(4D): inserted, on , by section 8 of the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 75).
                                                                • Section 52(4E): inserted, on , by section 8 of the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 75).