Immigration Act 2009

Visas - Classes of visa - Temporary entry class visas: provisions applying to temporary visas

79: Who may apply for temporary visa

You could also call this:

“Rules about who can ask for a temporary visa to enter or stay in New Zealand”

You can apply for a temporary visa if you’re outside New Zealand and want to come here for a reason that temporary visas are given. You can also apply if you’re arriving in New Zealand and don’t need a visa because of a visa waiver.

If you’re already in New Zealand with a temporary visa, you can apply for another one if certain rules don’t apply to you or if you’re asking for protection as a refugee or protected person.

If you’re part of a large group of people arriving together, you might have to apply for a visa for the group.

Some people can only apply for a temporary visa if they’re invited. If you’re invited, you must apply within the time given in the invitation.

If you have a limited visa, an interim visa, or a transit visa, you can’t apply for a temporary visa. If you’re supposed to leave New Zealand, you can only apply for the same kind of visa you had before, and only if you’re not in New Zealand illegally.

The Minister can decide to give a temporary visa to someone who isn’t usually allowed to apply, even if these rules say they can’t.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM1440699.

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

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78A: Extension of temporary entry class visa by special direction, or

“Removed: Rules for extending temporary visas by special direction no longer apply”


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80: Interim visa, or

“Temporary visa to cover you while your new visa application is being processed”

Part 3 Visas
Classes of visa: Temporary entry class visas: provisions applying to temporary visas

79Who may apply for temporary visa

  1. The following persons may apply for a temporary visa:

  2. a person, including a person to whom a visa waiver applies, who is outside New Zealand and who wishes to come to New Zealand for any purpose for which a temporary visa may be granted:
    1. a person arriving in New Zealand and to whom a visa waiver applies:
      1. a person who is onshore, is the holder of a temporary visa, and is either—
        1. a person to whom section 150(1) and (2) do not apply; or
          1. a claimant to whom section 150(3) applies:
          2. a person who is a member of a mass arrival group and has the responsibility of applying for a visa under section 103(1)(daa).
            1. No person who is of a class or category that, by virtue of immigration instructions, may only apply for a temporary visa by invitation may apply for such a visa without an invitation.

            2. A person may apply for a temporary visa (or a temporary visa of a particular type) in response to an invitation to apply only if the application is made in the time frame specified in the temporary entry instructions.

            3. To avoid doubt,—

            4. no limited visa holder, interim visa holder, or transit visa holder may apply for a temporary visa; and
              1. a person liable for deportation may only apply—
                1. for a visa of the same class and type that he or she held before becoming liable for deportation; and
                  1. if he or she is not unlawfully in New Zealand.
                  2. However, the Minister, in his or her absolute discretion, may grant a temporary visa to a person prohibited from applying for a temporary visa under subsection (4).

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                  Notes
                  • Section 79(1)(d): inserted, on , by section 5 of the Immigration (Mass Arrivals) Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 17).