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Immigration Act 2009

Compliance and information - Powers of entry, inspection, etc

276: Powers of entry and inspection relating to records of accommodation providers

You could also call this:

“Immigration officers can check hotel records to find people who may need to leave New Zealand”

Immigration officers can enter and inspect places where people stay overnight, like hotels or motels, to find someone who might be sent out of the country. They can do this without asking permission first.

If an immigration officer thinks that a hotel or motel might have information about someone who needs to leave New Zealand, they can go into the building. They can look at guest lists or other records, but they can’t go into rooms where people are staying.

The officer can ask the hotel owner or staff to show them any records about the person they’re looking for. They can also make copies of these records or ask someone else to make copies for them.

Immigration officers can do this at any time that makes sense, like when the hotel is open. They don’t need special permission or a piece of paper saying they can do it.

When we say “accommodation provider,” we mean anyone who runs a place where people can pay to stay overnight. This includes hotels, motels, guesthouses, and camping grounds.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM1441016.

Topics:
Immigration and citizenship > Visas
Immigration and citizenship > Border control
Government and voting > Government departments
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“Immigration officers can request and review employment documents to check visa compliance”

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277: Powers of entry and inspection relating to records of employers, or

“Immigration officers can check employer records to ensure visa compliance”

Part 8 Compliance and information
Powers of entry, inspection, etc

276Powers of entry and inspection relating to records of accommodation providers

  1. An immigration officer may exercise the powers in subsection (2) for the purposes of locating any person who is liable for deportation.

  2. Where an immigration officer believes on reasonable grounds that the information contained in any register or list kept by an accommodation provider might relate to any person who is liable for deportation, the officer may—

  3. enter any part of the premises, other than a part of the premises that is a dwellinghouse, in which the officer reasonably believes the register or list is kept; and
    1. require the accommodation provider or any person appearing to have that register or list under that person’s control to produce for inspection any part of the register or list that relates to a person who is liable for deportation; and
      1. copy or require a person to provide a copy of any part of any register or list that is required to be produced to the officer.

        1. An immigration officer may exercise the powers in subsection (2) at any reasonable time during which the premises are open for business, whether by day or by night and without warrant or any other authority than this section.

        2. In this section, accommodation provider means the operator of any hotel, motel, guesthouse, motor camp, or other premises in which accommodation is offered for valuable consideration to any member of the public.

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