Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Immigration Act 2009

Miscellaneous provisions - Fees, bonds, levies, etc

396: Imposition of bonds

You could also call this:

“Rules for paying and getting back immigration bonds”

You need to know about bonds in immigration. A bond is money you might need to pay as part of the immigration process. Here’s how it works:

The government can ask for a bond in some cases. The amount of the bond is set by immigration rules. Different people might have to pay different amounts. The government might look at where you’re from to decide how much you need to pay.

When you pay a bond, you’ll be told what it’s for. This could be about following immigration rules or doing what your visa says. You’ll also be told when you might get the money back or when you might lose it.

Sometimes, you might have to pay the bond in New Zealand dollars. If you get a refund, it might also be in New Zealand dollars.

The rules say when you need to pay the bond. You or someone else might be able to pay it for you.

In some cases, you might not have to pay a bond, or you might get your money back. The Minister can also decide to let you off paying a bond or give you some of the money back.

If you want to know more about other parts of immigration law, you can look at the Immigration Act 2009.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM1441227.

Topics:
Immigration and citizenship > Visas
Immigration and citizenship > Border control
Money and consumer rights > Banking and loans
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395: Exemptions and refunds, or

“When fees might not be required or can be refunded for immigration”

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397: Refund or forfeiture of bond, or

“Getting your bond money back or having it taken away”

Part 11 Miscellaneous provisions
Fees, bonds, levies, etc

396Imposition of bonds

  1. This section applies in any case where a bond may be imposed under this Act.

  2. The amount of any bond is to be at a level determined or authorised by immigration instructions.

  3. Different levels of bond, or different methods of determining levels of bond, may be determined or authorised in respect of different categories of person.

  4. Without limiting the manner in which persons may be categorised, categories of persons may be determined by having regard to the different regions of the world where their countries of origin or nationality are situated and the costs of travel or repatriation to those regions or countries.

  5. The Minister or an immigration officer must specify—

  6. the conditions in respect of which the bond is paid (which must relate to or be based on requirements of the relevant immigration instructions, if appropriate, or on other requirements and obligations imposed by or under this Act, including conditions of the relevant visa); and
    1. the situations in which it may be refunded or forfeited, whether in whole or in part.

      1. Immigration instructions may—

      2. require any bond or class of bond to be paid in New Zealand dollars only:
        1. require any refund of a bond or class of bond to be made in New Zealand dollars only (whether or not the bond itself was required to be paid in New Zealand dollars).

          1. A bond required in respect of any type of matter is payable at the time specified for that class of matter in immigration instructions, and may be payable either by the person concerned or by any other class of person specified in the instructions.

          2. Immigration instructions may provide for exemptions from or refunds of any bond payable in any class of case.

          3. The Minister may by special direction provide for an exemption from or refund of any bond, in whole or in part.