Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Immigration Act 2009

Repeals, transitional provisions, saving provisions, and related matters - Transitional and savings provisions - Existing visas and permits

417: Persons exempt from holding permit under former Act deemed to be holders of temporary visa or resident visa

You could also call this:

“People who didn't need permits under old rules now have temporary or resident visas”

If you were in New Zealand and didn’t need a permit before the new law started, you now have a temporary visa. This visa lets you stay for the same amount of time you were allowed before, and you can do the same things you were allowed to do before. You’re also allowed to enter New Zealand with this visa.

If you were in New Zealand and didn’t need a permit because of a special rule, you now have a temporary visa. This visa lasts for the time the special rule said you could stay, and you have to follow any rules that were set. You’re also allowed to enter New Zealand with this visa.

If you were in New Zealand and didn’t need a permit because of a specific part of the old immigration rules, you now have a resident visa. This visa only lets you stay in New Zealand.

These new rules apply to you with any changes needed to make them work properly.

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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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=DLM1441364.

Topics:
Immigration and citizenship > Visas
Immigration and citizenship > Border control
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416: Returning resident's visa held by New Zealand citizen under former Act indication of entitlement, or

“Old visa still proves New Zealand citizenship for travel and entry”

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418: Responsibilities of carrier, and person in charge, of commercial craft before it departs from another country to travel to New Zealand, or

“Duties when bringing people to New Zealand by air or sea”

Part 12 Repeals, transitional provisions, saving provisions, and related matters
Transitional and savings provisions: Existing visas and permits

417Persons exempt from holding permit under former Act deemed to be holders of temporary visa or resident visa

  1. A person in New Zealand who immediately before the commencement of section 404 of this Act was exempt from the requirement to hold a permit under section 11 of the former Act is deemed, on and from that commencement, to—

  2. hold a temporary visa under this Act—
    1. that is current for the period for which the exemption would have applied under section 11 of the former Act (calculated including any time that has elapsed before the commencement of section 404 of this Act); and
      1. subject to conditions that allow the purpose for which the exemption applied to be pursued; and
      2. have been granted entry permission on the basis of the temporary visa.

        1. A person in New Zealand who immediately before the commencement of section 404 of this Act was exempt from the requirement to hold a permit by special direction under section 12(2) of the former Act is deemed, on and from that commencement, to—

        2. hold a temporary visa under this Act for the period (calculated including any time that has elapsed before the commencement of section 404 of this Act) and subject to the conditions (if any) specified in the special direction; and
          1. have been granted entry permission on the basis of the temporary visa.

            1. A person in New Zealand who immediately before the commencement of section 404 of this Act was exempt from the requirement to hold a permit under Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Immigration Regulations 1999 is deemed on and from that commencement to hold a resident visa under this Act allowing stay in New Zealand only.

            2. For the purposes of this section, this Act applies accordingly with any necessary modifications.