Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Immigration Act 2009

Visas - Visas generally - Visa conditions

55: Condition that visa holder have sponsor

You could also call this:

“You might need a sponsor for your visa who must follow specific rules”

If you need a sponsor when you apply for a visa, there are some rules you need to follow. You must have a sponsor who agrees to help you with certain things. Your sponsor has to do what they promised to do for you.

If you get a resident visa with this rule, it can last for up to 10 years. The government decides how long it lasts based on the type of visa or your specific situation.

If your sponsor doesn’t do what they promised, a few things can happen. The government or other people might have to pay for things your sponsor was supposed to pay for. If this happens, your sponsor will owe money to whoever had to pay. Also, if your sponsor doesn’t follow the rules, it means you have broken the rules of your visa too.

Remember, these rules are there to make sure you have the support you need while you’re in New Zealand. It’s important that both you and your sponsor understand and follow these rules.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM2386204.

Topics:
Immigration and citizenship > Visas
Immigration and citizenship > Border control
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Part 3 Visas
Visas generally: Visa conditions

55Condition that visa holder have sponsor

  1. This section applies to a visa holder who, when applying for the visa concerned, was required to provide a written undertaking from a sponsor in accordance with section 48.

  2. It is a condition of the visa that—

  3. the visa holder have a sponsor for the purposes of the specified matter or matters provided for in the written undertaking; and
    1. the sponsor meets the obligations in relation to the specified matter or matters provided for in the undertaking.

      1. Where a condition under this section applies to a resident visa, the condition applies for the period, which may not exceed 10 years, specified—

      2. in immigration instructions, in relation to any type of resident visa; or
        1. by the Minister or an immigration officer, in relation to any particular visa.

          1. If the sponsor fails to comply with the undertaking—

          2. the sponsor owes a debt to the Crown, recoverable by the Crown in a court of competent jurisdiction, if the Crown incurs a cost as a result of the failure; and
            1. the sponsor owes a debt to a third party, recoverable by the third party in a court of competent jurisdiction, if a cost has been incurred by the third party as a result of the failure; and
              1. the visa holder is deemed to have breached the conditions of his or her visa imposed under subsection (2).

                Notes
                • Section 55(2A): inserted, on , by section 15 of the Immigration Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 48).