Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Immigration Act 2009

Arrivals and departures - Advance passenger processing

98: Grant of entry permission outside New Zealand

You could also call this:

“How to get permission to enter New Zealand before you arrive”

You can get permission to enter New Zealand before you arrive in the country. An immigration officer can give you this permission if you meet three conditions. First, you need to have a visa, but it can’t be a transit visa. Second, you must be in a special place that the chief executive has chosen. Third, you need to ask for entry permission in the correct way.

If you don’t ask for entry permission before you arrive in New Zealand, different rules will apply when you get there. These rules are explained in section 103 of the law.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM2386208.

Topics:
Immigration and citizenship > Visas
Immigration and citizenship > Border control
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Part 4 Arrivals and departures
Advance passenger processing

98Grant of entry permission outside New Zealand

  1. An immigration officer may grant entry permission to a person outside New Zealand if the person—

  2. is the holder of a visa (other than a transit visa); and
    1. is in a place designated by the chief executive under section 383; and
      1. has applied for entry permission in the prescribed manner.

        1. If a person outside New Zealand does not apply for entry permission under subsection (1)(c), section 103 applies to the person on his or her arrival in New Zealand.