Immigration status and supporting documents

Generally, when people born overseas travel to New Zealand they are granted a visa by Immigration New Zealand. The visa shows the conditions under which they are allowed to be in New Zealand, for example temporarily (student, work, visitor) or as a resident.

The type of documents a client may provide to verify their immigration status depends on when they were issued.

From 29 November 2010 clients with an existing permit are 'deemed' to hold the corresponding type of visa under the Immigration Act 2009. This means that:

• permits continue to be valid until their expiry date. A person does not need to replace a permit in their passport with a new visa until the permit expires
• residents with an existing residence permit may never have this updated with a new type of visa

Documents issued from 29 November 2010 include:

• New Zealand Citizenship certificate (issued by Internal Affairs)
• New Zealand citizen endorsement (in a foreign passport)
• Permanent resident visa
• Resident visa
• Visitor visa
• Work visa
• Student visa
• Limited visa

Only the permanent resident visa and resident visa show a person is a resident.

A visa is a sticker in the client's passport.

Documents issued before 29 November 2010 that allow a person to stay in New Zealand include:

• New Zealand Citizenship certificate (issued by Internal Affairs)
• Residence permit (with or without returning resident's visa)
• Visitor permit
• Work permit
• Student permit
• Limited purposes permit

Only the residence permit (with or without returning resident's visa) was granted to residents.

Note that a visa issued before 29 November 2010 does not allow a person to stay in New Zealand.

A permit is a sticker in the client's passport.

When a client is unable to provide an immigration visa or permit they may provide other Immigration New Zealand documents to verify their immigration status. Work and Income can also undertake an immigration status check directly with Immigration New Zealand.

Note that Immigration New Zealand may be unable to verify immigration status for clients of British nationality who arrived in New Zealand before 2 April 1974 and do not have a passport.