Limited Visa – it is not a separate type of visa, but a subtype of a working or student visa.
Limited Visa is issued for a short-term, strictly limited period of time.
If the New Zealand Migration Service suspects that there is a risk that a person will remain on its territory after the expiration of the visa or a certain goal is in doubt, it will issue a limited visa for reinsurance. In this way, a migration officer is insured against the appearance of illegal migrants in the country.
Limited Visa is the only type of visa that cannot be changed or extended while in New Zealand.
Purpose of issuing a limited visa
The purpose of issuing a limited visa is to assist the entry of temporary visitors to New Zealand and students who enter the country for a limited period of time:
- Assistance to persons who have been refused the opening of a temporary visa, due to suspicions that a person may remain in New Zealand after the expiry of the visa;
- Assisting individuals who have chosen a limited visa as the preferred way to visit New Zealand.
Limited Visa valid:
- Valid until the date specified in the visa;
- The visa is a single entry (one visit).
Foreign passport or other travel document must be valid:
- Not less than 3 months from the moment of the planned departure from the territory of New Zealand;
- Not less than 1 month (in exceptional cases) and provided that the state issuing the passport has a consular representation in the territory of New Zealand, which can issue or replace a passport or other travel document.
Specific objectives for visiting New Zealand:
- Taking short courses with full payment of tuition;
- Attending significant events – weddings, funerals, conferences, seminars, sports, religious gatherings and other events that are meaningful to a person;
- Undergoing treatment in New Zealand;
- Emergency family matters – illness of relatives, an accident with a relative living in New Zealand;
- Significant events in human life – anniversary, family meetings, etc .;
- Other important events (with the exception of employment), the purpose of which is clear and allows you to get a limited visa.
Issuance of limited visas to applicants for temporary visas:
An alien who is outside of New Zealand and is applying for a temporary visa properly, the visa officer of New Zealand can issue a limited visa in the following cases:
- The applicant is not exempt from obtaining permission to stay in New Zealand;
- The visa officer has a suspicion that a person may remain in New Zealand after the expiration of the legal stay in the country;
- The visa officer believes that to prevent this risk, issuing a limited visa:
- Necessary measure (otherwise the application would be rejected);
- Sufficient reason (to manage this risk).
- A person enters New Zealand for a specific purpose;
- Before consideration of issuing a limited visa to a person, a standard check is carried out;
- A limited visa is issued solely in order to avoid the risk that a person will remain in New Zealand after the expiration of the legal period of stay in its territory;
- The limited visa is issued only in certain cases when the officer has serious suspicions;
- If the visa officer has decided to issue a limited visa instead of a temporary visa, he must notify the applicant in writing:
- About his intention to issue a limited visa;
- Report restrictions imposed by a limited visa;
- To enable the applicant to comment on this decision.
If the applicant refuses from a limited visa, the visa officer makes a decision based on the information available.
Limited Visa cannot be issued to an applicant who applies for a temporary visa:
- The application for a temporary visa can be approved in accordance with the requirements of New Zealand;
- A limited visa does not eliminate the risk that a person may remain in the country after the expiration of the term of legal residence in its territory;
- There is no specific purpose for visiting New Zealand.
Direct application for Limited Visa:
- Applicant for Limited Visa completes a separate application form;
- The partner of the main applicant, as well as dependent children under the age of 19 may be included in the application for this visa if:
- The purpose of the trip coincides with the purpose of the main applicant;
- The purpose of the main applicant’s trip is not education.
- Inclusion of partners in the application. If a person does not comply with the concept of “partner”, then he or she is issued a permit to stay in New Zealand and he or she applies for a visa on his or her own ;
- Inclusion in the application of the children of the main applicant. Children of the main applicant are considered to be the relatives or adopted children of the applicant or partner (if he is a partner in the application);
- Each person applying for Limited Visa for the purpose of training must complete a separate application. Partners and dependent children fill out a separate form to receive Limited Visa according to their needs. The purpose of the trip will be the escort of the main applicant until he reaches specific goals in New Zealand.
Restrictions for persons issued a Limited Visa:
- Persons who received Limited Visa are required to leave the territory of New Zealand no later than the date of its expiration;
- Persons who have received Limited Visa are not entitled to apply for a different visa, either before or after the expiration date;
- Persons who have received Limited Visa are not entitled to apply for specific guidelines or permission, which is enshrined in provision 61 of the Immigration Act 2009, neither before nor after its expiration date;
- Persons who have received Limited Visa are not entitled to file an appeal to the Removal Review Authority, the Residence Appeal Authority, the Deportation Review Tribunal, the High Court;
- Persons who have received Limited Visa are not entitled to file an appeal to the Removal Review Authority, the Residence Appeal Authority, the Deportation Review Tribunal, the High Court;
- Persons are subject to deportation if they are illegally stay in New Zealand at the expiration of Limited Visa.
You can find information about this type of visa here. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/about-visa/limited-visa
