Offshore residence applications reopened
Residence applications received by Immigration New Zealand from offshore applicants received before, and after March 2020, had so far been kept on hold. Across all categories, this represents over 5,000 residence applications which processing was on hold due to border restrictions.
A recent court case has ruled that there was no legal ground to halt processing of these applications.
First time resident visa holders to be allowed in NZ
In line with these decisions, the Government has also decided to remove the restriction that has been preventing first-time resident visa holders granted a resident visa offshore from travelling to New Zealand. This means residence processing will resume for all offshore applicants, who will now be able to be granted residence from overseas, and travel to New Zealand on their resident visa.
