Individuals holding New Zealand residence class visa or those who are deemed to hold one are required to confirm their residence class visa under certain circumstances. Some of them are:

• If a NZ residence class visa holder has lost his/her original passport and the individual wants to have the label of residence class visa in the new passport; OR
• If a residence class visa holder is applying for NZ citizenship by lodging a file with the Department of Internal affairs; OR
• If an individual never obtained a visa/permit on arrival in New Zealand; OR
• In an individual holds a permit granted under the Immigration Act 1964 or the Immigration Act 1987.

New Zealand residence class visa applicants who arrived the country before April 2, 1974 in an intention to obtain permanent residency, however, did not receive residence permits and who need to satisfy the INZ that they are deemed to hold a resident visa under the Section 415 of the Immigration Act 2009, may have their resident visa confirmed under the following circumstances:

• If they were not issued a permit/entry authority under the Immigration Act 1964 or any earlier corresponding Act; AND
• If they have been in the Kiwi country from April 2, 1974 continuously and until at least October 31, 1987. However, exceptions of any period of time spent in the- (a) the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau; or (b) Australia, only if during any such period they were Commonwealth citizens, the Republic of Ireland citizens, and were allowed to live in either New Zealand or Australia without regulations being applied.
• If they were in the Kiwi country at midnight on October 31, 1987; AND
• If they were exempt from the clause of having to hold a residence permit under the Immigration Act 1987.

Note: Individuals holding or are deemed to hold a New Zealand residence class visa may also be required to transfer their visa, in case their passport containing the residence class visa approaches its expiry date or the passport already past its expiry date, and they wish to have the evidence of their immigration status in their new passport.

If you are interested in applying for a residence permit to New Zealand, mail following information ASAP at ajay@abhinav.com for a free of charge assessment by Ajay Sharma, principal consultant, ABHINAV.

• Your updated resume if skilled professional, or if businessmen, then brief on business profile along with information on your current personal net worth.
• If married, provide the resume for your spouse as well.
• If applicable, please provide information on children and their age.
• Information on any blood relatives residing in New Zealand. This is not a compulsory requirement to qualify for immigration to New Zealand, but serves as additional positive assessment and suitability factor.