Good character
To grant you a New Zealand visa we need to be assured that you and any family included in your application are of good character. We make this requirement to protect the well being and security of New Zealanders.
Under sections 15 and 16 of the Immigration Act we will not grant you a visa if:
you have been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for 5 years or more (this applies even if any of your offences have later been taken off the record)
in the past 10 years you were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for 12 months or more
you are subject to a period of prohibition on entry to New Zealand under section 179 or 180 of the Immigration Act 2009
you have been deported or removed from New Zealand under any enactment (whether before or after the commencement of the Immigration Act 2009)
you are excluded from New Zealand under any enactment
you have, at any time, been removed, excluded, or deported from another country
you have been involved in terrorist activities, or belonged to or supported any organisation involved in terrorist activities
it is believed you are likely to commit – or to assist others to commit – criminal or drug offences, or an act of terrorism, in New Zealand
it is believed you are likely – due to any international circumstances – to be a danger to New Zealand’s security or public order
it is believed you are associated with an organisation or group that has criminal objectives or is engaged in criminal activities and for that – or any other reason – you’re considered to be a threat to the public interest or public order of New Zealand.
We carry out character checks on everyone 17 years or over included in residence applications or applying for temporary entry for 24 months or longer. We may also undertake a character check on anyone else that we consider may not meet our character requirements.
Confusion regarding Section 15
