A guide for applicants in Pakistan and Iran applying under Partnership categories

 Thank you for your interest in visiting or working in New Zealand.  This checklist has been designed to assist you when lodging your application for a Visitor / Work Visa with Immigration New Zealand in Bangkok.  Application forms and other forms can be downloaded and other relevant information may be found from our website: www.immigration.govt.nz

 Important

It is important that you provide all the relevant information requested below so we can accept and process your application promptly.  If any of the following are not received, the application will be rejected and returned to you unprocessed.

 You should note that if you provide false, misleading or inaccurate information, this may result in your application being declined.

 Documents Required

1.      Fully completed “Application for Visiting New Zealand” (NZIS Form 1017) or “Application to Work in New Zealand” (NZIS Form 1015).

 2.      A recent passport sized photograph attached to the application form.

 3.      Application fee

Fees are dependant on the type of application you are making.  If you are applying for a visitor visa on partnership grounds the application fee is Thai Baht 2,900.  If you are applying for a work visa on partnership grounds the fee is 4,800 Thai Baht.    Please note that the fees are a processing fee and are NON-REFUNDABLE regardless of the outcome of your visa application.

 Acceptable modes of payment include cashier cheque (when applying in person), bank draft payable to the “New Zealand Immigration Service” or credit card (Master Card/ Visa Card). 

 Payment may also be made by USD bank draft only of USD 90 (visitor) & 140 (work) (including bank clearance fees of USD 10).  

 Cash is NOT accepted by this office.

4.      Original passport or certified copy.  NB if you live in a country where it is illegal to send the passport offshore please provide a full copy (every page) rather than the original document.

5.      Evidence of your immigration status in the country where you are currently residing, if it is not your country of citizenship (e.g. work permit, student permit, permanent residence, etc).

6.      Your travel itinerary and flight bookings (if you intend staying less than one year.)

7.      Evidence that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay.  The minimum funds required is NZ$1,000 per person per month of stay in New Zealand. This may be submitted in the form of bank statements in your own name. OR… (see 7.)

8.      If your visit is being sponsored by a New Zealand citizen/resident, a fully completed “Sponsorship Form for Visiting New Zealand” (NZIS Form 1025) signed and endorsed by your New Zealand sponsor.

9.      Evidence of any previous travel.

 For Partners of New Zealand Residents / New Zealand Citizens / Holders of Long Term Work Visa or Permit

1.      Certified true copy of marriage certificate (if applicable) and birth certificates of any children included in the application.

2.      Certified true copy of your partner’s New Zealand residence, citizenship or work visa / permit status.

3.      A written letter of support from your partner.

4.      Evidence that you and your partner intend living in New Zealand for the same period.

5.      A written statement outlining the history of your relationship and the reason why you and your partner choose to live in New Zealand.

6.      Evidence of your relationship, such as photographs of you and your partner together, documents indicating public recognition of the marriage, or partnership and/or wedding photos/video (where available), evidence of joint financial commitments and joint ownership of assets, and evidence of communication between you and your partner if you have been living apart. 

7.      Any other evidence to support that the relationship is genuine and stable and will be maintained on a long term and exclusive basis.

 Please note that unless you have lived with your partner in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 12 months your application cannot be approved on partnership grounds.  If you do not meet this ‘living together requirement’ you should apply for a general visitor or work visa.

 For visitors intending to stay longer than 6 months but less than12 months, the following additional documents are required:

A chest X-ray plate and Temporary Entry X-ray Certificate (NZIS Form 1096) if you hold a passport from a country not listed below as a low TB country and/or you have spent a combined total of three or more months in any one or more countries not listed below in the past five years prior to the application being made.  The certificate must be less than 3 months old when the application is lodged. 

The certificate needs to be completed by an Immigration New Zealand Panel Doctor.  Countries where we have nominated panel doctors include Pakistan and Iran as well as a number of other locations in the Middle East that it may be convenient for you to visit.  For a list of our panel doctors, please visit our website at www.immigration.govt.nz.  

Note: Pregnant women and children under the age of 11 are not required to have an X-ray examination.

 List of Low TB Incidence Countries:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, (New Zealand), Norway, Puerto Rico, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vatican City.

For visitors intending to stay longer than 12 months, the following additional documents are required:

 A Medical and X-ray Certificate Form (NZIS Form 1007) not more than 3 months old. 

The certificate needs to be completed by an Immigration New Zealand Panel Doctor.  Countries where we have nominated panel doctors include Pakistan and Iran as well as a number of other locations in the Middle East that it may be convenient for you to visit.  For a list of our panel doctors, please visit our website at www.immigration.govt.nz.  

Note: Pregnant women and children under the age of 11 are not required to have an X-ray examination.

For visitors intending to stay longer than 24 months, the following additional documents are required:

 Police clearance certificates from your country of citizenship and any other countries where you have resided for 5 years and more since you turned 17 years of age. These certificates must not be more than 6 months old and are only required from applicants aged 17 and above.

 Notes

1.      Immigration New Zealand reserves the right to request for additional information in the course of assessing an application.

2.      If original documents are in a language other than English, you should provide official English translations of these documents.

3.      Certified copies must be stamped or endorsed as being true copies of the originals by a person authorised by law to take statutory declarations.

 Endorsement of your Visa if you do not reside in Bangkok

·          Please note that in some countries, including Pakistan and Iran, there are restrictions on sending documents by courier.  Please ensure that you have checked your local laws before deciding to send your passport by courier.    It is our understanding that it is illegal to send a Pakistani passport within or out of the country by courier. 

·          If you wish to have your visa endorsed in your passport in person, we will work with you to make arrangements for your visa to be endorsed in your passport in Bangkok or another office if that is more convenient.

·          You may travel to Bangkok for the endorsement of your Visitor’s Visa in your passport after obtaining confirmation from this office that your application has been approved.  If you choose this option, you will only be required to submit certified true copies of your passport together with your application.  Please allow one working day to be in Bangkok for the endorsement of your visa.   To facilitate your travel to Bangkok we will issue you with a letter which confirms your visa application has been approved.  You will need to present this to support your application for a Thai visa.

 Return of other documents.

 If you wish the documents submitted with your application to be returned by courier rather than collecting them a courier fee will be payable.  The charges are:

Pakistan          850 Thai Baht or USD 20

Iran                1100 Thai Baht or USD 25

If you are paying the courier fee in US dollars separately to your application fee, please include an additional USD 10.00 in the total amount for bank charges.

Lodging your application

Your application may be submitted in person or via mail/courier to:

 Our office is open from 9am – 12pm and from 1.00pm to 3pm from Monday to Friday. 

PROCESSING TIME

Provided all documents are in place, Immigration New Zealand, Bangkok Branch will take approximately 45 days to process your application.  You will be advised if there is a reason why your application will take longer than this.