Q. 1. How do we lodge our application for a visa? What is TTS and what is its role?
Q. 2. Is it possible to visit the Immigration New Zealand officer personally for clarifications?
Q. 3. Can we collect our passports personally?
Q. 4. What are the processing times for the different types of visa applications?
Q. 5. What documents should I lodge with my visa application (visitor, work, student, residence)
Q. 6. Do you have a list of approved agents or consultants?
Q. 7. How much money should I carry with me if I am travelling to NZ on a holiday?
Q. 8. Where can I get my medical reports completed?
Q. 9. How can we apply for extension of visas?
Q. 10. Is a confirmed ticket or a return ticket required for applying for a visitor visa?
Q. 11. What does outward passage/ funds waived mean?
Q. 12. What is the maximum duration of a visitor visa?
Q. 13. Do we need to pay a different processing fee for a longer validity visitor visa?
Q. 14. Is there a different fee charged for urgent processing of applications?
Q. 15. My family and I have been issued visitor/ residence visas together which are valid for the same period of time.
Do we all need to travel at the same time?
Q. 16. What is a group visa?
Q. 17. What is the minimum number of people required to lodge a group visa?
Q. 18. Do we need to complete the usual visa application forms for a group visa?
Q. 19. Do we need to pay for the return of our documents lodged via TT Services?
Q. 20. Who does not need a visa?
Q. 21. When should we apply for a transfer of visa?
Q. 22. What are the provisions for taking a pet along?
Q. 23. What is a transit visa?
Q. 24. Under the new transit visa policy do I need a transit visa?
Q. 25. If I require a transit visa, where do I apply for one?
Q.1. How do we lodge our application for a visa? What is TTS and what is its role?
Immigration New Zealand has an agreement with TT Service to provide a fixed price, secure delivery service to bring applications safely and reliably to and from the Immigration New Zealand branch in Moscow for processing. TT Services visa centres in Moscow and St Petersburg, and drop off points will be available in Vladivostok and Siberia by 1 July 2010. TTS service centres and drop off points are open from 9:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday excluding public and New Zealand Embassy holidays. TTS Centre provide access to current Immigration forms an pamphlets free of charge and can provide answers to general questions about these documents.
TTS is responsible for the following on behalf of Immigration New Zealand:
• collecting all types of visa applications and confirming and recording the documents entrusted to them for delivery;
• accepting the application processing fee on behalf of Immigration New Zealand
• returning dispatches from Immigration New Zealand, including passports for customers who used TTS delivery
If you wish to lodge an application for visa or provide additional information for your application already with Immigration New Zealand, contact our TTS office, the address of which are given below. Any application received by TTS office in Moscow by end of business hours reaches Immigration New Zealand the next working day.
For information on TTS offices click on Contact us link on the home page.
Q. 2. Is it possible to visit the Immigration New Zealand officer personally for clarifications?
Personal visits by applicants is by appointment only. If you need clarification on policy matters please visit the Immigration New Zealand website www.immigration.govt.nz or call Immigration New Zealand’s immigration line (495) 956 2642.
Q. 3. Can we collect our passports personally?
Passports can be collected personally by individuals . Personal visits at INZ Moscow by applicants is by appointment only. TTS provides the airway bill number at the time of lodgement of application which can be used to track your passport on the TTS website.
Q. 4. What are the processing times for the different types of visa applications?
For information please click on http://www.immigration.govt.nz/branch/MoscowBranchHome/timeframes.htm
Q. 5. What documents should I lodge with my visa application (visitor, work, student, residence)
Please visit the Immigration New Zealand Moscow website for detailed information on visa requirements:
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/branch/MoscowBranchHome/Checklists/
Q. 6. Do you have a list of approved agents or consultants?
There are a number of Tour Operators and Student agents who are members of Immigration New Zealand Moscow’s Trusted Agent Scheme These agents are able to lodge applications for visitor or student visas on behalf of their clients. Immigration New Zealand also accepts applications directly from clients or through their authorised representatives.
Q. 7. How much money should I carry with me if I am travelling to NZ on a holiday?
The approximate living expense in New Zealand amounts to NZ$1000 per person per month.
Q. 8. Where can I get my medical reports completed?
Medical reports completed on the Immigration New Zealand prescribed form completed by a Immigration New Zealand panel doctor are the only acceptable reports. Please note that reports from your family doctor or any other doctor not on the Immigration New Zealand panel of doctors is not acceptable. A list of panel doctors can be obtained from
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/branch/MoscowBranchHome/paneldoctors.htm or
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/live/partner/LinkAdministration/ToolboxLinks/PanelDoctors.htm?level=1
Q. 9. How can we apply for extension of visas?
You should travel to New Zealand within the validity of your visa. If you are unable to do so, you must lodge a fresh application along with the processing fee and all pertinent information to obtain a fresh visa.
For holders of residence visas, if there are extenuating circumstances as a result of which you are unable to travel, contact the Immigration New Zealand office with all the details. A decision is taken on a case by case basis.
Q. 10. Is a confirmed ticket or a return ticket required for applying for a visitor visa?
An original travel ticket does not need to be submitted along with the visa application. However, Immigration New Zealand will need to sight a copy of your travel itinerary and or bookings.
Q. 11. What does outward passage/ funds waived mean?
If your visa label states Outward Passage Waived or Funds Waived then you will not be required to show evidence of return journey or evidence of funds at the airport. However, if these are not waived you will be required to carry a return ticket and sufficient funds to meet the expenses of your visit to New Zealand.
Q. 12. What is the maximum duration of a visitor visa?
On a visitor visa the maximum allowable stay is 9 months. The visa is normally valid for 1 to 6 months. Business persons travelling to New Zealand frequently for business purposes may be issued multiple entry visitor visa for one valid for a maximum period of stay of 3 months in total.
Q. 13. Do we need to pay a different processing fee for a longer validity visitor visa?
No additional fee is chargeable for a longer validity. Please note that the validity of the visa is at the discretion of the processing officer.
Q. 14. Is there a different fee charged for urgent processing of applications?
There is no fee for an urgent processing. If you have an emergency please contact INZ office Moscow.
Q. 15. My family and I have been issued visitor/ residence visas together which are valid for the same period of time. Do we all need to travel at the same time?
No, the entire family does not need to travel at the same time, however everyone needs to enter New Zealand before the validity of their visas expire.
Q. 16. What is a group visa?
A group visa is a single visa issued to a group of people travelling to New Zealand for the same purpose and they will be entering New Zealand together. The group members do not get visa labels endorsed on their individual passports. The visa is instead pasted on the group visa form which contains the names of all the group members. Each member of the group will however get their passports endorsed with a permit on arrival in New Zealand.
Q. 17. What is the minimum number of people required to lodge a group visa?
Groups sizes vary from 5 to 14 members. If there are more than 14 members separate group visa forms need to submitted.
Q. 18. Do we need to complete the usual visa application forms for a group visa?
Yes, the normal visa application forms need to be completed along with the group visa form on which the label will be issued.
Q. 19. Do we need to pay for the return of our documents lodged via TT Services?
There are no additional charges for return of documents. Documents are usually returned by courier or as requested.
Q.20. Who does not need a visa?
Please refer to the Immigration New Zealand website to obtain information on visa free visitors: www.immigration.govt.nz
Q. 21. When should we apply for a transfer of visa?
If your passport has a valid New Zealand visa and has expired, you must apply for your visa to be transferred from the old passport to the new passport. Please submit your old and new passport along with the current processing fee.
Q. 22. What are the provisions for taking a pet along?
Visit http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/settlementpack/onarrival/BeforeYouLeave/Pets.htm for information.
Q.23. What is a transit visa?
Transit visas are only for people who will be in New Zealand for less than 24 hours and will not leave the transit area of the airport. If you will be in New Zealand for more than 24 hours or want to leave the transit area, you will need a visitor’s visa.
Q.24. Under the new transit visa policy do I need a transit visa?
You will require a transit visa unless:
• you are from a country on our list of visa-free countries (the list can be found on our website
www.immigration.govt.nz/visafree or in Section E2.1.5 of our Operational Policy Manual), or
• you are a citizen of Australia, or
• your immediate or final destination after New Zealand is Australia, and you hold a current visa allowing you to travel to Australia, or
• you have a current visa allowing you to travel to New Zealand, or
• you are from one of the following countries which are exempt from transit visa requirements.
| Bahamas |
Republic of Marshall Islands |
| Bermuda |
Samoa |
| Federated States of Micronesia |
Solomon Islands |
| Kiribati |
Tonga |
| Nauru |
Tuvalu |
| Palau |
Vanuatu |
| Papua New Guinea |
|
Q.25. If I require a transit visa, where do I apply for one?
The list of receiving offices for applications can be found at Appendix 4 of the Operational Manual or you can visit our website at www.immigration.govt.nz/fees and use our office and fee finder to find your nearest branch office or to calculate our fees.