Restriction of Compassionate Border Entry Exceptions

Policy effect

Amended border exception instructions under Critical Purpose Visas to specify that compassionate entry requires exceptional familial or medical grounds inside New Zealand, explicitly excluding general humanitarian crises occurring outside New Zealand from compassionate consideration.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: Amended border exception instructions under Critical Purpose Visas to specify that compassionate entry requires exceptional familial or medical grounds inside New Zealand, explicitly excluding general humanitarian crises occurring outside New Zealand from compassionate consideration.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

Appendix 1: Amendments to Restricted Temporary Entry instructions effective on and after 29 November 2021 … The compassionate entry exception criteria sets out exceptional family and medical-related reasons for travel, and confirms that a humanitarian crisis occurring outside of New Zealand is not relevant to the determination of a request to travel to New Zealand. … People who meet compassionate entry requirements, or who hold a valid invitation to apply based on previous humanitarian requirements (H5.30.25). … A person meets the compassionate entry requirements if there are exceptional circumstances of a familial (see H5.30.25.1) or medical (see H5.30.25.5) nature which make it critical for that person to urgently travel to and enter New Zealand specifically, over and above any other country. … When determining whether an applicant meets the compassionate entry requirements, factors that are not considered relevant include whether: i. the applicant has been affected by a humanitarian crisis occurring outside of New Zealand ii. an application, sponsorship registration, or Expression of Interest for a New Zealand visa has been made. … Where a person is applying on compassionate entry grounds because they require medical treatment in New Zealand, that person must have the support of the Ministry of Health or a District Health Board. Where the applicant can reasonably delay, or otherwise obtain treatment outside of New Zealand, an exception will not be granted.

Review method

Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite extraction with independent Gemini 3.8 Flash verification

Other New Zealand changes operative in 2021

• 2021-04-27Prioritisation Rules for Onshore and Quarantine-Free Travel (QFT) Zone Visa Processing
• 2021-05-07Temporary-visa applications allowed from former quarantine-free travel zones
• 2021-05-24Exclusion of Overnight Hours from Wage Calculations for Essential Skills and SMC Visas (Amendment Circular No. 2021-15)
• 2021-10-31Closure of Talent and Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visas