Notice Type
Departmental
Notice Title

Special Direction—Waiver of the Prescribed Fees for Employer Requests and Visa Applications Related to the Antarctic Programme (a Government to Government Agreement Under the COVID-19 Support Restricted Temporary Entry Instructions)

Pursuant to section 57(3) of the Immigration Act 2009, I waive by special direction the following application requirements under the Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010 (the Regulations):

  1. The Regulation 14A(b) requirement for the payment of the prescribed fee is waived for the employer or organisation making a request under the COVID-19 Support Restricted Temporary Entry Instructions for an approval in principle for a person to travel to New Zealand on the basis of their involvement in the Antarctic Programme.
  2. The Regulation 10(2)(f)(i) and (ii) requirements for the payment of the prescribed fee and immigration levy are waived for those workers who are invited to apply for a visa under the COVID-19 Support Restricted Temporary Entry instructions on the basis of their involvement in the Antarctic Programme.

I am satisfied that the making of this special direction is reasonably necessary to manage the effects, or deal with the consequences of, the outbreak of COVID-19, because it will ensure that people travelling under the auspices of a contracting party to the Antarctic Treaty can qualify for an exception to the border restrictions and make an application for a visa without they or their employer or organisation making a request on their behalf being required to pay any fees. This fee waiver is consistent with pre-COVID-19 settings and reflects various international cooperation arrangements which require New Zealand to facilitate the travel of Antarctic Treaty travellers.

This special direction expires 12 months from 15 May 2020 unless cancelled earlier.

Dated this 3rd day of September 2020.

Hon KRIS FAAFOI, Minister of Immigration.

Explanatory Note

The effect of this special direction is to waive the fees for an employer request for an exception to the border restrictions and any subsequent visa application and immigration levy in order to meet New Zealand’s international arrangements in relation to persons associated with the Antarctic Treaty programme.