Under section 57(3) of the Immigration Act 2009 (“Act”), and the power delegated to me as the Minister of Immigration, on 11 December 2025, I make the following special direction:

1. I waive, by special direction, for the class of persons described in paragraph 2 below, the following prescribed requirements to make an application for a military visa:
   1. the requirement for an application to be made on the approved form under regulation 10(2)(a) of the Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission and Related Matters) Regulations 2010 (“Regulations”);
   2. the requirement for an application to be signed by the applicant under regulation 10(2)(d) of the Regulations; and
   3. the requirement for the application to be given to an immigration officer together with certain material under regulation 10(2)(e) of the Regulations.

2. The class of persons to whom this special direction applies are the members of the Singaporean Armed Forces personnel who are to take place in Exercise Thunder Warrior 2026 in New Zealand at the invitation of the New Zealand Defence Force between December 2025 and February 2026.

This special direction came into force on 12 December 2025 and expires at the end of February 2026 unless revoked earlier.

In making this special direction, I certify that:

1. I consider that the exercise of the power to make this special direction is reasonably necessary to respond to circumstances that pose a challenge to the immigration system;
2. I consider that the exercise of the power to make the special direction in this particular situation will not disadvantage the class of persons to whom it applies; and
3. Immigration New Zealand, on my behalf, have undertaken consultation which I consider to be appropriate in this particular situation.

Dated this 12th day of December 2025.

Hon ERICA STANFORD, Minister of Immigration.

Explanatory Note

The effect of this special direction is to waive a number of requirements for a group of approximately 450 Singaporean military personnel so they do not need to apply individually for individual military visas to come to New Zealand.

The Singaporean nationals are planning to conduct a defence exercise - Exercise Thunder Warrior 2026 - with the New Zealand Defence Force until February next year.

Exercise Thunder Warrior 2026 will take place at Waiouru Military Camp and demonstrates the importance of New Zealand’s defence ties with Singapore.

The first group of Singaporean nationals is due to arrive on 29 December 2025.