Critical Purpose Visa NZ - A Great Immigration Option During COVID 19

If you had to enter NZ with an urgent need, then this was the “go-to” visa. Read ahead to know more about it.

The Critical Purpose Visitor Visa is a temporary entry class visa that allows entry to a person because they have a "critical purpose" to visit New Zealand.

With a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa, you could have gained access to New Zealand despite its closed borders.

That being said, a Critical purpose visa is no longer an immigration option provided by NZ immigration.

The borders are now open, and there are different visa options that one can opt for.

To apply for a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa, you must have had a critical purpose for visiting New Zealand. This could include critical medical treatment, business meetings, or essential support to immediate family members.

Who was Allowed to Apply for it?

The critical purpose visa allowed critical workers and their families to travel to New Zealand if they met the following requirements:

  • You had a critical purpose for travel that was essential to New Zealand's economic recovery from the pandemic
  • You were sponsored by a New Zealand employer or government agency
  • You met health, character, and other requirements of the immigration NZ
  • On humanitarian grounds - Like you had someone that needed care here in NZ
  • You belonged to Samoa or Tonga - The government had arrangements for entry with these two nations
  • You were a student visa holder
  • You were part of a ship crew that arrived on NZ shores

What were the Benefits of a Critical Purpose Visa?

The critical purpose visa allowed people to come to New Zealand and make an essential contribution to our economic recovery.

It also helped keep New Zealand's critical infrastructure operating during a time of the global pandemic.

How was an Application Made for this Visa?

You could apply for a critical purpose visa if you met the requirements and had a critical purpose for travel. The critical purpose visa was a temporary entry class visa that allowed people to travel to New Zealand for a critical purpose.

If you had a critical purpose for travel, you could apply for a critical purpose visa.

The application process was the usual one and started with an expression of interest; one would receive an invitation from the immigration department to apply for a critical purpose visa NZ.

Once the invitation for the critical purpose visitor visa NZ was received, the person had to apply using the laid down procedure and pay the relevant fee.

Expression of Interest Application for Critical Purpose Visitor Visa NZ

This process starts once you apply for an expression of interest. EOI begins with submitting the details online shortly after one receives a link for the critical purpose visa NZ application.

This step is only processed if the person applying has entered and furnished all the requisite information as per the process. Here one should explicitly mention the criterion under which they are eligible to apply for a Critical purpose visitor visa. That's why assistance from a professional immigration adviser Auckland was pretty handy in helping those who needed to be in the country on a priority.

What Next?

Once those applying for this visa had their EOI cleared, certain elements needed to be taken care of. For example, if they were an existing visa holder, applying for a variation in conditions was a mandate. If they did not hold any visa, then applying for a fresh one was apt to consider.

What were the Fees Involved?

The critical purpose visitor visa fees were $380 for the main applicant and $190 per adult dependent for variations. The critical purpose visa allowed people to travel to New Zealand for a critical purpose. If you had a critical purpose for travel, you could have applied for a critical purpose visa NZ.

Processing Time for Critical Purpose Visitor Visa

It generally took about five days for critical purpose visas to be processed.

Changes in the Critical Purpose Visitor Visa

The critical purpose visa was a temporary entry class visa that allowed people to travel to New Zealand for a critical purpose. The critical purpose visa is now defunct and replaced by other better immigration options.

Conclusion

Critical purpose visa was a great initiative by New Zealand's government to help people in critical professions to enter the country and contribute to its economic recovery. The critical purpose visa allowed people to come to New Zealand and make an essential contribution to our economic recovery. It also helped keep New Zealand's critical infrastructure operating during a crisis.

If you wish to join the ever-growing NZ workforce, you can take several other immigration pathways. Talk to an experienced licensed Immigration Adviser Auckland today and get started on your journey to New Zealand!

Book a Free Consultation

Book a Free Consultation