Policy verified from immigration.govt.nz as of 2026-04-13
Immigration New Zealand requires all visa applicants to be of good character. Character issues can include criminal convictions, pending investigations, providing false information, past overstaying, or deportation from any country. Applicants may address these through a Character Waiver or Special Direction depending on severity.
Source: immigration.govt.nz — 2026-04-13
What Are Character Issues?
Immigration New Zealand requires all visa applicants to be of good character. Character issues include:
- Criminal convictions, including those that have expired in your home country
- Arrests or investigations still pending
- Providing false or misleading information on visa applications
- Failing to notify INZ of changed circumstances during processing
- Past visa overstaying or deportation from any country
- Exploitation of migrant workers
- Breaching sponsorship requirements
Two Pathways
Character Waiver — Less Serious Issues
For less serious character concerns, you can apply for a Character Waiver. You need to demonstrate to INZ that despite your past conviction or issue, you meet the good character requirements. This typically involves evidence of rehabilitation, references, and a strong explanation of your circumstances.
Special Direction — Serious Issues
For serious character concerns, a Special Direction from the Minister is required. This applies to:
- Removal, exclusion, or deportation from any country
- A sentence of 5 or more years imprisonment
- A sentence of more than 1 year in the last 10 years
- A ban on entering New Zealand
- Being a threat to public order, interest, or security
How to Address Character Issues
- Make a strong case — Explain the background, why it occurred, and what you have done since
- Provide evidence — Court records, character testimonials, rehabilitation evidence
- Be completely honest — Misleading information will seriously damage your application
- Reference relevant law — Your response must address specific character requirements
- Meet strict deadlines — INZ timeframes cannot be extended
How ProVisas Helps
- We determine whether you need a Character Waiver or Special Direction
- We assess your realistic chances of success — honest answers from day one
- We gather and organise the right evidence and references
- We draft a compelling response addressing each concern
- We meet all deadlines and procedural requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Character issues include criminal convictions (even expired ones), pending arrests or investigations, providing false information on visa applications, past visa overstaying or deportation from any country, and exploitation of migrant workers.
Having a criminal record does not automatically disqualify you. Depending on severity, you may be able to obtain a Character Waiver (for less serious issues) or a Special Direction (for serious issues). ProVisas assesses your specific situation.
A Character Waiver is for less serious character issues — you demonstrate rehabilitation and good character despite past convictions. A Special Direction is for serious issues like deportation from another country, sentences of 5+ years, or being a security threat.
You need evidence of rehabilitation, character references, court records, testimonials, and a strong written explanation of your circumstances and what has changed since the incident.
Fees depend on complexity and whether you need a Character Waiver or Special Direction. ProVisas provides a fixed-fee quote after your initial assessment — no surprises.
