Apply for a UK visa in New Zealand

Visa service closures in December 2016 and January 2017

The UK Visas and Immigration biometric enrolment centres in Christchurch and Wellington will be closed from 23 December 2016 to 5 January 2017. The Auckland office will be open on 23 and 28 to 30 December 2016.

All offices will be open as normal from 6 January 2017. You should allow additional time for the processing of your visa application during this period.

New Zealand Post often experiences delays during December, so customers are advised to apply for their visa as early as possible at this time, but no more than 3 months before their intended arrival date in the UK.

What does this mean for me?

Processing times do not include transit time to and from the decision making hub in Manila. The transit time each way is generally 3 working days, but it can be longer over this holiday period. We have no control over delays in New Zealand Post and this may have an impact on the processing time for individual applications.

If you apply for a non-settlement visa using the 15 working day standard service, you should post your application before 24 November 2016.

If you apply for a non-settlement visa using the 4- 5 working day priority service, you should post your application before 9 December 2016.

If you apply for a settlement visa using the 10 working day settlement priority service, you should post your application before 2 December 2016.

If you apply after these dates, the decision is not likely to be made until after the holiday closures in the New Year.

Apply

To apply for a UK visa in New Zealand you need to:

• apply online
• pay your fee
• go to your appointment to enrol your biometrics
• post your application

Pay your fee

Follow the instructions when you apply online to pay your visa fee. If you wish to use the priority visa service, you will be required to pay an additional fee.

Priority visa service

You can pay an additional fee to fast track your application and have your visa application placed at the front of the processing queue. This service is available for all visa categories.

Using the priority visa service is optional and does not imply or guarantee that a visa application will be successful. All visa applicants must meet the requirements of the UK Immigration Rules. The fee for the priority visa service and the visa application fee are not refundable if your visa application is refused.

Fees

The priority visa service fee is £360 for the 10 working day settlement priority service and £120 for the 5 working day service for all other applications.

You should bring your priority visa service receipt with you when you visit the biometric enrolment centre and attach it to the front of your application when you post it.

Priority visa service processing times

We aim to process all non-settlement priority visa service applications made in New Zealand within 5 working days and all settlement applications made in New Zealand within 10 working days of receipt at our application processing centre in Manila, The Philippines.

The processing time does not include transit to and from our centre in Manila. This will vary depending on your postal address.

Your application may take longer if you:

• do not include the priority service receipt with your application, or you submit it afterwards. Please ensure this receipt is stapled to the front of the application form
• are a dual national
• have previously been refused a visa for the UK
• have previously been refused leave to enter the UK
• have previously been deported, removed, or otherwise required to leave the UK
• have overstayed a period of leave in the UK
• have previously been refused a visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United States of America or the Schengen countries
• have been convicted of a criminal offence in any country
• do not submit all relevant documentation with your application

Go to your appointment

You will be prompted to book an appointment to have your photo and fingerprints (known as ‘biometric information’) taken when you apply online.

You can choose any of the 3 appointment centre locations in New Zealand for your appointment. You should only attend these centres if you have booked an appointment online when making your application. Our staff in these centres cannot help with advice or provide you with updates on a visa application.

• Immigration New Zealand Level 4, 280 Queen Street, Auckland
• Wellington Immigration New Zealand Level 2, Kordia House 109-125 Willis Street, Wellington
• Christchurch Immigration New Zealand 110 Wrights Road, Addington, Christchurch

Biometric residence permits

Biometric residence permits (BRPs) are issued for non European Economic Area (EEA) nationals travelling to the UK for more than 6 months, with the exception of those applying under an exempt category or those applying for a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode, or for any visa valid for 6 months or less.

BRPs are collected in the UK, and applicants are issued with a 30 day visa which allows entry to the UK to collect the BRP.

If your application is successful, the visa will be endorsed in your passport and you will be issued with a letter providing details of where to collect your BRP.

If you are applying to go on holiday, a short business or study trip, an EEA family permit or for a period of less than 6 months, you will not need a BRP. There is no additional fee and the visa application fee remains the same.

Travelling to the UK

You should not apply more than 3 months before your intended travel date.

You must provide an accurate travel date as part of your application, as you will be given a 30 day travel window on the basis of the information provided in the application form. Please make sure you know the date you will travel to the UK before you apply.

Your temporary visa will only be valid for 30 days once you receive it and you will need to travel within this period. If you receive your temporary sticker and can’t travel during the 30 day window, you will need to apply for a vignette transfer.

Apply for a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode

Whether you are applying for a new certificate of entitlement to the right of abode, or replacing an expired one, you need to follow the same application process online. You will not be prompted to make an appointment to enrol your biometric data, but you should follow the rest of the instructions. You may still use the priority visa service if you wish.

Apply for an exempt diplomatic visa

If you are being posted to work at the New Zealand High Commission in the UK, you should make an application online and apply under exempt: diplomatic posting to the UK.

If you have any dependants, they should apply under exempt: diplomatic posting to the UK (dependants). You will not be prompted to book an appointment or charged a fee.

When you post your signed copy of the application form, please ensure you include your official or diplomatic passport, a current passport photo, a third party note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and a self- addressed return envelope.

Each dependant is required to make a separate application. Those applying for dependants under 5 may be prompted to book an appointment, but there is no need to attend. Their names should be included in the third party note.

Copies of relevant birth certificates for accompanying children, marriage certificates for spouses or a letter from MFAT to show you are recognised as a same-sex or de facto couple should be included in the application. Dependants in a de facto relationship are not exempt and may have to enrol biometric data. You will be contacted if this applies to you after you make the application.

Apply for an exempt visa as a member of the armed forces

If you are going on a course or a posting to work as a member of the New Zealand armed forces in the UK, you should make an application online and apply under exempt: Member of UK or visiting forces.

If you have any dependants, they should apply under exempt: member of UK or visiting forces (dependant).

The main applicant is exempt from immigration control and does not have to enrol biometric data or pay a fee. When you post your signed copy of the printed application form you should include a third party note, your postings notice, your official passport, a passport photo and a self-addressed return envelope.

Dependants are not exempt from Immigration control, even though the form suggests this. Dependants will not need to enrol their biometric data unless the main applicant is going on a course. Dependants of members of the armed forces are not exempt from immigration control.

Dependants of military personnel of NATO and Commonwealth countries posted for service in the UK are exempt from the requirement to provide biometric information as a matter of policy. This exemption does not apply when the applicant is a dependant of a forces member coming to the UK for training.

When you send in the application, please ensure that you include your application form, passport, a current passport photo, birth certificates for children, marriage certificates if applicable, or evidence to show you have been living as unmarried partners for a minimum of 2 years. This also applies to same-sex or heterosexual couples.

Apply for a visa for some Commonwealth countries and British overseas territories

You can apply for a visa if you want to travel to some Commonwealth countries and British overseas territories. If you are travelling to a Commonwealth country or a British overseas territory, you must complete a visa application form online.

Contact us

 

Get in touch with us on info@icslegal.com or call us on 0207 237 3388.