Has anyone ever been to New Zealand?

Can anyone offer some advice on entering New Zealand with a criminal record please?

• I'm trying to find out if it is worth me visiting my dad in new zealand but am worried how my past criminal record will affect entry, last offence i have in 2001 was for possession of 0.5 grams of cannabis and before that as a juvenile a few shoplifting/theft offences, how will they affect entry or as was suggested just not inform when asked on arrival to new zealand or will that just make matters worse if my record is found? My father is offering to pay for the trip as i am on disability benefits in uk and i will be staying with him but i am worried about wasting his money if there is a high chance of being denied entry to new zealand. i am 34 years old and a uk citizen on long term benefits.

• Answer:

  To enter NZ from the UK these are the requirements- Do you need a New Zealand Visa or permit if you come from the UK?If you are a British passport holder you do not need a New Zealand Visa for a stay in New Zealand of up to 6 months. Ireland has a visa waiver agreement with New Zealand. So if you are an Irish passport holder you do not need a New Zealand Visa for up to a 3 month stay You will still need to Show evidence of your onward travel arrangements Evidence that you can financially support yourself while in New Zealand (you will need approximately NZ$1000 per month per person) As for a criminal record DEFINITELY DISCLOSE IT. If you don't they will definitely throw you out of the country. Your best option is to contact immigration NZ- https://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/aboutnzis/contactus/. You can ask them about your case. It's a toll call for you, so if your Dad knows about your criminal record, he could ring on your behalf. This is what the website says about visiting. You must be of 'good character'. This is what they define as good character- Good character To grant you a New Zealand visa we need to be assured that you and any family included in your application are of good character. We make this requirement to protect the well being and security of New Zealanders. Under sections 15 and 16 of the Immigration Act we will not grant you a visa if: you have been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for 5 years or more (this applies even if any of your offences have later been taken off the record) in the past 10 years you were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for 12 months or more you are subject to a period of prohibition on entry to New Zealand under section 179 or 180 of the Immigration Act 2009 you have been deported or removed from New Zealand under any enactment (whether before or after the commencement of the Immigration Act 2009) you are excluded from New Zealand under any enactment you have, at any time, been removed, excluded, or deported from another country you have been involved in terrorist activities, or belonged to or supported any organisation involved in terrorist activities it is believed you are likely to commit – or to assist others to commit – criminal or drug offences, or an act of terrorism, in New Zealand it is believed you are likely – due to any international circumstances – to be a danger to New Zealand’s security or public order it is believed you are associated with an organisation or group that has criminal objectives or is engaged in criminal activities and for that – or any other reason – you’re considered to be a threat to the public interest or public order of New Zealand. We carry out character checks on everyone 17 years or over included in residence applications or applying for temporary entry for 24 months or longer. We may also undertake a character check on anyone else that we consider may not meet our character requirements. Providing evidence of good character If you are coming to New Zealand for 24 months or longer you'll have to provide police certificates as evidence of your good character. We need to see certificates for: everyone 17 years and over included in your application for residence everyone 17 years and over included in your application for a temporary visa for 24 months or longer. We need certificates from: your country of citizenship (unless you can prove you never lived there) and if you are applying for residence: any country you have been in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, whether in one or more visits. If you are already in New Zealand, for example, under our Work to Residence category, this includes obtaining a police certificate from the New Zealand police, or if you are applying for a temporary entry visa: any country you’ve lived in for 5 or more years since turning 17. If for some reason you cannot get a Police certicate, contact the Immigration New Zealand branch at which you will be lodging your application. I didn't read it, but you should. Also keep in mind you may not receive your disability benefits if you're overseas. ....