South African citizenship-based visitor travel visa waiver removed

Policy effect

From November 21, 2016, South Africa was removed from the citizenship-based visa-waiver list for travel to New Zealand. South African citizenship no longer provided that exemption from holding a visa permitting travel for a qualifying short visit. A person who qualified under another waiver category could still rely on that separate category.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

016/0237/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM3148100#DLM3148100) (the **principal regulations)**. ##### 4 Schedule 2 amended (1) In [Schedule 2](https://classic.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2016/0237/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM3148162#DLM3148162), after item 8(32), insert: ##### (32A) Mauritius, Republic of: (2) In [Schedule 2](https://classic.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2016/0237/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM3148162#DLM3148162), after item 8(43), insert: ##### (43A) Seychelles, Republic of: (3) In [Schedule 2](https://classic.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2016/0237/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM … 3148162#DLM3148162), revoke item 8(47). ##### 5 Schedule 4 amended (1) In [Schedule 4](https://classic.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2016/0237/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM3463818#DLM3463818), under the heading "“*Temporary visa—visitor visa*”", item relating to Temporary visa application—visitor visa (hard copy),— ##### (a) replace "“151”" with "“170”" in each place; and ##### (b) replace "“116”" with "“135”". (2) In [Schedule 4](https://classic.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2016/0237/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM3463818#DLM3463818), under the heading "“*Temporary visa—visitor visa*”", it … gulation/public/2016/0237/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM3148162#DLM3148162) and [4](https://classic.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2016/0237/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM3463818#DLM3463818) of the Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010 (the **principal regulations**). Schedule 2 of the principal regulations identifies certain people for whom the requirement to obtain a transit visa, or to hold a visa permitting travel to New Zealand, is waived. The amendments to item 8 of Schedule 2 add citizens of the Republic of Mauritius and citizens of the Republic of Seychell … es, and delete citizens of the Republic of South Africa. Schedule 4 of the principal regulations sets out the fees for various matters. The amendments simplify the description of 2 of the matters, and adjust several fees. ### Regulatory impact statement The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment produced a regulatory impact statement on 2 September 2015 to help inform the decisions taken by the Government relating to the fees content of this instrument. A copy of this regulatory impact statement can be found at— - http://www.mbie.govt.nz/publications-research/publications/immigration … [Schedule 2 amended](#DLM6970521) | | | | [5](#DLM6970522) | [Schedule 4 amended](#DLM6970522) | | | | | [Explanatory note](#DLM6970524) | | | | | [Administrative Information](#d56e320) | | | ## Regulations ##### 1 Title These regulations are the Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Amendment Regulations 2016. ##### 2 Commencement These regulations come into force on 21 November 2016. ##### 3 Principal regulations These regulations amend the [Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010](https://classic.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2 …

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other New Zealand changes operative in 2016

• 2016-02-04Pathway English-course 16-week limit narrowed to specified applicants
• 2016-02-04Pathway Student Visa English-test requirement narrowed by country decline rate
• 2016-10-12Capped Family allocation set at 4,000 places for the two-year residence programme
• 2016-10-12Immigration New Zealand Operational Manual
• 2016-10-12Skilled Migrant automatic EOI selection threshold set at 160 points
• 2016-10-12Skilled Migrant English-language evidence alternatives tightened
• 2016-11-21Establishment of the Global Impact Visa (GIVs) Pilot Programme
• 2016-11-21Visa waiver extended to citizens of Mauritius and Seychelles
• 2016-12-09Student visa provision introduced for qualifications delayed by NZQA intervention