Reclaiming airfares and expenses

At a glance

Anyone included in a residence class visa application must repay all INZ removal, deportation, or repatriation costs before a visa can be granted. [R5.25]

Definition

• If an applicant for a residence class visa has been previously removed, deported, or repatriated from New Zealand, no visa may be granted to any person included in the application until all expenses incurred by Immigration New Zealand for that removal, deportation, or repatriation are repaid. [R5.25]
• Any approval in principle letter must include the repayment requirement and state the amount to be repaid. [R5.25]

Application in decisions

This bar applies at the point of final visa grant. An immigration officer must verify that any outstanding INZ removal costs have been repaid before approving a residence class visa. The approval in principle letter serves as the formal notification of the debt and the obligation to repay. [R5.25]

Interpretation & edge cases

• Scope of “expenses”: The manual does not define the specific costs covered; they typically include airfares, escort costs, and other direct expenses of removal or deportation. INZ must provide the exact amount in the approval in principle letter. [R5.25]
• Effect on entire application: The bar applies to all persons included in the residence application, not just the individual who was removed. Therefore, a partner or dependent cannot be granted a visa if the principal applicant (or another included person) has unpaid removal costs. [R5.25]
• No waiver: The requirement is mandatory; there is no provision for waiver or reduction.
• Absence of AIP letter: If an application is processed without an approval in principle letter, the obligation to repay still exists, but the letter is the mechanism for notifying the amount. In practice, INZ would not grant a visa until repayment is confirmed. [R5.25]

Citations

• R5.25 — Reclaiming airfares and expenses