New Zealand Visa Rule: Mandatory English Translations from 2024

May 29, 2024

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will add a new requirement to all applications for guest visas. Now, supporting papers sent with applications must be in English or have certified translations with them if they were written in a language other than English.

Reason for the New Policy

This change is meant to speed up the visa application process by cutting down on the time needed to read papers written in languages other than English. Earlier, the need to translate these papers within the company had caused delays in the processing of visas.

Documents Need for Translation

Candidates must submit English translations of several supporting papers, such as, but not limited to: Bank bills and pay stubs are examples of proof of funds. Flight plans and tickets for the return trip. Proof that the candidate has a job and proof of time off from work from their home country. ID cards that aren’t IDs, like the Hukou for Chinese citizens. To be clear, doctor and police certificates already need to be translated into English. This policy will not change.

Certified Translation Requirements

The translations must be done by either a reputable translation service or a member of the community who is known for doing accurate translations and has nothing to do with the applicant (like family members or the immigration expert who is handling their application). INZ will also accept translations from qualified immigration advisers (LIAs), as long as they are known for being accurate translators and aren’t working on the same application themselves.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Applications that do not provide the appropriate English translations are likely to be turned down if they do not meet these requirements. This shows how important it is to make sure all documents are translated properly and officially to avoid delays or rejections. This change to INZ’s policy is meant to speed up and simplify the visa application process by getting rid of any language hurdles that might come up. Applicants should make sure they meet the new standards so that the process of getting a visa goes more smoothly and faster.

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