Photo: NZ HeraldThe Government has changed New Zealand's visa rules so new residents stranded overseas because of Covid-19 will be able to hold on to their residency status. And those whose travel conditions have expired on, or after, February 2 this year – when travel restrictions began – will be issued a new visa, also valid for 12 months. Under the current settings, once someone is granted a resident visa they must travel to New Zealand within a certain timeframe to have it activated. But the border restrictions have prevented many people from returning to New Zealand and, as a result, their visa has expired or is about to expire. "It has been important to run tight border restrictions to keep Covid-19 contained while also prioritising the return of New Zealanders.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 09, 2020 03:45 UTC