[Mr&MrsExcited]

:uhoh Just having a small panic at the mo - due to arrive in NZ on March 24 but only have a one-way flight.

I have a WHV with proof of sufficient funds to purchase an onward ticket which the immigration nz site says is sufficient, but the worry is regarding my OH who is only going over on a tourist visa with the intention of applying for a work permit, and then PR when we're there (in fact we're waiting by the phone as I type - expecting a call from his potential future boss!).

Do you think we'd be able to get away with no onward travel if we had a job offer in hand and explained that our first stop was the immigration depatment to get the work permit?

Or do you think we're best off buying the cheapest ticket we can find to Australia/pacific island just as proof of onward travel? My concern is that this would look more suspect than if we just explained the situation.

Any advice greatly appreciated

[IanW99]

I don't know if you saw my post to you in introductions thread, but if not it is here:-

Why won't you have a return ticket? The airline should not allow you board and fly to NZ without a return ticket unless your visa clearly states "outward passage waived".

If you do need a return ticket then you may find For those coming in on a tourist visa (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=15831) thread useful?

Ian

If possible I would suggest you do as per the link that I posted, if not then I would get in touch with the airline that you have already booked with to see what they have to say. It is their responsibility to allow your OH to fly or not.

Ian

[Mr&MrsExcited]

Thanks Ian - but I don't really understand why it is the airlines responsibility to make sure that you have an onward ticket???

Surley if we were to buy the ticket to Australia it would solve the problem anyway?

[IanW99]

Thanks Ian - but I don't really understand why it is the airlines responsibility to make sure that you have an onward ticket???

Surley if we were to buy the ticket to Australia it would solve the problem anyway?

The airline needs to ensure that you are legally able to fly to NZ or any other country for that matter. If they board you and you are not eligible to arrive in NZ because you don't have the appropriate visa then the airline are fined. Because they get fined, they do try to ensure that all the rules are followed.

When you receive your visa it should state on it "outward passage waived" which lets the airline know that you don't require a return ticket.

You idea of having an onward ticket to Oz has been discussed before but I believe this no longer works either as they expect you to have an outward passage from Oz as well (unless you don't need one e.g. you are an Oz citizen).

Phoning Air New Zealands helpline is free so even if you aren't flying with them then it would be worth a call to ask them.

I should point out that this is how I understand the rules and no expert on the subject.

Ian

[Mr&MrsExcited]

Interesting....we'll be sure to research this further, however, maybe because we are UK citizens and therefore don't require a visa (for stays of 6 months etc) that is why we were able to book a one-way flight??

You idea of having an onward ticket to Oz has been discussed before but I believe this no longer works either as they expect you to have an outward passage from Oz as well (unless you don't need one e.g. you are an Oz citizen).

Ian

We were in Oz last year and took a 2 month hol to NZ before returning to Oz and they were happy enough to accept the paper print out of our return ticket to Oz, and we didn't have any flights arranged to leave Oz, so I'm hoping these changes haven't been made in the last 12 months...maybe we just had a nice immigration officer that day?!

It's all soooooo nerve-racking!!

[IanW99]

Interesting....we'll be sure to research this further, however, maybe because we are UK citizens and therefore don't require a visa (for stays of 6 months etc) that is why we were able to book a one-way flight??



We were in Oz last year and took a 2 month hol to NZ before returning to Oz and they were happy enough to accept the paper print out of our return ticket to Oz, and we didn't have any flights arranged to leave Oz, so I'm hoping these changes haven't been made in the last 12 months...maybe we just had a nice immigration officer that day?!

It's all soooooo nerve-racking!!

You may have been lucky, see Is a return ticket required? (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showpost.php?p=171648&postcount=7) for details of how Lockstock was less lucky?

Ian

[Derv]

My understanding is that the airlines will happily take your booking for whatever tickets you choose to buy, and you can check-in at the airport too. But when you go to the boarding gate for your flight, there is someone checking passports and tickets at the entry to the gate to make sure that you have the right to stay in the country that you have a one-way ticket to. If you don't have this, you don't get on the plane. The sticker in your passport will indicate whether you have a right to stay.

This is how it's worked when I've flown to and from NZ (the last time was Oct 07) but it may differ from airline to airline. Also I could be wrong, so please check the facts!

[LesleyS]

Actually, it is our experience that airlines will not even grant you a boarding card at the check in desk if you do not have the appropriate visa in your passport.
It happened to us....by mistake, our agent had put the wrong return date on our ticket longer than the 6 months a Vistors visa allows!!

[dharder]

Actually, it is our experience that airlines will not even grant you a boarding card at the check in desk if you do not have the appropriate visa in your passport.

We checked in in Hamburg, and no one asked about a return ticket. When we changed planes in London, they checked, and were quite adamant I needed a return ticket. It led to some confusion that I pointed out that a) I didn't need one (PR), and b) I had one. The woman then wanted to see it...

So we actually could have gone part of the way, with all luggage checked in in Hamburg through to Auckland, and then been turned away in London had we not had the right flight tickets/visa.

Personally, I wouldn't risk it.

Daniela

[urban78]

My understanding is that the airlines will happily take your booking for whatever tickets you choose to buy, and you can check-in at the airport too. But when you go to the boarding gate for your flight, there is someone checking passports and tickets at the entry to the gate to make sure that you have the right to stay in the country that you have a one-way ticket to. If you don't have this, you don't get on the plane. The sticker in your passport will indicate whether you have a right to stay.

This is how it's worked when I've flown to and from NZ (the last time was Oct 07) but it may differ from airline to airline. Also I could be wrong, so please check the facts!

The airline will deny boarding at check in if you do not have the right of entry to NZ on a one way ticket. I've seen it happen at the Air NZ counter last November on my trip to Europe back to NZ.

I think the fine per passenger NZIS bill airlines is close to about NZ$3000, if Immigration have to deny entry in NZ and put the passenger back on a plane :exit I agree with Daniela, it's not worth the stress and hassle to be denied boarding :o

I'd email NZIS to be sure if you can enter on a one way ticket with a WHV :)

Jen

[Derv]

Another point to add is that the "you can't fly without a return ticket unless you have the right sticker" applies whatever your nationality. And to have a WHV, you need to have proof of permanent residence to return to in the UK - but I guess others have used a WHV as a means of immigrating to NZ so this may be less important.

It's worth checking and rechecking everything on this issue; you don't want to be one of those (see earlier posts) who arrives at the airport all packed and ready to go and then is not allowed on the plane as you haven't got the right paperwork. Especially if you can fly and your OH can't.

I hope you can get it all sorted out easily. I'm sure someone on here will be able to help with anything you need - they usually can!

[lockstock]

It happened to us. We booked a return with Air New Zealand then, because we were confident the visas would be through on time (they weren't) we changed it to a one-way - which, I hasten to add ANZ were quite happy to do. Then, with no sign of a visa, I bottled out and bought a return ticket. The guy at ANZ knew it was for a 'formality' and picked out a flight which was expensive but more or less fully refundable. At Heathrow check-in they said the date was past the 6 month visitor visa date and wouldn't let us on until we had changed it (no extra cost, just hassle I could have done without at that stage).
When I applied for a refund I had to provide a photocopy of the visas and the passports. I still don't know if the money's gone back yet.

[James 1077]

When I was trying to work out what to do if my wife didn't get her PR in time for our flight I asked NZ House if it was possible for her to fly into NZ on a single (as that is what my employer is paying for) and to have a flight out to Oz as evidence of onward travel. However the response from them was a resounding NO!

Apparently it used to be OK but the rules were tightened up and you now need to have evidence of onward travel back to a country in which you have right of residence.

My wife now has her PR so it isn't a problem but I was sort of thinking about buying another single from Auckland to London so that we had the required evidence but to make sure it was fully refundable so that we could get the money back when we got to NZ!

[Will_2007]

Excuse the numpty question, but I'm assuming having a PR visa means you are fine with a one-way ticket? The PR visa does not specifically state that no onwards ticket is required... Does this work in practice or do check-in staff cause problems?

Will

[Croft]

Excuse the numpty question, but I'm assuming having a PR visa means you are fine with a one-way ticket? The PR visa does not specifically state that no onwards ticket is required... Does this work in practice or do check-in staff cause problems?

Will

PR is fine for one-way.

[Mr&MrsExcited]

thanks for all the advice - we have just booked ourselves return tickets that are fully refundable less the admin fee! We figureed it was better to be safe than sorry. :yes

[zoid155]

This is worrying....I'm heading to Auckland on March 24th, we both have WHVs, her's from UK and mine from Ireland. I'll have evidence of about $9,000 but no return ticket, I had thought from what I'd read on the Immigration site that evidence of funds was enough, not having a return ticket itself?

I note the visa does say Outward passage waived in one of the terms and conditions, would it not be enough to show the airline that if they give us hassle?

[zoid155]

Ah online help explains it all...i think :)

Can I enter NZ on a one way ticket?
Question


Can I enter NZ as a visitor on a one way ticket?
Answer


Visitors entering NZ without a visa (Visa Waiver countries only), must have valid onward travel arrangements (ie. return ticket or official confirmation that a ticket is booked and paid for) when entering New Zealand. The return ticket must also be from NZ to a country they can enter. Please note that having funds to purchase a ticket is not sufficient evidence of onward travel arrangements.

If you are applying for a visa prior to your travel, you may enter New Zealand on a one way ticket, provided that the visa in your passport clearly states ‘outward passage waived’. In all other cases an outward travel arrangement must have been made prior to arriving in New Zealand (visitors must have a return ticket, while workers and students may show available funds to purchase a ticket).

Citizens and permanent residents of NZ or Australia may enter on a one way ticket, providing they are travelling on a valid NZ or Australian passport, or they have a valid NZ or Australian Returning Residents visa in their foreign passport.

So evidence of funds is okay as long as you are on a working or student visa?

[Mr&MrsExcited]

Hi Zoid

That's correct - on a WHV and you have sufficient funds then one-way is OK. Thats where the confusion happened for us with one of us being on a WHV and one a tourist.

[zoid155]

Phew! Nearly lost a few more hairs off the noggin there :)

[ulto]

Looking at this myself.

2 of us will be on a WHV so i was wondering if there were implications.
Will the Visa have "onward travel wavied" written on it automaticly?
Or will one have to request it when applying for a WHV.


Another small thing. We are planning to get a round the world ticket in NZ when we are finished up for the year.
This is fine as far as i jnow but we will have to finish up our trip in NZ.
Obviously this will be one way aswell and we will not have a WHV at all then, but we are plannnig to get a WHV for OZ.
I cant see this being a problem where we will have onward flights booked to oz with the OZ visa's as good proof of onward travel.
Am i right?:confused: