[marybelle]

When the passport you have your PR visa stamped in expires, do you have to renew it and have the visa transfered or can you not bother renewing your passport but still technically hold a PR visa?

So the question is can you hold a valid PR visa in an expired passport?

Marybelle

[moonglum]

No direct experience of NZ visa in UK passport, but I used to have a US visa in a passport which expired. I used the visa in my old passport and a new UK passport no problem.
I expect NZ is the same.

[Georgebulldog]

Have you done a search only I'm sure this was covered before but I can't remember what the outcome was, I think it's OK just means if you had to leave in a hurry to go back to the country you come from you wouldn't be able to, well not just hop on a plane. Also remember reading it costs to get the new visa put in so cvan get costly
Sure someone will come along with the link

[JandM]

I suppose this could happen in the long term, when you've already got to NZ, but I think I'm right in saying that when your blue stickers are first going to be put in your passport, there is a requirement that the passport still has two years to run (so you might have to renew it early - guess what, more expense).

But the blue stickers in the passport aren't 'PR' - permanent residency is a state you are granted by the NZ government. When you first arrive in NZ you will have an RRV (returning resident's visa, the blue sticker, which only a permanent resident can hold) which will expire after two years, and if you remain in NZ for two years (at least 184 days per year) then you can get an IRRV (indefinite returning resident's visa). Obviously, if you're not going to come and go from NZ, you don't actually NEED the passport with visa in for travel purposes, but I think a lot of people have found them useful for proving their status, e.g. for subsidized access to health care.

[Jo Jo]

When the passport you have your PR visa stamped in expires, do you have to renew it and have the visa transfered or can you not bother renewing your passport but still technically hold a PR visa?

So the question is can you hold a valid PR visa in an expired passport?

Marybelle

Caroline and Dave checked this with NZIS last year and were told, "There is no need to transfer your labels into a new passport or apply for a new passport until you want to travel. As long as you are in NZ your permit is still valid."

You can find their post about it here (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showpost.php?p=235252&postcount=19).

[marybelle]

J and M

Any idea where you read this?

Marybelle

[lockstock]

I suppose this could happen in the long term, when you've already got to NZ, but I think I'm right in saying that when your blue stickers are first going to be put in your passport, there is a requirement that the passport still has two years to run (so you might have to renew it early - guess what, more expense).


I don't think that's the case. OH's visa was put in a pssport with less than 2 years to run. It will need renewing in November so watching this thread with interest even though it has probably been covered loads of times.

[marybelle]

Hi Lockstock,

I have just sent my CO an email asking about the expiry dates and what happens to the visa. I will post the reply when I get it. :D

[JandM]

J and M

Any idea where you read this?

MarybelleWell, I THOUGHT it was somewhere on the NZIS website, but in the light of what Lockstock is saying, maybe not! And now I'm looking for a mention, of course I can't find a thing.

(In case it's relevant to anybody, I have found several places that people on here were saying how it's cheaper to renew your passport while you're still in your country of origin than once you're in NZ.)

[Jo Jo]

Well, I THOUGHT it was somewhere on the NZIS website, but in the light of what Lockstock is saying, maybe not! And now I'm looking for a mention, of course I can't find a thing.


I've found it! It's here: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/branch/londonbranchhome/partnersnz/ (under "Suggestions for your application")

But I think it's advice from the London branch, rather than a rule.

[marybelle]

This is the reply I have just had from my CO.

Hello Marybelle,

The day that a visa is issued into a clients passport, there must be a
minimum of one year (365 days) validity left on the passport, as the
visas we give you is a one year visa.

Looks like we will be fine for the expiry dates as we have 18months left on the passports. What he didn't say was if we have to transfer the visa to a new passport or not.

Marybelle

[JandM]

I've found it! It's here: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/branch/londonbranchhome/partnersnz/ (under "Suggestions for your application")

But I think it's advice from the London branch, rather than a rule.Thanks, Jo Jo - I'm glad to know at least I didn't dream the whole thing.

[Motleybeast]

I've done a search and this is the nearest thread I can find to our little dilemma, but we've got a similar issue...We hope to go back to England in November this year for a visit for a couple of weeks, but my wife and my daughter's's passport runs out in January 2010 and it contains obviously both visa's. So, the sensible thing to do would be to get them renewed before we go, yes?(I can't remember if you still have to have 6 months left on your passport to travel).
Would we need to get both visa's transferred to the new passport?
I'm asking because this is the first time we'll be using our RRV's and we'll need them to get back...

Thanks.

[rizjunior]

I have seen quite a lot of people travelling with a renewed passport without visa transferred but in that case they attach old passport with the new one. Immigration of almost all countries allow or admit people with new passport while actual visa on expired passport. I myself travelled once.

As for as validity of PR/blue sticker is concerned, as long as these stamps/stickers have a validity date on it, its valid. But ofcourse if you have to travel you can not leave country on an expired passport. I would personally renew the passport and transfer the visa on new passport to avoid delay in any emergency.

[victoria24]

can anyone clarify this as my passport expires next march, i was goign to renew it but needed my passport for our swift PR application for various bits and bobs.. shippers, medicals etc. should i get it renewed now? i dont want my old passport to be away if INZ requires it?

[Syed]

can anyone clarify this as my passport expires next march, i was goign to renew it but needed my passport for our swift PR application for various bits and bobs.. shippers, medicals etc. should i get it renewed now? i dont want my old passport to be away if INZ requires it?
I and my partner both renewed our Passports, and in each case the old passports were with us. They were later canceled, but its numbers were transferred to new ones, and were stamped for visa valid. The visa on old passports are still valid. Technically your passport must expire after your visa expiry date, mean you may not get 2 year visa on 6 months expiring passport.
If I was you, I would apply for new passport.

[marybelle]

can anyone clarify this as my passport expires next march,

Our CO said that they will not issue a visa into a passport which has less than 365 days left to run on it.

Marybelle

[victoria24]

no probs.. i have a priority appoitment 3 hours away to get a new one within 4 hours for £114 so i will have a passport at all times :)

[Jacqi B]

When you first arrive in NZ you will have an RRV (returning resident's visa, the blue sticker, which only a permanent resident can hold) which will expire after two years,

Yet they only need one year on your passport. Weird.

[M-Squared]

Neil, good call to get a new one. That way you can get your IRRV in it and, if you do so desire, use it for your citizenship 5 years later. :) :nice1

[zsj]

It is dependant on country and officer as to whether they will accept your visa from your old passport while you are travelling on your new passport. If you are getting a new passport I would certainly go to the small extra trouble of getting the visa moved over - it is a cost but it means for the validity of that new passport (10 years if you are an adult) you have your correct visas.

From our family experience, using English PR in an old passport travelling on a new US passport was no problem, however trying to get into NZ on a new passport with the visas in the old one was very hard. Not worth the hassle.