New passport, visa transfer

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t92300

79 posts

Master Geek

#304136 7-Apr-2023 11:22

My wife has just got a new passport(arrived in the mail yesterday), she is from Singapore, but has NZ PR. How ever due to a death in the family she would like to get to Singapore by Monday morning. But the problem is her old passport is expired and only just got the new one so hasn't had a chance to get her visa transferred.

Can anyone point me in a direction for advice?

Tried the phone numbers listed on the immigration NZ website. Tried nz passport website. Everyone is closed for the public holiday.

cshwone

1002 posts

Uber Geek

#3060101 7-Apr-2023 12:04

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/visas/visa/permanent-resident-visa

"If you want to travel, your Permanent Resident Visa will need to be in a valid passport."

Not good news by the looks of it as I suspect there will be no one available all weekend.

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qwertee

628 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#3060108 7-Apr-2023 12:51

Can she travel back on her new SG passport and get the visa transferred to it at Singapore NZ immigration.
The only snag might be that some of these applications are now handled from an overseas contact point vfs.global I think from memory.

Might pay to contact Singapore and check.

If she intends to travel make sure that she also carries her old passport.
Some documents (medical or orbituaries) to prove this unplanned travel might help your situation.
By that time the NZ visa office will be open and they can guide you.

So sorry for your loss.

huckster

705 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#3060111 7-Apr-2023 12:57

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/already-have-a-visa/managing-your-visa-and-passport/transferring-my-visa-to-a-new-passport

This site is more applicable for transferring visa.

Timeframes....
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/waiting-for-a-visa/how-long-it-takes-to-process-your-visa-application

Was the visa in the old passport an eVisa or a actual label/sticker? The former might be easier to transfer and if you can get certified copies of old and new, you can try and send the application off in NZ before you travel. Just need to find someone to certify the copies of the passports.
Alternatively you do it overseas but that could take a lot longer.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29039 posts

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#3060123 7-Apr-2023 14:40

t92300:

Hi

My wife has just got a new passport(arrived in the mail yesterday), she is from Singapore, but has NZ PR. How ever due to a death in the family she would like to get to Singapore by Monday morning. But the problem is her old passport is expired and only just got the new one so hasn't had a chance to get her visa transferred.

Can anyone point me in a direction for advice?

Tried the phone numbers listed on the immigration NZ website. Tried nz passport website. Everyone is closed for the public holiday.

just re-enter with the visa on the old passport

make sure they stamp with a returning resident visa when you re-enter and not a visitor's visa.

huckster

705 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#3060124 7-Apr-2023 14:45

Batman:

just re-enter with the visa on the old passport

The official line is that the visa is cancelled when the passport expires/is replaced and you need to get it transferred to the new passport.

PR is a permit and you get a separate visa in the non-NZ passport to enable entry into NZ.

You may be able to argue your way back in to NZ by showing the old passport with it's visa but it is not the official/correct way to do things.

[And another thing......] If you try this old passport trick, you may not even be able to get on the flight back to NZ as the carrier won't be able to confirm you have a right to enter NZ.

Jase2985

12347 posts

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#3060159 7-Apr-2023 17:16

that's pretty stupid, when i travel to the US i have to take 2 passports as the visa is in the old one and i have to carry the new valid one.

qwertee

628 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#3061098 10-Apr-2023 16:31

@t92300

So what did you do in the end.

t92300

79 posts

Master Geek

#3061553 11-Apr-2023 16:09

I have had a busy weekend, kids, work, dropping wife off at the airport, finding a JP etc.

All immigration places we could find and phone were closed for the public holiday.

What we did get was advice from some one official(unnamed due to them only being supposed to help NZ citizens), non immigration related.

The advice was that in Singapore at the airport the airline staff would have to contact NZ immigration for an override to come back into NZ. My wife was told to get to the airport in Singapore early as it would take time.

We were told this is not an uncommon situation.

Worst case is that she comes in on a tourist visa and gets it changed on her passport to her PR.

She arrives back on Sunday so we will finally find out how it all goes then.

cshwone

1002 posts

Uber Geek

#3061566 11-Apr-2023 16:44

She actually needs an NZ Electronic Travel Authority https://www.mfa.gov.sg/countries-regions/n/new-zealand/travel-page

as her new passport doesn't have a valid visa

Batman

Mad Scientist
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#3061585 11-Apr-2023 17:29

huckster:

Batman:

just re-enter with the visa on the old passport

The official line is that the visa is cancelled when the passport expires/is replaced and you need to get it transferred to the new passport.

PR is a permit and you get a separate visa in the non-NZ passport to enable entry into NZ.

You may be able to argue your way back in to NZ by showing the old passport with it's visa but it is not the official/correct way to do things.

[And another thing......] If you try this old passport trick, you may not even be able to get on the flight back to NZ as the carrier won't be able to confirm you have a right to enter NZ.

interesting, i searched the govt website and you are right, it says you need to apply for a new permanent residence visa online and supply certified copy of the old and new passport.

i recall during covid 2020 my house mate did exactly what i posted - he returned to singapore to get his new passport, and entered NZ using his permanent residence visa in his old passport as advised by immigration NZ at that time!