The table below shows how information in the INZ Operational Manual is grouped.

Section	Content
Entry type (Residence, Temporary Entry, Limited Purpose)	The Residence section contains the policies for people who want to come to New Zealand to live on a permanent basis. The Temporary Entry and Limited Purpose sections contain policies for those wishing to come to New Zealand to visit, study, or work. Note that each of these sections includes a generic section containing requirements that all applicants for residence or temporary entry must meet, unless specifically stated otherwise.
Specific group (Border, Investigations, Refugees)	The Border, Investigations, and Refugees sections of the Manual detail internal INZ operational policies and are included in the Manual for ease of access and completeness.
Administration*	This section contains general information about lodging applications, how they will be assessed, and any rights of appeal.
Appendices*	Additional useful information such as which office to lodge an application with, fees payable, and which countries need to use panel doctors.
Glossary	Contains definitions of all the terms used within policy. These can also be accessed directly from the policy provision by clicking the hyperlink from the term to the Glossary.
* Note that the Border, Investigations, and Refugees sections and some of the Appendices in the Manual do not constitute Government immigration policy as described in section 13A(1) of the Immigration Act 1987.

There are two main ways to find for information in the INZ Operational Manual:

1. Using the left hand Contents menu: The pane to the left of the screen displays the different types of visa and permit applications grouped according to permanent and temporary entry. Click on the plus icon next to the topics to open the menus and locate the appropriate policy.
2. Using the top menu: Policies are grouped the same way in the menu across the top of the screen. You can click these directly from any screen while you are in the Manual.

The INZ Operational Manual has the same navigation features as other websites:

• Breadcrumbs: these show you exactly where you are in the Manual. Clicking any of the breadcrumbs takes you directly to that piece of policy.
• Hyperlinks: any words underlined and in blue allow you to click on them with your mouse and be taken directly to further information. Visited links change to red so you know you've already clicked on them.
• Expanding menus: a plus icon next to a word in the contents means there are further topics grouped underneath. Click the icon to expand the menu. The icon will change to a minus icon to show the menu is fully expanded. The icon next to a topic means that there are no further topics beneath it.
• Tabs: these work like dividers in a ring binder. Select the tab by clicking on the header at the top.
• Toolbar: use the buttons on the existing toolbar at the top of your screen to move back and forward between pages and print. You can also use the restore down icon (top right) if you want to have the Operational Manual open at the same time as other screens on your computer.
• Up and down arrows: use the up and down arrows at the top of each page to move to the next piece of policy.
• Scroll bar: Increase or decrease the size of the left hand menu by running your cursor over the vertical scroll bar between the menu on the left and the main window until you see the double ended arrow . Hold the left mouse button down and move the mouse to resize the panes.

All policy has a date at the end of the provision to show when that policy is effective from. When changes are made to policy, the previous version is still held in the Manual but the way it looks is changed so you can tell whether you are referring to current or previous policy.

Access an earlier version of a policy by clicking the link in the Previous Policy box at the end of the provision.

Some policy in this Manual summarises sections of the Immigration Act 1987, the Immigration Regulations 1991, and other statutes and international agreements. Where this occurs, references to the specific Act or Regulation are noted in italics immediately after the section or subsection heading.

These are intended as a guide to the legal provisions relevant to the particular policy provision that they precede, and are not necessarily comprehensive.

The summarised legal provisions are declaratory only. This means that if the interpretation of the summarised legal provisions conflicts with the interpretation of the legislation itself, then the interpretation of the legislation is decisive.

Also note that the legal provisions do not in themselves constitute Government immigration policy.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is part of the Department of Labour, a Government department that helps people achieve high-quality working lives in thriving and inclusive communities through linking their social and economic interests.

INZ aims to increase the economic and social framework of New Zealand by:

• facilitating residence and temporary entry into New Zealand, and
• ensuring that those who cross New Zealand's borders observe the provisions of New Zealand's immigration policy and legislation.

Most of INZ's operational work is focused on deciding residence, returning resident's visa and temporary entry applications, but we also provide information and respond to general enquiries. In addition, INZ removes people who are in breach of immigration law, or resolves their immigration status in other ways.

Another responsibility is to determine claims for refugee status in New Zealand under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol. We select quota refugees and escort them to New Zealand, as well as arrange for their accommodation and induction after they arrive in New Zealand.

Visa officers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) may be responsible for limited immigration operations at overseas posts where there is no INZ branch. Customs officers act as immigration officers at places of entry to New Zealand.

Help

Underpinning all our activity is the desire to provide the best possible service and to demonstrate honesty, fairness, confidentiality and respect in all our dealings. If you need help understanding the policy in this Manual, please contact us.