Current situation
The New Zealand Defence Force have announced that the evacuation operation from Hamad Karzai International Airport has come to an end.
We do not currently have information on further evacuation flights, but the New Zealand Government will give consideration to how best to assist and support Afghan nationals in other ways.
In the meantime, Afghan nationals with a valid visa will need to rely on commercial flights to be able to travel to New Zealand.
Your visa conditions will remain the same.
If you already hold a valid visa to enter New Zealand
If you already hold a valid visa to enter New Zealand and have questions about your visa status, you can contact the Immigration Contact Centre on +64 9 914 4100 or email.
general.emailenquiries@mbie.govt.nz
If you were in Afghanistan on 15 August 2021 and held a valid temporary or resident visa on 19 August 2021 and continue to hold that visa you are exempt from border restrictions and may travel to New Zealand.
Note that this does not affect the eligibility of those who can already travel to New Zealand under the current border restrictions such as people who hold a partnership based visa or a critical purpose visitor visa.
If you have requested resettlement
If you have requested resettlement under the criteria agreed by Cabinet on 16 August and your request was received before 11.59pm on 25 August 2021 (New Zealand Time), this will still be processed. No new requests will be accepted under this process.
Applications for resettlement are now closed
Applications for resettlement if you are an Afghan national are now closed.
Afghan nationals who helped the NZDF or other New Zealand Government agencies in Afghanistan, and their immediate family (partner and dependent children), were able to apply for resettlement in New Zealand. Given the current situation outlined above, applications are now closed.
Applications received before 11.59pm 25 August 2021 (New Zealand Time) will continue to be processed.
Information about visas and entry into New Zealand
Other support
While the current evacuation operation has drawn to an end, our efforts to help those who have helped us do not end here.
The New Zealand Government will consider how to best assist and support Afghan nationals in other ways.
The government continue to work with the utmost urgency with our close partners to assist New Zealand citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families in Afghanistan, to return to New Zealand.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will remain in close contact with those who have registered with them on the ground in Afghanistan and we encourage those people to register their details.
