Ukraine Resident Visa in New Zealand: What's Next After the Program Closed

NZD 1,940 application fee, paper-only form INZ 1382, deadline - March 16, 2026, and zero chance of applying after. The Ukraine Resident Visa in New Zealand was the only direct path to permanent residence for Ukrainians who arrived on a Special Ukraine Visa during the full-scale war. The window has closed. If your application is already submitted - here’s what’s happening with processing, which documents need to be in order, and how to avoid rejection over a bad translation. If you missed the deadline - we’ll look at what alternatives remain and what to do next.

How New Zealand Opened Its Doors to Ukrainians: From Temporary Shelter to Residency¶

It all started on March 15, 2022. Three weeks after the full-scale invasion began, the New Zealand government announced the creation of the Special Ukraine Visa (SUV) - a temporary visa for Ukrainians who had relatives who were citizens or residents of New Zealand.

The Special Ukraine Visa is a two-year temporary visa that allowed holders to work (adults) or study (minors). The mechanism was straightforward: a New Zealand citizen or resident who was born in Ukraine or held Ukrainian citizenship could sponsor their family members - and those family members got entry rights.

According to Radio New Zealand, by February 2023, Immigration New Zealand had received 1,090 sponsorship requests and 1,463 visa applications. They’d granted 1,353 visas, but only 603 people had physically arrived. By March 2024, the number of SUVs issued reached 1,879, though only about 340 SUV holders were actually in New Zealand as of August 2023.

Why so few? Many arrived and then moved back closer to home - to Poland, Germany, or even back to Ukraine. New Zealand is 30+ flight hours from Kyiv, a completely different time zone, a different culture. Not everyone could adapt.

In August 2023, the government took the next step - announcing a pathway to residency for those who’d stayed and settled in. That’s how the Ukraine Resident Visa came about, opening for applications on March 16, 2024 and running for exactly two years.

Timeline of Events¶

Date	Event
March 15, 2022	Special Ukraine Visa announced
May 2022	666 visas issued, 157 people arrived
February 2023	1,353 visas issued, 603 arrived
August 2023	~340 people in NZ, residency pathway announced
March 16, 2024	Ukraine Resident Visa applications open
March 16, 2026	Applications close

As the official Immigration New Zealand website states:

The Ukraine Resident Visa category will close to new applications on 16 March 2026. Anyone holding a Special Ukraine Visa wanting to remain in New Zealand permanently, must apply for a Ukraine Resident Visa on or before 16 March 2026. We cannot accept applications received after that date under current policy settings.

A hard deadline with no extensions. Applied before March 16 - your application is being processed. Didn’t apply - the door is shut.

Who Was Eligible for the Ukraine Resident Visa¶

Not every Ukrainian in New Zealand could apply. The criteria were specific and fairly narrow.

Principal applicant:

• Must have arrived in New Zealand on a 2022 Special Ukraine Visa specifically (not a tourist visa, not a work visa, not a student visa)
• Arrival date - no later than March 15, 2024
• Must have been physically in New Zealand at the time of application

Family:

• The principal applicant could include their partner (spouse/civil partner) and dependent children in the application
• Family members didn’t necessarily need to have arrived on a Special Ukraine Visa - they could have held a different visa status

Key detail: if you arrived on an SUV after March 15, 2024, there was no path to residency through this program. The restriction was about the date of physical arrival, not the date the visa was issued.

Compared to other programs, these were much simpler requirements than, say, the Skilled Worker Visa in Australia, which requires skills assessments, points, and work experience. Here, the only condition was arriving on an SUV in time.

Full Document Checklist for the Ukraine Resident Visa¶

If you’ve submitted your application and it’s being processed - make sure everything is in order. Immigration New Zealand can request additional materials or translation corrections at any stage.

Required Documents¶

Document	Details	Translation needed?
Form INZ 1382	Ukraine Resident Visa Application, paper submission only	No (form is in English)
Passport	Valid passport for all applicants	No (has English section)
Photos	Passport-sized, per INZ standards	No
Medical certificate INZ 1201	Limited Medical Certificate, completed by a doctor in NZ	No (form is in English)
Chest X-ray	Chest X-ray certificate	No
Police certificate	From every country where you lived 12+ months in the last 10 years (age 17+)	Yes, certified translation required
Birth certificate	For each applicant	Yes, certified translation

Documents for Family Members¶

Document	When needed	Translation?
Marriage certificate	If including partner	Yes
Children’s birth certificates	If including children	Yes
Name change certificate	If name was changed	Yes
Relationship evidence	Joint living, finances, correspondence	Selective
Partner’s police certificate	From countries of residence (17+ years)	Yes
Family medical certificates	INZ 1201 for each person	No (English form)

Application Fee¶

The fee for the Ukraine Resident Visa was NZD 1,940 (approximately USD 1,150 or EUR 1,070 at March 2026 rates). For comparison: the standard Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa costs NZD 4,290 - so the Ukraine Resident Visa was less than half the price.

Police Certificates - a Separate Challenge¶

For Ukrainians, this means getting an extract from the Unified Register (the “certificate of good conduct”). If you’ve lived outside Ukraine in the last 10 years, you need a certificate from every country where you stayed 12 or more months. Sound familiar? It’s the same principle as for Australian immigration.

Tip: getting a police certificate from Ukraine during wartime can be difficult. If you’re having trouble, notify INZ as early as possible. They may offer alternative verification methods, similar to what Australia does for Ukrainians in these situations.

Translation Requirements for Immigration New Zealand¶

Here’s the most practical part. New Zealand has its own specific translation requirements, and they’re noticeably different from what applies in Germany or Australia.

The Core Rule¶

All documents submitted for a resident visa must be in English. If a document isn’t in English, you need a certified translation. No exceptions.

As Immigration New Zealand states:

You can provide certified translations completed by reputable private or official translation businesses or community members known for their accurate translations.

Notice the wording - “reputable private or official translation businesses or community members.” There’s no NAATI accreditation requirement (like in Australia) or a specific translator registry (like in Germany). The system is more flexible.

Who Can and Can’t Translate¶

Who	Allowed?	Note
Professional translator or translation company	✅ Yes	Best option
Community member with translation experience	✅ Yes	Must be known for accurate translations
DIA (Department of Internal Affairs)	✅ Yes	Official service, NZD 95/document
The applicant themselves	❌ No	Explicitly prohibited
Applicant’s family member	❌ No	Explicitly prohibited
Applicant’s immigration adviser	❌ No	Conflict of interest

This is a standard restriction - the translator must be an independent third party. The same rule applies for USCIS in the United States and IRCC in Canada.

What a Certified Translation Must Include¶

A certified translation for Immigration New Zealand must contain:

1. Translator’s full name and contact details (address, phone, email)
2. Translator’s qualifications or experience - education, certifications, years of experience
3. Accuracy statement - “I certify that this translation is a true and accurate translation of the original document” or equivalent
4. Date the translation was completed
5. Translator’s signature

If even one of these elements is missing, INZ can reject the translation and request a new one. That’s a delay of weeks.

Special Requirements for Police Certificates and Medical Documents¶

For police certificates, there’s a stricter rule: the translation MUST be certified, even if the certificate shows no convictions (meaning even a “clean” certificate needs full certified translation).

The medical certificate INZ 1201 is filled out in English directly by the doctor, so no translation is needed. But if you’re attaching test results or discharge summaries from Ukrainian medical facilities - those need to be translated and certified.

2025 Changes to Translation Requirements¶

In May 2025, Immigration New Zealand changed translation requirements for certain visa types. For visitor visas, translation certification is no longer needed - it’s enough to state who translated and their qualifications.

But for resident visas (including the Ukraine Resident Visa), nothing changed - certified translations remain mandatory. These changes do NOT affect those whose applications are currently being processed.

How Much Translation Costs and Where to Order It¶

Here are the actual numbers so you can plan your budget.

Option	Price	Timeline	Best for
DIA (Department of Internal Affairs)	NZD 95 per document	5-10 business days	Want an official government translation
Translation company in NZ	NZD 25-50 per page	1-5 business days	Standard choice
Online translation service	from NZD 20 per page	1-3 days	Cheaper, but check quality

For a standard Ukraine Resident Visa document package (birth certificate, marriage certificate, police certificate, 1-2 additional documents) - budget NZD 200-500 total.

The Department of Internal Affairs offers official translation services at a fixed rate of NZD 95 per document. For a full package of 5-7 documents, that’s NZD 475-665 - not cheap.

Tip: if you need to save time, you can upload your documents to ChatsControl, get an AI translation in minutes, and then hand it to a qualified translator for final review and certification. This can save 30-50% of the time and cost, especially when you have multiple documents.

What’s Happening with Submitted Applications Now¶

If you submitted your application before March 16, 2026 - it’s being processed. Here’s what you need to know.

Staying Legally¶

While your Ukraine Resident Visa application is being processed, you can apply for another Special Ukraine Visa. This lets you stay lawfully in New Zealand throughout the review period. As INZ directly confirms:

Individuals in New Zealand on a Special Ukraine Visa can apply for another Special Ukraine Visa while they wait for the outcome of their residence application. This ensures they can remain lawfully in New Zealand while their residence application is being processed.

No risk of finding yourself “between visas” - the system accounts for this transition period.

What Can Delay or Sink Your Application¶

Common problems applicants run into:

1. Incomplete or uncertified translation - INZ returns documents if the translation doesn’t include the translator’s accuracy statement or their qualifications aren’t listed. Delay: 2-4 weeks to redo

2. Expired medical certificate - INZ 1201 is valid for 3 months from the date it’s filled out. If processing drags on, they’ll request a new one. That’s another doctor visit and NZD 200-400 for a repeat exam

3. Missing police certificate from one of the countries - forgot a country where you lived for over a year in the last decade? You’ll need to get it. For some countries, this takes 1-3 months

4. Name mismatches - if your name is spelled differently in your passport, birth certificate, and police certificate (a common issue for Ukrainians due to different transliteration systems - Олексій/Oleksii/Olexiy/Alexey), you need an explanation or an official name change certificate

5. Poor quality original copies - INZ needs legible copies. Old Soviet-era certificates with faded text are a separate headache

Tip: if INZ requests additional documents, respond within 10 business days. Delays in responding can lead to application denial.

How to Check Your Status¶

Since the Ukraine Resident Visa was paper-only, there’s no online tracking for this visa type. You can check your status by:

• Calling INZ at 0508 558 855 (from NZ) or +64 9 914 4100 (from overseas)
• Writing to INZ via the contact form on their website

Alternative Paths to Residency in New Zealand¶

If you missed the Ukraine Resident Visa deadline or didn’t meet the criteria - there’s no special program for Ukrainians anymore. But standard immigration pathways are available to citizens of all countries.

Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa¶

The main route for skilled workers. As of 2026, you need a minimum of 6 points under the points system.

Requirements:

• Skilled employment in New Zealand (ANZSCO skill level 1-3)
• Professional registration, or a bachelor’s degree or higher, or earnings of 1.5 times the median wage
• Fee: NZD 4,290

In August 2026, significant changes are planned. Two new pathways will be introduced:

• Skilled work experience pathway - for migrants in skilled roles with 5+ years of experience, including 2 years in NZ earning at least 1.1 times the median wage
• Trades and technician pathway - for tradespeople with a Level 4+ qualification and 4 years of experience, including 18 months in NZ

Good news: the required NZ work experience is being reduced from 3 to 2 years for most categories.

Partner of a New Zealander¶

If your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident, there’s a pathway through the Partner Visa. First a temporary work visa, then residency.

Documents include birth certificates for both partners, marriage certificate, and relationship evidence - all with translations. The process is similar to the Partner Visa 820/801 in Australia, though the details differ.

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)¶

If you have an employer in NZ willing to sponsor you - this is a path to a temporary work visa. From there, you can work toward residency through the Skilled Migrant Category. Not fast, but doable.

Student Visa¶

For younger Ukrainians - study at a New Zealand university followed by employment. It’s a longer path (3-5 years to residency), but if you’re planning a career in IT, engineering, or healthcare, it could be the best option because NZ is actively looking for specialists in these fields.

Comparison: Document Translation for NZ, Australia, and Canada¶

If you’re considering multiple countries - here’s how translation requirements differ:

Parameter	New Zealand	Australia	Canada
Who translates	Qualified translator or company	NAATI-accredited only	Certified translator
Special registry	No	Yes (NAATI Directory)	No (CTTIC recommended)
Price per page	NZD 25-50	AUD 60-100	CAD 25-50
Certification	Translator’s statement + qualifications	NAATI stamp with number	Translator’s affidavit
Who can’t translate	Applicant, family, immigration adviser	Applicant, family	Applicant
Translation language	English	English	English or French

New Zealand has the most flexible requirements of the three countries. Unlike Australia, where your documents won’t even get a second look without a NAATI stamp, here any qualified translator with verified credentials will do. It’s both simpler and cheaper.

FAQ¶

Can you still apply for the Ukraine Resident Visa after March 16, 2026?¶

No. Immigration New Zealand has made it clear that applications after this date aren’t accepted, with no exceptions. If you missed it, the remaining options are standard pathways: Skilled Migrant Category (NZD 4,290, minimum 6 points), Partner Visa (if you have a partner who’s an NZ resident), or the Accredited Employer Work Visa through an employer.

How much does document translation cost for Immigration New Zealand?¶

NZD 25 to 50 per page at private translation companies. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) offers translations at NZD 95 per document. For a standard package of 5-7 documents, budget NZD 200-500 total. Compare that to Australia, where NAATI translation starts at AUD 60 per page - NZ is noticeably cheaper.

Can you stay in New Zealand while your application is being processed?¶

Yes. If you applied on time, you can apply for a new Special Ukraine Visa that lets you stay legally in the country while your residence application is processed. This is officially confirmed by Immigration New Zealand - no “illegal” gap between visas.

Do you need a NAATI translation for New Zealand?¶

No. Unlike Australia, New Zealand doesn’t require NAATI accreditation. A translation from any qualified translator or company is sufficient, as long as it includes their qualifications, contact details, and an accuracy statement. But the applicant, their family, or their immigration adviser can’t do the translation.

What should you do if INZ requests additional documents or a translation correction?¶

Respond as quickly as possible - ideally within 10 business days. If a new translation is needed, order it from the same or a different qualified translator. Make sure the new translation includes all required elements: translator’s name, qualifications, accuracy statement, date, and signature. If a new police certificate is needed - that can take longer, so notify INZ about the delay right away.