Character issues for New Zealand visa applications
INZ assesses whether an applicant meets the character requirements under A5 of the Operations Manual.
Concerns may arise from police certificates, past offences, immigration history, false information, or behaviour that suggests risk.
This page explains how INZ evaluates character concerns and how we prepare a clear, consistent explanation supported by evidence.
Choose your situation
You have character concerns
Character issues may include previous offences, warnings, family violence, driving incidents, deportation history, or concerns recorded in another country.
We help you understand which parts of A5 apply and how to respond clearly.
You hold police certificates
Police checks must be clean and recent. Any recorded incident—even if minor—must be explained in a way that aligns with evidence.
We assist in preparing accurate explanations that match your certificates and INZ’s records.
You need to explain past issues
If you have past behaviour or incidents that raise concerns, INZ expects a factual, consistent and accountable explanation.
We help rebuild a clear narrative and supporting documents.
What INZ checks under character (A5)
INZ verifies whether you
• have criminal convictions or charges
• were deported, removed or refused entry
• provided false or misleading information
• pose a risk to public order or security
• have any incidents recorded in police checks
• have behaviour suggesting you may not comply with visa conditions
A strong explanation must be honest, consistent and supported by documents.
How we prepare your character explanation
Step 1 Identify the character grounds
We identify which A5 clause applies, whether a waiver is possible and what evidence is required.
Step 2 Build a factual explanation
We create a structured explanation supported by documents such as police letters, court records, driving reports or character references.
Step 3 Present a decision-ready file
We organise all documents into a consistent, easy-to-assess format aligned with INZ’s requirements.