Section 48 — Immigration Act 2009: Grant of visa may be conditional on sponsorship

48 Grant of visa may be conditional on sponsorship (1) Before a visa is granted to an applicant, the applicant may be required to supply a written undertaking, in a form approved by the chief executive, by a person (the sponsor ) relating to any specified matter or matters. (2) The requirement to supply a written undertaking may be imposed by— (a) immigration instructions, in relation to any class or type of visa; or (b) the Minister or an immigration officer, in relation to any particular visa. (3) Without limiting subsection (1),— (a) the specified matter or matters in respect of the undertaking may relate to— (i) employment of the applicant and any dependants of the applicant: (ii) accommodation of the applicant and any dependants of the applicant: (iii) maintenance (including the cost of any publicly funded services or benefits) of the applicant and any dependants of the applicant: (iv) costs of repatriation or deportation of the applicant and any dependants of the applicant: (b) an undertaking may relate to the sponsor— (i) providing any matter directly; or (ii) paying the costs of any matter, if the matter is provided by another person. (4) A sponsor must be— (a) a New Zealand citizen, permanent resident, or resident; or (b) an organisation that is registered in New Zealand as a company, an incorporated society, or a charitable trust; or (c) a government agency. (5) A sponsor who is not a natural person must nominate an individual as the authorised contact for the purposes of the sponsorship. (6) A sponsor must also be acceptable to the Minister or the immigration officer, or meet any other criteria required by the relevant immigration instructions, or both, as the case may be. (7) It is a matter for the absolute discretion of the Minister or the immigration officer whether a person is acceptable as a sponsor, and no appeal lies against his or her decision, whether to any court, the Tribunal, the Minister, or otherwise.