You and any accompanying family members must be of good character to apply for residence in New Zealand.

In order to prove that you and any accompanying family are of good character, you are required to provide, for everyone 17 years of age and over:

• Police certificates from your country of citizenship;
   and

• Police certificates from any country you have been in for 12 months or more (whether in one or more visits) in the 10 years prior to lodging your application.

These police certificates must be less than 6 months old at the time you lodge your residence application.

You and your accompanying family members must be of good character,whichever category you apply under.

Unless a special direction under section 7 of the Immigration Act is given,a person will be refused residence in New Zealand on character grounds if:

• They have ever been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for five years or more;

• They have been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for 12 months or more during the preceding 10 years;

• They have ever been deported from New Zealand or any other country;

• There is reason to believe they may be associated with criminal groups,or may constitute a danger to New Zealand.