If you are a New Zealand bankrupt you are not allowed to leave New Zealand without the permission of the Official Assignee. Doing so is a crime.
Some people think that they can come and go as they please because they travel on a foreign passport. This is not true. It is still an offence. The Official Assignee has border alerts in place for some bankrupts so if they try to travel without permission they will be stopped. For others, data matching could reveal past illegal travel and lead to serious consequences.
In most cases it is easy and quick to get travel permission. It is best to apply before travelling back to New Zealand (if you are living overseas), but you can also apply while you are here. With Christmas coming up, now is a good time to apply for travel permission if you are thinking of returning to New Zealand to visit friends and family. Please contact us if you need help with travel related issues.
Some people think that they can come and go as they please because they travel on a foreign passport. This is not true. It is still an offence. The Official Assignee has border alerts in place for some bankrupts so if they try to travel without permission they will be stopped. For others, data matching could reveal past illegal travel and lead to serious consequences.
In most cases it is easy and quick to get travel permission. It is best to apply before travelling back to New Zealand (if you are living overseas), but you can also apply while you are here. With Christmas coming up, now is a good time to apply for travel permission if you are thinking of returning to New Zealand to visit friends and family. Please contact us if you need help with travel related issues.