New Zealand

New Zealand's Child Sex Offender Register is not public. Only authorised Police and Corrections staff can access it. No visa or entry permission for anyone ever sentenced to 5 years or more, sentenced to 12 months or more in the last 10 years, or deported from any country (Immigration Act 2009 s. 15), unless a special direction is granted.

Full profile · Last verified: September 29, 2026 · All countries

Each statement is labelled Law (statute, regulation or court ruling), Policy (official guidance) or Reported practice (what officials report doing). Items marked Recheck could not be fully confirmed from a primary source.

The country's own registry

Law The Child Sex Offender Register is not public. Only authorised Police and Corrections staff can access it.
Source: New Zealand Police: Child Sex Offender (CSO) Register; Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Act 2016
Law Registered offenders must tell Police at least 7 days before travelling overseas.
Source: New Zealand Police: Child Sex Offender (CSO) Register

Entry and admissibility

Law No visa or entry permission may be granted to a person who has ever been sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment or more, who was sentenced to 12 months or more within the last 10 years, or who has been deported from any country (Immigration Act 2009, s. 15).
Source: Immigration Act 2009, s. 15; Immigration New Zealand Operational Manual: persons not eligible for visas (ss. 15–16) — archived copy of Aug. 27, 2026 (immigration.govt.nz unavailable Oct. 15, 2026)

Visa / travel authorisation

Policy A traveller with a criminal conviction or a past deportation may not meet NZeTA character requirements and should apply for a visa before travelling.
Source: Immigration New Zealand: NZeTA — archived copy of Sept. 25, 2026 (immigration.govt.nz unavailable Oct. 15, 2026)

Registration or reporting after arrival

Law The register is governed by the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Act 2016. How it treats people convicted overseas who move to New Zealand was not verified for this guide.
Source: Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Act 2016
Recheck: legislation.govt.nz returned a bot challenge; confirm the overseas-offender provisions.

Residency, employment and housing

Policy People covered by s. 15 or 16 must not be granted a residence-class visa unless a special direction has been given.
Source: Immigration New Zealand Operational Manual: persons not eligible for visas (ss. 15–16) — archived copy of Aug. 27, 2026 (immigration.govt.nz unavailable Oct. 15, 2026)

Removal, rehabilitation or waivers

Law The only exception to the s. 15 bar is a special direction under s. 17 authorising a visa and entry permission.
Source: Immigration New Zealand Operational Manual: persons not eligible for visas (ss. 15–16) — archived copy of Aug. 27, 2026 (immigration.govt.nz unavailable Oct. 15, 2026)

What U.S. rules still apply

Law U.S. law still applies to the trip itself: registrants must report international travel at least 21 days in advance, and the U.S. may notify the destination country before arrival. See the U.S. travel guide for the notice rule, the passport identifier and how notifications work.
Source: ComplianceAtlas: Traveling Abroad as a U.S. Registrant

Read Traveling Abroad as a U.S. Registrant before booking.

Sources

Legal Disclaimer

International laws, immigration policies, and registry requirements change frequently and may vary depending on citizenship, visa type, offense history, and purpose of travel. Entry decisions are made solely by each country's immigration authorities. Always verify current requirements using official government sources before traveling. This page is not legal advice.