New Zealand creates new visa category for Christchurch attack victims family

The special visa category is named Christchurch Response (2019) Visa, which allows people directly affected by the terrorist attack at the Masjid Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch on March 15 to stay permanently in New Zealand, Immigration New Zealand said on Tuesday.

It is confirmed that the new visa category will open on April 24, 2019.

New Zealand government said the Christchurch Response 2019 category has been created to recognize the impact of the tragedy on the lives of those most affected and to give people currently on temporary and resident visas some certainty about their immigration status in New Zealand.

Applications can be made from Wednesday by anyone who was present at either mosque when the attack took place and their immediate families.

The special circumstances mean the definition of "immediate family" also includes dependent children, someone's partner's parents and grandparents of children under 25.

The terrorist attack on March 15 at the Masjid Al Noor mosque and Linwood mosque in Christchurch central killed 50 people and injure many more.