KEY POINTS:
New Zealanders intending visit the United Kingdom for up to six months will continue to have free visa access, Prime Minister Helen Clark said today.
New Zealanders' traditional right of entry to Britain was at risk because of the rise in immigrant numbers, but its government had decided to keep the access open.
However a decision on ancestral visas was yet to be made.
"The British Home Office has announced overnight its intention to keep the maximum visa free access for tourists at six months," she said.
"This is of great significance to New Zealand travellers to the UK and follows extensive consultations with our Government," she said.
Helen Clark had raised the issue with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and the New Zealand High Commission in Britain made a submission.
"We have had a very good hearing from British ministers and officials during the consultation process. There is a great deal of goodwill towards New Zealand in Britain."
Britain has been reviewing its immigration policy and was looking at halving the period of free entry for tourists and business visitors.
It had considered reducing the period academic visitors could stay but that would remain at 12 months.
"The British Government's decision means that there will be no significant changes to the rules affecting New Zealanders."
Helen Clark said the decision meant the Kiwis on their OE would still have access to Britain.
"We have made a sustained effort to maintain the good level of access our people have traditionally enjoyed to Britain, and are very pleased with the response from the British Government."
The British government is expected to make a decision next month about ancestral visas.
British officials were looking at abolishing the ancestry visa, which allowed people whose grandparents were born in Britain to live there for four years and apply for residency.
The law change could affect the thousands of New Zealanders every year who include work experience in Britain as part of their overseas experience.
In 2006, 1940 New Zealand holders of visas based on ancestry entered Britain. The British High Commission said it received from New Zealanders about 4000 applications a year for an ancestry visa.
- NZPA
