Former foreign sex workers can be granted New Zealand residency despite immigration rules stating no visas shall be granted to current or former sex workers, Immigration New Zealand says.
INZ's operations support manager Michael Carley said the Prostitution Reform Act had decriminalised prostitution, and several restrictions relating to immigration were set out.
"Among these it specifies that a visa may not be granted on the basis that a person has provided or intends to provide commercial sexual services," Carley said.
Under current rules, no visa might be granted to anyone who has provided, or intends to provide commercial sexual services.
This also applies to anyone who has acted, or intends to act as an operator or investor of a business of prostitution.