New Zealand•Oceania

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Refugee Family Support Resident Visa

Residency Pathway PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Remote Work

At a Glance

Processing Time

1-365 days

Application Fee

Free

Stay Duration

Indefinite

Renewable

Job Offer

Not Required

Dependents

Not Specified

PR Pathway

Available

Remote Work

Allowed

Official Information

Overview

Free permanent-residence pathway letting refugees in New Zealand sponsor family members under an annual quota of 600 places.

New Zealand's humanitarian residence pathway lets refugees or protected persons with NZ residence sponsor close family for permanent residence. Immigration New Zealand runs a two-stage process: the sponsor registers, then nominated family receive an Invitation to Apply.

Applications are free — refugees and protected people are waived from the visa fee and immigration levy. The annual quota is 600 places across Tier 1 and Tier 2 queues, but INZ currently accepts only Tier 1 registrations. Processing can take up to 12 months. Successful applicants gain indefinite residence with full work rights; partners and dependent children aged 24 or under may be included.

This visa is ideal for close relatives of NZ-resident refugees with no other residence pathway, whose sponsor has no immediate family lawfully settled in New Zealand.

Stay & Extensions

Status type

Permanent / indefinite

Annual Cap & Quota

600 per year

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Sponsor must be a NZ citizen/resident granted residence as a refugee/protected person

Currently only Tier 1 registrations accepted (no immediate family in NZ)

Annual quota of 600 places

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Sponsor registration

Proof of refugee status

Evidence of family relationship

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Permanent residence on approval — no temporary-status stepping stone
No visa application fee or immigration levy (refugee waiver)
Full rights to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely
Partner and dependent children aged 24 or under can be included
INZ funds the approved applicant's medical assessments and travel costs
Settlement-provider support arranged in the first two years after arrival

Worth Knowing

Annual quota of 600 places limits how many family members can be sponsored each year
Processing can take up to 12 months under current demand
Sponsor must arrange suitable accommodation and ongoing support for the first two years
Sponsor and applicants must meet identity, health, and character requirements
Only Tier 1 sponsor registrations are currently being accepted by INZ
Sponsor must be a NZ citizen or resident granted residence as a refugee or protected person
Applicants who qualify for any other NZ residence category are ineligible

Application Process

Submit Sponsor Registration

Receive Invitation to Apply

Submit Residence Application

Application Forms

Immigration Online Portal

Fill online

Verified Claims (8)

Last verified May 31, 2026

Fee Breakdown	Application Fee: 0 NZD	immigration.govt.nz
Fees	Free (NZD 0) — refugees and protected people are waived from the visa application fee and immigratio…	immigration.govt.nz
Forms · Immigration Online Portal · optional	false	immigration.govt.nz
Forms · Immigration Online Portal · url	https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/refugee-family-support-resident-visa/	immigration.govt.nz
Official Info	https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/refugee-family-support-resident-visa/	immigration.govt.nz
Petitioner	family	immigration.govt.nz
Processing Estimates	{"minDays":1,"maxDays":365}	immigration.govt.nz
Processing Time	Up to 12 months	immigration.govt.nz

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