New Zealand•Oceania1 day – 1 year
Free
Indefinite
Not renewable
Renewal
Not renewable
Family
No dependents
PR Pathway
Yes
Sponsor
No job offer needed
Work
Remote work OK
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.
| Status type | Permanent / indefinite |
600 per year
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
Sponsor registration
Proof of refugee status
Evidence of family relationship
| Immigration Online Portal | Fill online |
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