The objective of the Refugee Family Support Category is to help refugees living in New Zealand to settle by allowing them to sponsor family members for residence. We welcome 300 sponsored people (including their partners and dependent children) to settle in New Zealand each year under the Refugee Family Support Category.

The Refugee Family Support Category has replaced the previous Refugee Family Quota ballot system.

Refugee Family Support Category overview

Bringing your family to New Zealand under the Refugee Family Support Category is a three-stage process.

1. You register as a sponsor.
2. We select your registration.
3. Your family members apply for residence.

The registration system

The Refugee Family Support Category has a two-tier registration system. Priority is given to tier one sponsors who meet our tier one sponsorship requirements – these people have a more immediate need to bring their family to New Zealand.

 

The table below shows how the process works.

 

Step 1
Registrations from tier one sponsors are given first access to the 300 places available each year. They are put in a queue. Registrations are selected from the tier one queue until the 300 places are filled.
Step 2
If any of the 300 annual places are still available, we will call for registrations from tier two sponsors. Registrations are selected from the tier two queue until the 300 places are filled.
Step 3
If their sponsor’s registration is selected from the tier one or two queues and they meet eligibility requirements, family members can apply for residence under this category.

Sponsorship requirements

To find out more about sponsorship requirements:

• use our quick check to see whether you are eligible to be a sponsor under tier one or two.
• see our sponsorship requirements for the full requirements, what the process involves, and how to register.
• see our frequently asked questions about sponsor registration.

Residence requirements

To find out about the requirements that the people applying for a residence class visa must meet:

• use our quick check for an overview of the requirements.
• see the full residence requirements, and find out how to apply.
• see our frequently asked questions about residence.

Update on Refugee Family Support Category (RFSC)

Summary of Previous Financial Year (1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012)

Tier two category

Tier two of the RFSC opened for registrations between Tuesday 17 April 2012 and Thursday 19 April 2012. Within this three–day period, 763 registrations representing 3348 nominees were received.

 

(Registrations received before or submitted after the opening periods were not accepted for processing]

Update on tier one and tier two queues
(1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012)

During the previous financial year (1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012), 54 tier one sponsors (representing 180 people) were issued Invitation to Apply (ITA) for residence letters.

 

In June 2012 of the previous financial year (1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012), 95 tier two sponsors (representing 401 people) were issued Invitation to Apply (ITA) for residence letters.

Update on RFSC residence applications (1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012)

186 people were approved for residence during 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012.

Current financial year (1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013)

Tier one registrations current financial year (2012/2013)

42 new tier one sponsor registrations (representing 129 people) have been received during the current financial year (from 1 July 2012 to 31 March 2013).

 

42 tier one sponsors (representing 133 people) were issued Invitation to Apply (ITA) for residence letters in the same period (from 1 July 2012 to 31 March 2013).

 

As at 31 March 2013, there were 24 tier one sponsor registrations (105 people) yet to be decided.

Tier two registrations current financial year (2012/2013)

53 tier two sponsors (representing 232 people) were issued Invitation to Apply (ITA) for residence letters during the same period (1 July 2012 to 31 March 2013).

 

As at 31 March 2013, there were 580 tier two sponsor registrations yet to be decided. We are now determining registrations received on 17 April 2012.

 

This website will be kept updated regarding the opening of the RFSC tier two category in the future.

Update on RFSC residence applications current financial year (2012/2013)

143 people have been approved for residence from 1 July 2012 till 31 March 2013.

Tier two of the category

Tier two opened for a set period from 17 April 2012 to 19 April 2012 and it is currently closed.

For more information

For more information on the processes for tier one or tier two, please see Refugee Family Support Category - sponsor registration frequently asked questions.

Living in New Zealand

For general information on New Zealand, take a look at the New Zealand Now website.