1. How do I qualify for residence under the Refugee Family Support Category?
You qualify for residence under the Refugee Family Support Category if:
- your sponsor’s registration is selected from the tier one queue; or
- your sponsor’s registration is drawn from the tier two ballot; and
- you are not eligible for residence in New Zealand under any other category of Government residence policy with the exception of the Family Quota Category; and
- we can confirm the relationship between you and your family members (including the relationship between you and your sponsor); and
- you meet health and character requirements; and
- you lodge a residence application within twelve months of advice from Immigration New Zealand to your sponsor that their registration has been selected.
Please note: If you are in New Zealand, you must be lawfully in New Zealand to lodge an application under the Refugee Family Support Category.
2. If I can only include a partner and dependent children in my residence application if they were listed in my sponsor’s registration form, what if I got married, or had another child born, after my sponsor’s registration was submitted?
Any person not eligible to be included at the time of registration who is eligible at the time of application for residence, such as a newborn child, a child adopted after registration, or a new partner, can be included in the residence application as long as a family link is established.
In the case of a new partner, you and your partner must have been living together in a genuine and stable relationship for 12 months or more at the time your residence application is assessed (to meet New Zealand Government residence Partnership policy requirements).
3. I have been invited to apply for residence under the Refugee Family Support Category, how do I apply for residence?
Your sponsor’s letter from INZ inviting you to apply for New Zealand residence will come with information on how to obtain an information pack and where to lodge the application.
Details of all the requirements you must meet to be approved for New Zealand residence will be explained in the letter.
Please note: You will need to meet all costs yourself. These include the residence application fee, any costs of medical examinations, police certificates and other required documents, and your travel costs.
4. Who can I contact with further questions?
You can visit your local Immigration branch, go to our website www.immigration.govt.nz or phone:
- 0508 55 88 55 (if you are within New Zealand but outside of Auckland), or
- 09 914 4100 (if you are calling from Auckland), or
- +64 9 914 4100 (if you are calling from outside of New Zealand).