New Zealand Refugee Quota Programme
New Zealand is one of around 37 countries that take part in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) regular refugee resettlement programme.
Refugee and protection
The Refugee and Protection Unit promotes the successful resettlement of refugees here. We work with government and international agencies to help refugees who arrive here under our quota. It’s part of New Zealand’s Refugee Resettlement Strategy.
Working for refugees
The Refugee and Protection Unit promotes the interests of refugees who arrive in New Zealand each year.
They comprise:
- part of a quota under the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- family members of refugees
- asylum-seekers.
New Zealand has an obligation to protect the refugees that it accepts. It signed the:
- 1951 United Nations Convention on Refugees
- 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees
- 1984 Convention Against Torture
- 1966 Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The unit coordinates official and community support for refugees. It contributes to continual development of practices and policies that help refugees.
The Unit works closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), the UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and foreign governments.
Refugee resettlement strategy
We coordinate our work for refugees under the New Zealand Refugee Resettlement Strategy. The strategy aims to settle refugees better. It encourages refugees to participate fully in their new community and help them to become self-sufficient.
The strategy has five goals:
- self-sufficiency – all working-age refugees are in paid work or are supported by a family member in paid work
- participation – refugees actively participate in New Zealand life and have a strong sense of belonging here
- health and wellbeing – refugees and their families enjoy healthy, safe and independent lives
- education – English-language skills help refugees participate in education and daily life
- housing – refugees live in safe, secure, healthy and affordable homes without needing government housing help.
Refugee Resettlement Strategy PDF 1005KB
Settlement information for refugees
The Refugee and Protection Unit produces information and videos to support:
- refugees accepted under our quota
- approved asylum seekers
- Refugee Family Support Category members who settled in New Zealand.
Factsheets for refugees and their families settling in New Zealand
Videos for refugees and their families settling in New Zealand
Refugee quota programme
New Zealand’s Refugee Quota Programme resettles 1,500 refugees each year.
More information on the Refugee Quota Programme
Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship Category
The Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship (CORS) category pilot enables New Zealand-based community organisations to sponsor refugees for resettlement. The CORS category is complementary to the annual Refugee Quota Programme.
A CORS category pilot ran in 2018, allowing 4 approved community organisation sponsors to settle 24 sponsored refugees. The community organisations actively supported sponsored refugees to settle in New Zealand and prepared their communities to welcome refugees. Overall, the pilot helped promote community involvement and inclusion, supporting refugees to become active participants in New Zealand society.
In May 2020, the Government agreed to extend the CORS category pilot for a further 3 years from 1 July 2021. This will allow up to 50 sponsored refugees to be resettled in New Zealand in each of the 3 financial years from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2024 (a total of 150 sponsored refugees over the 3 years). Sponsored refugees will be supported to settle by approved community organisations.
In early 2021, Immigration New Zealand, together with communities, stakeholders and partners, plan to begin designing a new model that supports community organisations to engage in the extended CORS category.
Community participation in the design and development of the model will be an important part of the success of the extended CORS pilot in New Zealand. If you, or your organisation are interested in participating in the design process email: cors@mbie.govt.nz
Extended CORS pilot project estimated timeline
- Early 2021: Community engagement and design phase in relation to the community organisation support model starts.
- From mid-2021: Implementation of the community organisation support model.
- Last quarter of 2021: Applications from potential community organisations estimated to open.
Immigration New Zealand are working towards sponsored refugees arriving in New Zealand from the middle of 2022 under the extended CORS category pilot.
View the CORS pilot project estimated timeline in PDF format PDF 194KB
Please note the timeline provided is indicative only and could change due to COVID-19 requirements.
Refugee Family Support Category
New Zealand offers 600 places each year for eligible refugees resident in New Zealand to sponsor family members to join them.
Sponsoring refugee family members
Refugee and protection status
Eligible people in New Zealand can apply for refugee and protected-person status. They must show that they fear being seriously harmed or tortured or that they risk inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment if they return to a country.