Criteria to sponsor a visa applicant
Not everyone can sponsor a migrant to come to New Zealand. Find out which people and organisations we can accept as sponsors.
Who can sponsor a visa applicant
Some people and organisations can sponsor your application, depending on the visa you apply for.
A sponsor can be :
- a New Zealand citizen
- a New Zealand resident, if their resident visa has no section 49 conditions
- a refugee, if they are sponsoring a family member to come to New Zealand
- an organisation registered in New Zealand as a company, incorporated society or charitable trust
- a government agency – for example a tertiary education provider or a school's board of trustees
- a community organisation – but only if the visa applicant is a refugee.
Sponsoring family members if you are a refugee
Community Refugee Sponsorship
Note
Having a sponsor does not guarantee we will approve your visa. You still have to meet all the other requirements of the visa you apply for.
Who cannot sponsor a visa applicant
People or organisations cannot be a sponsor if they:
- get any financial reward or fee for sponsoring you
- have ever been convicted of an offence under immigration law – this includes the directors, trustees or management of an organisation
- have an outstanding debt to the New Zealand Government or other third parties as a result of sponsoring other visas
- failed to meet sponsorship obligations in the past.
Note
The profit your employer expects to make from your work does not exclude them from being an acceptable sponsor.
Criteria for individual sponsors
Your sponsor must:
- be a New Zealand citizen, or
- a New Zealand resident. Their resident visa must not have section 49 conditions.
They must live in New Zealand while they are sponsoring you (unless an exception applies).
Your sponsor cannot be:
- formally insolvent or bankrupt
- liable for deportation
- serving a custodial sentence (for example, be in prison) or be waiting to be sentenced after being convicted of a crime carrying a custodial sentence.
Individuals sponsoring a student visa application
Individuals who sponsor a student visa must be a friend or family member.
If you apply for a further student visa you cannot:
- change your sponsor
- have a sponsor unless a friend or family member sponsored your first student visa.
Individuals sponsoring a resident visa application
Individuals who sponsor a resident visa must:
- live in New Zealand
- have been a New Zealand citizen or resident for at least 3 years
- have spent 184 days in New Zealand in each of the last 3 years.
When we assess your application we can check our records to confirm the time your sponsor has spent in New Zealand as a citizen or resident.
Refugees sponsoring a family member
If you are a refugee sponsoring a family member to come to New Zealand, the rules are different.
Sponsoring family members if you are a refugee
If you are pregnant
If your sponsor intends to pay for your maternity care in New Zealand, they must supply financial records showing they can afford it.
Paying for maternity care
Criteria for organisations
The organisation must:
- be registered in New Zealand as a company, incorporated society or charitable trust
- show a clear link between its activities and the reason they want to sponsor you to come to New Zealand, and
- authorise a contact person to represent them and be responsible for your sponsorship.
They cannot sponsor you if they are in receivership or liquidation.
