S3.5 Categories of refugees and protected persons

1. New Zealand provides assistance to two categories of refugee:
   1. Mandated refugees – people determined to be refugees before arrival in New Zealand by:
      • the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR); or
      • recognition by the International Referral Partner engaged by the New Zealand Government for the Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship (CORS) category, as meeting the definition of refugee under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees; and
   2. Convention refugees – people given refugee status by the New Zealand Government under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees (see C2.5).
2. The CORS visa category requires all applicants to engage with the international referral partner, for offshore recognition assessment (similar to the UNHCR selection process for Refugee Quota). If any applicant under CORS has previously had their refugee status assessed by the UNHCR or host country government, they must still have the international referral partner determine recognition as meeting the definition of refugee under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, to be eligible to be brought to New Zealand under the CORS complimentary refugee resettlement programme.
3. The Government sets the annual number of places available for mandated refugees under:
   1. The Refugee Quota (1,450 in the year 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, and 1,300 persons per year thereafter).
   2. CORS (50 persons in the year 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027; and 200 persons per year thereafter).
4. To allow for circumstances outside of INZ’s control, the number of places available under the Refugee Quota and the CORS category may vary by up to 10% more or less in a year.
5. If the annual number of places available under CORS is not filled in the year 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 or any year thereafter, INZ may approve further resident visa applications under the Refugee Quota within that year, to ensure that the overall annual number of places available for mandated refugees is maintained.
6. New Zealand also provides assistance to people recognised as a protected person in New Zealand in accordance with certain obligations under the 1984 Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment or the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Effective 03/07/2026