S3.17 Requirements for making an application for grant of a permanent resident visa (mandated refugee)

1. A person who has been recognised as a mandated refugee under S3.5(a)(i)) by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and put forward for consideration to be resettled in New Zealand under the refugee quota residence programme, may be selected to apply for a permanent resident visa.
2. “Candidate” refers to each person put forward for consideration for the Refugee Quota Programme by the UNHCR. Once selected, candidates can then apply for residence.
3. Applications from mandated refugees must be made in the prescribed manner (see R2.40), submitted at an interview with an immigration officer or delegated individual, and be processed and decided by the Refugee Quota Branch (RQB).
4. RQB immigration officers may waive by special direction any mandatory requirement for lodgement including the application fee, except the requirements to complete and submit:
   1. one Residence Application for Mandated Refugees form;
   2. two passport photographs of each person included in the application; and
   3. separate medical certificates for each person included in the application, as specified in A4.74.1.
5. If an original or certified copy of a birth certificate or identity card for any person included in the application is unavailable, a declaration confirming full name, date and place of birth and full names of both parents must be submitted.
6. If documents relating to the custody of any child under the age of 16 included in the application are unavailable, a declaration confirming the legal custody of children must be submitted and/or a UNHCR Best Interest Determination (BID). Where the child is an unaccompanied minor or separated child, a UNHCR BID must be submitted.
7. The principal applicant and partner included in the application must supply evidence to show the nature and duration of their partnership, and that it is a genuine and stable partnership (see F2.20). A declaration confirming the duration and nature of the partnership must be submitted if such evidence would be unduly difficult to obtain because:
   1. conditions in the relevant country are such that the country's governmental infrastructure is no longer functioning; and/or
   2. there are circumstances beyond the control of the applicants which prevent them obtaining the required evidence.
8. Applicants who have been selected to be part of the refugee quota programme are exempt from the requirement to have an acceptable standard of health (see A4.10), except where the provisions at A4.74 apply.
9. The principal applicant and any dependants, aged 17 and over, included in the application, must provide a police clearance certificate, less than 6 months old at the time the refugee determination is made for each country in which they have lived for 12 months or more during the past 10 years except where:
   1. the certificate is required from the applicant’s home country, where they have a well-founded fear of approaching the authorities; or
   2. the authorities of any such country do not generally provide police certificates; or
   3. the immigration officer deems it unsafe for the applicant to approach the authorities of that country.
10. If overseas police clearances are unavailable for any person aged 17 and older, included in the application, a declaration must be provided stating whether they have been convicted, or found guilty of, or charged with, any offences against the law in the country or countries for which police clearance certificates are unavailable.

Effective 01/07/2013