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Family of refugees: Special visa categories

The Refugee Quota Family Reunification residence category: Family of UNHCR-mandated refugees

INZ Operational Manual: Residence, S4.20

If you were granted a Resident Visa as a UNHCR-mandated refugee, you may be able to sponsor family members to join you in New Zealand. You can’t do this if you were sponsored by a community organisation under the CORS scheme (Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship).

You can only sponsor immediate family members, such as your partner or child. If you are a dependent child, you can sponsor your parent. You can’t sponsor aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins, grandparents, or other relatives.

You need to have an interview with an immigration officer to decide if you are an appropriate sponsor.

The family member you want to sponsor will have to show:

  • they are of good character
  • they are healthy enough
  • there is a good reason you were separated
  • they were declared to be a family member on your original Residence Application for Mandated Refugees form and can prove the family relationship
  • their arrival will help you, their sponsor, to settle in New Zealand
  • they have a good chance of settling into life in New Zealand.

Anyone who is given a Resident Visa through this sponsorship won’t be able to then sponsor someone else.

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Refugees

Where to go for more support

Community Law

Your local Community Law Centre can provide you with free initial legal advice on how legal aid works, whether you might be eligible for the service, and the next steps.

Find your local Community Law Centre online: www.communitylaw.org.nz/our-law-centres

Immigration New Zealand

Immigration New Zealand is the government organisation that deals with visa applications and other immigration issues. It’s part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Website: www.immigration.govt.nz
Phone: 0508 558 855

The Operational manual contains immigration instructions that people who want to come to New Zealand must follow. While it is not a step-by-step guide, it will help you follow Immigration New Zealand’s processes. Access it here: www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual

See also Immigration’s policies and processes: www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/policy-and-law/how-the-immigration-system-operates

ChangeMakers Resettlement Forum

ChangeMakers Resettlement Forum is a grass-roots non-governmental organisation representing 18+ refugee background communities in the greater Wellington region.

Website: crf.org.nz
Email: info@crf.org.nz
Phone: 04 801 5812
Facebook: www.facebook.com/changemakersrefugeeforum

E Tū Whānau

While E Tū Whānau is proudly Māori, their violence free and whānau centred kaupapa is also helpful to former refugee and migrant communities.

Website: etuwhanau.org.nz/communities/former-refugees-and-migrants
Email: admin@etuwhanau.org.nz
Instagram: www.instagram.com/etuwhanaunz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/etuwhanau

Immigration and Protection Tribunal

The Immigration and Protection Tribunal determines appeals on Immigration New Zealand’s decisions about refugee and protection matters.

Website: www.justice.govt.nz/Tribunals/immigration/immigration-and-protection

Red Cross Refugee Trauma Recovery – Wellington

This Refugee Trauma Recovery service provides clinical and therapeutic support to former refugees who have experienced torture and/or trauma in the Wellington region. The service is available to children, young people and adults.

Website: www.redcross.org.nz/get-help/help-for-refugees

Complete the trauma counselling self-referral form: www.redcross.org.nz/get-help/help-for-refugees/trauma-counselling/trauma-counselling-self-referral-form

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