The Refugee Quota Programme is a formal process established by the New Zealand government for resettling particular refugees. The quota is the number of refugees New Zealand is willing to resettle every 12 months. The 12 months are measured from July of one year to June of the next year: so, for example, the 2025-2026 quota covered from July 2025 until June 2026.

The refugees accepted under the programme have traditionally been located offshore and registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Since July 2020, the quota had allowed 1,500 refugees registered with the UNHCR to come to New Zealand each year. Between 2018 and 2025, New Zealand had also accepted refugees under the pilot Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship (CORS) programme in addition those accepted under the quota for UNHCR refugees.

In June 2026, the New Zealand government announced that the CORS programme would be made permanent. However, instead of being in addition to the quota, refugees accepted through that programme would now be included in the quota, with the result that New Zealand would accept fewer refugees via the UNHCR.

In 2026-2027, the quota will allow for 1,450 refugees to come to New Zealand through the UNHCR and 50 refugees to come under the CORS programme. In 2027-28, there will be 1,300 places for UNHCR refugees and 200 places for those coming through the CORS programme.

If you’re resettled under the quota, you’ll be granted a Permanent Resident Visa when you arrive in New Zealand. You’ll then be entitled to live, work and study here indefinitely.

This quota scheme is different from the scheme in the Immigration Act for refugee status claims. Under the quota scheme, a refugee is accepted before they arrive in New Zealand.

This quota does not include people applying for refugee and protected person status in New Zealand. There is no quota for people claiming refugee status in New Zealand – those claims are established on their merits with no limit on how many claims Immigration New Zealand can recognise each year.

For you to be eligible, UNHCR and Immigration New Zealand must both recognise you as a refugee. The New Zealand government determines the number of refugees it will accept from different parts of the world on the basis of its own regional and global priorities, although there are exceptions for emergencies and family reunification. You must also meet health requirements and be otherwise admissible under New Zealand law – for example, you may be excluded if you have a criminal record or are thought to be a security threat (see: “Getting a Resident Visa” and “Accessing the immigration system: Who can apply for a visa and who can’t”).

Immigration New Zealand will usually only consider cases that have been referred by the UNHCR. You must approach the UN High Commissioner for Refugees before you apply to Immigration New Zealand. Go to help.unhcr.org/newzealand for more information, or you could email aulca@unhcr.org or call (+61) 2 6281 9100.

Under the CORS programme, approved community organisations can sponsor refugees for resettlement in New Zealand. Refugees sponsored under the programme must meet standard health and character requirements as well as range of other requirements, including in relation to the ability to speak English and having either 3 years of work experience or 2 years of post-secondary education. More information can be found on the Immigration NZ website.

Immigration New Zealand will decide whether you qualify for the quota scheme according to its established policies and guidelines. In some cases, they will consult with other government agencies, such as the Ministry of Health. Immigration New Zealand’s practice is that a decision as to whether the person is eligible requires agreement between two Immigration Officers.

There is no right of review or appeal if Immigration New Zealand turns someone down for the Refugee Quota. However, they may reconsider if they are provided with additional information and a reason that justifies reconsidering the case.