What a refugee is

A refugee is a person who is forced to flee their own country and seek safety in another country.

What is a refugee? — United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Who can come to New Zealand as a refugee

You can be granted permanent protection in New Zealand either:

• under the Refugee Quota Programme, or
• if you have been approved refugee or protected person status (also known as claiming asylum).

If you have no immediate family in New Zealand, you can sponsor them to join you once you have been granted residence.

Refugee Family Support Resident Visa — Immigration New Zealand

Refugee Quota Programme

This is New Zealand’s resettlement programme for the most vulnerable refugees.

Once you are recognised as a refugee by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), they will refer your case to Immigration New Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand will look at your case and check to see if it meets the immigration criteria.

New Zealand resettles 1500 refugees each year under the Refugee Quota Programme.

Information for Refugees, Asylum-seekers and Stateless People — UNHCR

Contact UNHCR for help

If you need more help or have questions, contact the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Seeking help — UNHCR

Claim asylum in New Zealand

You must be in New Zealand to claim refugee or protected person status (also known as claiming asylum). You must have a well-founded fear of returning to your home country. There are very strict rules that you need to meet.

Claiming refugee or protected person status — Immigration New Zealand

Support for you in New Zealand

New Zealand government agencies will provide you with support as you settle in. The type of support you can get depends on whether you came to New Zealand under the Refugee Quota Programme or claimed asylum, and what visa you have.

Refugees settling in New Zealand — Immigration New Zealand

Setting up your life in New Zealand — Immigration New Zealand

Your new home

When you move to your new town or city in New Zealand, a settlement provider in your area will help you get settled. They will help you:

• set up your new home
• join up to public services — such as doctors or enrolling children in school
• connect to communities.

Language support

English is the main language used in New Zealand. Māori and New Zealand Sign Language are official languages in New Zealand.

There is support available to learn English and while you learn, you can access interpreting services. You can also get help with translating documents.

Learn English

You can learn English through online courses, classes or home tutoring.

Want to learn English? — English Language Partners

Get a language interpreter

A language interpreter can help you talk to people while you learn English.

Government agencies, councils and medical centres offer free phone, video or face-to-face interpreters. There are interpreters for over 120 languages available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

To get an interpreter, call or visit the organisation you need to talk to and say “Can I have an interpreter for (English name of your language) please”.

Accessing interpreting services — Ministry for Ethnic Communities

Get documents translated

The Department of Internal Affairs Translation Service can translate your documents into English from over 70 languages.

Translating official documents

Find work

The New Zealand Red Cross can help you prepare for and find a job. They can help you:

• write your CV or cover letter — a CV (also known as a resume) is a document you give to employers that lists your work history, experience and skills
• plan your career and goals
• find and apply for jobs that match your skills
• help you into training, study or work experience opportunities
• prepare for interviews with employers.

Finding a job — Red Cross

While looking for work, you may be able to get financial help from Work and Income.

Re-establishment grant — Work and Income

Healthcare

You may be able to get government-funded healthcare. This means the government may pay some or all of the costs of your healthcare.

Public health services

Mental health support

Specialist mental health services are available. These are provided by:

• Refugees as Survivors New Zealand (RASNZ) — Auckland
• Refugee Trauma Recovery — Wellington.

Specialist refugee mental health services — New Zealand Red Cross

School in New Zealand

Your child’s education is free between the ages of 5 and 19 at state schools. State schools are government-owned and funded. Your settlement provider can help you find and enrol your child in school.

Our education system — Ministry of Education

Volunteer to support refugees

If you want to help support refugees, there are lots of organisations you can volunteer with, such as:

• Red Cross
• Refugees as Survivors New Zealand (RASNZ).

Search online to find other volunteer opportunities.