Travel disrupted by
the Middle East
situation
Issued: Monday 02 Mar 2026, 07:10 pm NZDT
We have established a priority phone line from Monday to Friday for people to contact us about this specific situation. Call 0508 558 855 (toll free from NZ landlines) or +64 9 914 4100 and press option 7. For information about what options are available to you, check:
Middle East: advice for temporary visa holders in New Zealand affected by travel disruptions
Refugees and asylum seeker information
Find out how New Zealand helps refugees and asylum seekers, how to claim protected person status, and what is required when you are sponsoring family as a refugee.
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Supporting refugees
Starting a new life in a new country is not always easy. We help refugees and asylum seekers settle into communities, find work and gain access to health services.
Sponsoring family if you are a refugee in New Zealand
Sponsors under the Refugee Family Support Category must register as either a tier 1 or tier 2 sponsor before their family members can be invited to apply for a New Zealand resident visa.
Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship programme
Immigration New Zealand collaborated with refugees, previously approved sponsors, iwi partners, and key stakeholders to co-design a community model to support the delivery of the Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship programme.
Refugee Survey 2025
We are carrying out a Refugee Survey this year, to help the Government better understand the experiences of former refugees and their families. Data collected from the survey will help us to improve the experience of refugees resettling in New Zealand in the future.