Guides and resources for asylum seekers

Guides, resources, procedural guides and information about support services available for asylum seekers.

Information for refugees and asylum seekers

Our guidelines for the asylum claim process

The Refugee Status Unit (RSU) provides guidelines for:

children and minors
confidentiality.

The children and minors guidelines are for RPOs, claimants, their representatives, and adults who determine the refugee or protected person status of minors or children.

Guidelines on Children and Minors at the Refugee Status Unit (Updated June 2018) PDF 375KB

The confidentiality guidelines explain how the law protects your identity and details of your claim. They also explain situations where we may share your information. We will not share information if this could put you or any other person in danger.

Refugee Status Branch Confidentiality Guidelines (2018) PDF 449KB

More information about the asylum claims process

The following guide describes the asylum claims process in detail, as well as your rights and responsibilities. This guide is also available in other languages.

Claiming Refugee and Protection Status in New Zealand | English PDF 1MB

Claiming Refugee and Protection Status in New Zealand | Arabic PDF 9MB

Claiming Refugee and Protection Status in New Zealand | Chinese PDF 6MB

Claiming Refugee and Protection Status in New Zealand | Farsi PDF 25MB

Claiming Refugee and Protection Status in New Zealand | Hindi PDF 15MB

Claiming Refugee and Protection Status in New Zealand | Russian PDF 24MB

Claiming Refugee and Protection Status in New Zealand | Punjabi PDF 9MB

Claiming Refugee and Protection Status in New Zealand | Spanish PDF 2MB

Other resources

Practice Note

The Practice Note is a detailed guide to the refugee and protection claim determination process. It has been co-designed with legal practitioners and other stakeholders. It is reviewed annually.

The RSU has been operating a managed queue for claims to be allocated to an RPO for processing since 2019. While the managed queue is operating the timeframes in the Practice Note apply from allocation to an RPO rather than from when the claim is lodged.

Refugee Status Unit Practice Note (Refugee and protection status determination) PDF 1MB

Releasing personal information

You may be asked to sign a privacy waiver. For example, so that information may be shared between family members, or to help us assess your claim. Below are 2 examples of common waivers.

Privacy waiver – authority to release personal information to Immigration New Zealand PDF 266KB

Privacy waiver – authority for Immigration New Zealand to release personal information PDF 244KB

Recognition as a refugee or protected person

If you are recognised as a refugee or protected person you can stay in New Zealand. Our information for convention refugees guide has information about support services available for convention refugees. This guide is also available in other languages.

Information for Convention refugees | English PDF 481KB

Information for Convention refugees | Mandarin PDF 829KB

Information for Convention refugees | Spanish PDF 407KB

Information for Convention refugees | Turkish PDF 476KB

Information for Convention refugees | Tamil PDF 431KB

Information for Convention refugees | Arabic PDF 420KB

Information for Convention refugees | Farsi PDF 462KB

Note

The latest version of this document will be available in other languages soon.

We also have a YouTube video available with information about settling in New Zealand if you are recognised as a refugee or protected person.

Convention Refugees – settling into New Zealand — YouTube

Services for asylum seekers

While your claim is being processed you can use health care in New Zealand. You may also be able to apply for a work visa so you can get a job. If your children are with you, you can enroll them at school. You also may be able to access financial support from the government.

Welfare advisor support

A welfare advisor can help you with your welfare and support while your asylum claim is being assessed. This includes connecting you to government services such as healthcare, financial support, housing and education. These government services can be provided in your own language with the government agency providing an interpreter for you.

The advisor cannot talk to you about your claim.

You can email the welfare advisor.

welfare.advisor@mbie.govt.nz

Other languages

Information about welfare advisor support is also available in other languages including:

Arabic, Bengali, Farsi, Hindi, Mandarin, Punjabi, Spanish, Tamil, Turkish.

Other languages – welfare advisor support PDF 746KB

Services for asylum seekers brochure

The following brochure contains information about services and support that is available to people seeking refugee or protected person status in New Zealand. There are brochures available for different cities in New Zealand and they are also available in other languages.