Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship (CORS) - permanent from July 2026, 50 places in the first year
Official name: Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship (CORS) programme
Under CORS, approved community organisations sponsor refugees to resettle in New Zealand and give them direct settlement support for up to 2 years. After a pilot, CORS became a permanent pathway alongside the Refugee Quota Programme in July 2026. It is being introduced gradually: 50 places in the first year and 200 places a year from 1 Jul 2027, within New Zealand's 1,500-a-year refugee intake; unfilled places go to quota refugees. Refugees cannot apply on their own: they must be referred by an international partner or nominated by an approved sponsor. Principal applicants must be 18 to 45, a mandated refugee, have basic English, and have 3 years' work experience or a qualification needing at least 2 years of post-secondary study. INZ handles visas; HOST International Aotearoa supports sponsors.
Life in New Zealand
Finance
3
Currency
New Zealand Dollar
NZD
New Zealand Dollar
Cost of living
89
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
10.5–39%
Income tax (national)
GST 15%
39% applies to income over NZD 180,000; ACC earners' levy is charged in addition.
Living
1
Happiness
#11 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Who it’s for
Refugees sponsored by an approved New Zealand community organisation; and community organisations that want to sponsor.
Eligibility
Permanent from July 2026
CORS becomes a permanent pathway from 3 Jul 2026, with a set number of places each year.
CORS places
From 3 Jul 2026- First year
- 50 places
- Each year afterfrom 1 Jul 2027
- 200 places
- RQP and CORS totalper year, combined
- 1,500 places
- Unfilled CORS places go to refugees referred through the Refugee Quota Programme
Official wording
INZ says CORS becomes a permanent complementary pathway from 3 Jul 2026, with 50 places in the first year (from 1 Jul 2026) and 200 places each year from 1 Jul 2027, as part of 1,500 refugee places a year across the RQP and CORS. Unfilled CORS places are used for refugees referred through the Refugee Quota Programme.
Principal applicantRefugee
The principal applicant must be aged 18 to 45, a mandated refugee, have basic English and meet a work or study test.
Principal applicant limits
- Age
- 18 to 45
- Work experienceor qualification
- At least 3 years
- Post-secondary studyor work experience
- At least 2 years
- Qualification can be a series of qualifications
- Basic level of English is required
Official wording
Aged 18 to 45; a mandated refugee; a basic level of English; and either at least 3 years of work experience or a qualification (or series of qualifications) that needs at least 2 years of post-secondary study.
All applicantsRefugee
All applicants must meet health, character and security requirements and live in an accepted region.
Accepted regions
- Region
- Africa
- Region
- The Americas
- Region
- Asia and the Pacific
- Region
- Middle East and North Africa
- You must not be eligible under another INZ family category
- This includes the Refugee Family Support Category
Official wording
Meet health, character and security requirements; live in a region where New Zealand accepts refugees (Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, or the Middle East and North Africa); and not be eligible for residence under another INZ family category, including the Refugee Family Support Category.
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- 2 more requirements
- 4 documents
- 1 fee
- 4 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Official sources
- Immigration New Zealand - Refugee Quota Programme (CORS section; read 30 Oct 2026)
- Immigration New Zealand - Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship programme (read 30 Oct 2026)
- Immigration New Zealand - Who can be sponsored for a Community Sponsored Refugee Resident Visa (read 30 Oct 2026)
- Immigration New Zealand - Becoming an approved community organisation sponsor (read 30 Oct 2026)
- MBIE - Establishing a permanent CORS pathway, Cabinet paper (proactive release, 2026)
