Refugee Quota Programme
UNHCR resettlement · Official name: Refugee Quota Programme (RQP)
New Zealand resettles refugees referred by UNHCR. Together with the Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship programme it takes 1,500 refugees a year. People cannot apply directly: applicants usually must be recognised as mandated refugees by UNHCR and referred under its resettlement guidelines; close family of the principal applicant may be exempt from that requirement. Quota refugees are granted permanent residence, spend their first 5 weeks at the Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre (Te Āhuru Mōwai o Aotearoa), and can get settlement support for up to 2 years.
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
UNHCR-recognised refugees referred to New Zealand for resettlement, and their nuclear or dependent family members.
Eligibility
UNHCR referral
Applicants usually must be recognised as mandated refugees by UNHCR and referred under UNHCR's resettlement guidelines. Some applicants are exempt, including nuclear or dependent family members of the principal applicant.
Regional allocation
RQP places are split between four world regions, and the quota's composition is agreed each year.
Share of RQP places by region
- Asia-Pacific
- 50%
- Middle East
- 20%
- Africa
- 20%
- Americas
- 10%
- Ministers of Immigration and Foreign Affairs agree the composition each year
- The programme is reviewed every 3 years
Official wording
RQP places are allocated 50% Asia-Pacific, 20% Middle East, 20% Africa and 10% Americas. Ministers of Immigration and Foreign Affairs agree the quota's composition each year, and the programme is reviewed every 3 years.
Assessment
Immigration New Zealand assesses cases against policy, credibility, settlement, security, immigration risk and health.
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- 1 more requirement
- 2 documents
- 1 fee
- 5 steps
- Processing times and conditions
