Immigration and visas

Migration settings, work and family visas, refugees, settlement and migrant rights.

17 registered parties reviewed. 6 have citable material and 17 claims are recorded.

Rows without a claim mean no citable publication was found in material checked through 10 August 2026. This does not prove a party has no view.

How to read this comparison

A party source establishes what the party proposed. It does not by itself prove effectiveness, implementation or complete costing. Coverage reflects the verified material currently available.

Published position: At least one public party claim is summarised and linked to its source.
Topic mentioned, no detailed citable position: The party refers to this topic, but material checked through 10 August 2026 did not support a claim-level summary.
No published position found: No citable party publication on this topic was found in material checked through 10 August 2026. This does not prove the party has no view.

Party policy comparison
Party	Published claims or coverage status	Evidence
National The New Zealand National PartyGovernment coalition49 seats	Policy proposal Extending deportation liability to 20 years What this means The Government proposes extending from 10 to 20 years the period in which a residence-class visa holder can become liable for deportation after serious criminal offending.	Evidence and checks2 sources Verification note: As at 28 May 2026 the bill was still before Parliament and must not be described as law. Sources Immigration bill to hold people accountable for serious offendingOpens in a new tab Immigration amendment bill to hold people accountable for serious offendingOpens in a new tab
	Policy proposal Higher exploitation penalty and more enforcement staff What this means The bill would raise the maximum migrant exploitation sentence from seven to 10 years. Budget 2026 also provides NZ$18 million over four years and about 22 additional staff for three compliance, investigations and labour inspectorate teams.	Evidence and checks2 sources Verification note: The higher maximum sentence is proposed. The funding and staffing are announced government measures. Sources Immigration bill to hold people accountable for serious offendingOpens in a new tab More resources to combat migrant exploitationOpens in a new tab
	Policy proposal Two new skilled residence pathways What this means The Government created Skilled Work Experience and Trades and Technician pathways with requirements for relevant experience, work in New Zealand, wage thresholds and eligible qualifications.	Evidence and checks2 sources Verification note: The settings take effect on 24 August 2026 and include red and amber occupation lists that restrict eligibility. Sources New residence options to bolster workforceOpens in a new tab Further Skilled Migrant Category changes taking effect in August 2026Opens in a new tab
	Policy proposal A mostly chronological Parent Resident Visa queue What this means From the 10 November 2026 selection, 90% of expressions of interest will be selected by submission date and 10% by ballot. The annual cap stays at 2,500 and expressions of interest no longer expire after two years.	Evidence and checks2 sources Verification note: The Government says the change does not increase visa places or remove waiting times. Sources Fairer Parent Resident Visa process deliveredOpens in a new tab Fairer Parent Resident Visa process deliveredOpens in a new tab
Labour New Zealand Labour PartyParliamentary opposition34 seats	No published position foundLast checked: 10 August 2026	Profile source Labour policy centreOpens in a new tab Open the full party page
Green Party The Green Party of Aotearoa New ZealandParliamentary opposition14 seats	Party position Increasing the refugee quota and refugee services What this means Green Party policy is to increase New Zealand's refugee quota and the resources needed to provide adequate refugee services.	Evidence and checks2 sources Verification note: The current policy gives a direction but no target number, timetable or cost. Sources Immigration PolicyOpens in a new tab Green Party Immigration Policy 2017-2026Opens in a new tab
	Party position Immigration provision for climate displacement What this means The party proposes specific provision in immigration law for people displaced by climate change, based on need.	Evidence and checks2 sources Verification note: No visa category, quota or eligibility test is specified. Sources Immigration PolicyOpens in a new tab Green Party Immigration Policy 2017-2026Opens in a new tab
	Party position Advocating for a Pacific Passport What this means The party proposes advocating for a Pacific Passport that would allow free movement between Pacific island countries and New Zealand.	Evidence and checks2 sources Verification note: This would require agreement with other countries and is not a policy New Zealand could implement alone. Sources Immigration PolicyOpens in a new tab Green Party Immigration Policy 2017-2026Opens in a new tab
	Party position Equal pay and conditions for temporary migrant workers What this means The party proposes requiring employers to pay temporary migrant workers no less than local workers and provide the same working conditions.	Evidence and checks2 sources Verification note: The policy summary does not specify an enforcement mechanism or penalties. Sources Immigration PolicyOpens in a new tab Green Party Immigration Policy 2017-2026Opens in a new tab
ACT ACT New ZealandGovernment coalition11 seats	Election promise Removing the time limit on deporting serious offenders What this means ACT would allow residence-class visa holders convicted of offences carrying sentences of 10 years or more to be deported regardless of how long they have lived in New Zealand.	Evidence and checks1 source Verification note: The party page has no publication date. It can only be confirmed as public by about May 2026. Sources Making immigration work for New ZealandOpens in a new tab
	Election promise Annual expiry of work visa skill categories What this means ACT would make each Accredited Employer Work Visa skill category expire every year unless current evidence of labour demand supports keeping it open.	Evidence and checks1 source Verification note: The policy gives no implementation timetable or agency responsible for reassessing demand. Sources Making immigration work for New ZealandOpens in a new tab
	Election promise Five-year welfare stand-down for new residents What this means ACT would apply a five-year stand-down from jobseeker support, the accommodation supplement and other income-tested benefits to all residence-class visa holders.	Evidence and checks1 source Verification note: The policy does not say whether existing residents would be affected or how reciprocal social security agreements would be handled. Sources Making immigration work for New ZealandOpens in a new tab
	Election promise Daily infrastructure surcharge on temporary work visas What this means ACT would add a NZ$6 per day infrastructure surcharge to temporary work visas on top of existing charges.	Evidence and checks1 source Verification note: The estimate of about NZ$80 million a year is the party's figure and has not been independently verified. Sources Making immigration work for New ZealandOpens in a new tab
	Election promise A dedicated overstayer unit and platform employer checks What this means ACT would create a dedicated Immigration New Zealand enforcement unit, require platform employers to verify and report work rights, and remove accreditation from employers that facilitate overstaying.	Evidence and checks1 source Verification note: The overstayer count cited by ACT is a party-supplied number and should not be presented as an unattributed official statistic. Sources Making immigration work for New ZealandOpens in a new tab
NZ First New Zealand First PartyGovernment coalition8 seats	Party position Opposition to the 2025 skilled residence pathways What this means In September 2025 New Zealand First invoked the coalition agree-to-disagree provision over new residence pathways for existing migrant work visa holders.	Evidence and checks2 sources Verification note: This records a 2025 coalition disagreement and has not been republished as a 2026 campaign promise. Sources NZ First invokes agree to disagree on Skilled Migrant Visa changesOpens in a new tab New residence options to bolster workforceOpens in a new tab
NZ First New Zealand First PartyGovernment coalition8 seats	Party position Extending work visas instead of granting residence What this means New Zealand First said it would support extending existing work visas for workers already in New Zealand by three years to meet short-term demand, rather than granting residence.	Evidence and checks1 source Verification note: The position comes from the same 2025 statement and has not been republished as a 2026 immigration policy. Sources NZ First invokes agree to disagree on Skilled Migrant Visa changesOpens in a new tab
Te Pāti Māori Parliamentary opposition4 seats	No published position foundLast checked: 10 August 2026	Profile source Te Pāti Māori policy feedOpens in a new tab Education and training policyOpens in a new tab Open the full party page
Opportunity Party No seats in Parliament0 seatsCurrently has no seats in Parliament	No published position foundLast checked: 10 August 2026	Profile source Tax ResetOpens in a new tab What is the Opportunity Party and what are its policies?Opens in a new tab Open the full party page
Alliance Party Alliance Party of Aotearoa New ZealandNo seats in Parliament0 seatsRegistered on 5 August 2026	No published position foundLast checked: 10 August 2026	Profile source Alliance principles and policy platformOpens in a new tab Open the full party page
Te Tai Tokerau Party No seats in Parliament0 seatsLeader is a sitting MP, with no parliamentary caucus	No published position foundLast checked: 10 August 2026	Profile source Te Tai Tokerau PartyOpens in a new tab Te Tai Tokerau Party formationOpens in a new tab Open the full party page
Free Palestine No seats in Parliament0 seatsRegistered on 5 August 2026	No published position foundLast checked: 10 August 2026	Profile source Free Palestine principlesOpens in a new tab Open the full party page
NZ Loyal New Zealand LoyalNo seats in Parliament0 seatsRegistered on 5 August 2026	No published position foundLast checked: 10 August 2026	Profile source NZ Loyal policyOpens in a new tab NZ Loyal registration announcementOpens in a new tab Open the full party page
Outdoors & Freedom NZ Outdoors & Freedom PartyNo seats in Parliament0 seatsCurrently has no seats in Parliament	No published position foundLast checked: 10 August 2026	Profile source NZ Outdoors and Freedom policiesOpens in a new tab Open the full party page
Conservative Party Conservative Party NZNo seats in Parliament0 seatsCurrently has no seats in Parliament	Party position Limiting low-skilled immigration when youth unemployment is high What this means Limit low-skilled immigration when youth unemployment is high, and require new migrants to adapt to the New Zealand way of life.	Evidence and checks1 source Sources Conservative Party policyOpens in a new tab
Vision NZ Vision New ZealandNo seats in Parliament0 seatsCurrently has no seats in Parliament	Election promise Pausing mass immigration What this means Proposes pausing mass immigration, extending the residence requirement for citizenship to 10 years, and making English an official language.	Evidence and checks1 source Sources Vision New Zealand policiesOpens in a new tab
Women's Rights Party No seats in Parliament0 seatsCurrently has no seats in Parliament	No published position foundLast checked: 10 August 2026	Profile source Women's Rights Party policyOpens in a new tab Open the full party page
Animal Justice Party Animal Justice Party Aotearoa New ZealandNo seats in Parliament0 seatsCurrently has no seats in Parliament	No published position foundLast checked: 10 August 2026	Profile source Animal Justice Party 2026 election manifestoOpens in a new tab Open the full party page
Legalise Cannabis Party Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis PartyNo seats in Parliament0 seatsCurrently has no seats in Parliament	No published position foundLast checked: 10 August 2026	Profile source Cannabis Party policyOpens in a new tab Cannabis Party prepares for the 2026 electionOpens in a new tab Open the full party page

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