New Zealand will make its Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship (CORS) programme a permanent part of the country’s refugee resettlement system from 1 July 2026, providing an additional pathway for refugees to settle in local communities alongside the existing Refugee Quota Programme.
The move follows a successful pilot scheme and will continue to operate through a partnership involving Immigration New Zealand (INZ), community organisations, the umbrella organisation HOST International Aotearoa, and international referral partners. Under the programme, refugees can either be referred by international partners or nominated by approved New Zealand community sponsors, with all applicants required to undergo immigration, health, character and security checks before approval.
Successful applicants will be resettled directly into communities around New Zealand, where approved sponsoring organisations will provide practical and social support for up to two years. Sponsors will be responsible for securing housing, assisting with education and health enrolment, helping refugees into employment, and supporting their integration into community life.
The Government will continue to fund immigration processing, health assessments, international travel, international partner organisations, and the programme’s umbrella organisation. Refugees arriving through the scheme will be entitled to access the same public services available to New Zealand citizens, including healthcare, education and welfare support.
The programme will initially offer 50 places during the 2026-27 year before expanding to 200 places annually. As CORS places increase, the number of places available through the Refugee Quota Programme will decrease by the same amount, ensuring New Zealand’s overall refugee intake remains capped at 1,500 people per year. Any unfilled CORS places will be returned to the Refugee Quota Programme.
To qualify, refugee applicants must be recognised refugees living in approved regions, meet standard immigration requirements, possess basic English skills, be aged between 18 and 45, and have either at least three years of work experience or a post-secondary qualification requiring a minimum of two years of study.
The programme will operate through two pathways. Under the nominated pathway, approved New Zealand sponsors can identify and nominate eligible refugees. The matched pathway will see refugees referred by international partners and matched with approved community organisations. In both cases, the Government retains final authority over refugee selection and visa approvals.
