Status: Policy watch — proposed legislation subject to parliamentary enactment.
Immigration New Zealand has introduced the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill to Parliament, proposing 15 legislative changes to strengthen compliance and refugee system integrity. These proposed amendments are subject to the parliamentary process and are not current law.
What this means in practice
The Amendment Bill proposes several adjustments to immigration legislation. It seeks to extend the residence deportation liability window for individuals convicted of serious crimes from 10 to 20 years. Additionally, the Bill proposes allowing Immigration New Zealand to consider serious criminal offending committed within New Zealand prior to the determination of a refugee status claim, affecting 14 active claims currently in progress. The proposed framework also introduces measures aimed at addressing bad-faith asylum claims and managing missed biometric appointments. Because this is a bill introduced to Parliament, current visa conditions, deportation timeframes, and refugee assessment procedures remain unchanged while the legislation undergoes select committee review and parliamentary debate.
Who should check this
This legislative update is relevant for individuals holding temporary or resident visas, legal representatives, immigration advisers, and refugee claimants monitoring compliance developments in New Zealand.
Practical checklist
- Track the parliamentary readings and select committee stages of the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill [1].
- Review legal compliance obligations regarding residence deportation liability periods and criminal history disclosures.
- Monitor official updates from Immigration New Zealand regarding any future enactment dates and operational guidelines.
Important limits or current position
The measures outlined in this announcement reflect proposed legislation only and have no legal effect until enacted by Parliament. Immigration rules currently in force remain applicable.
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This article is general information, not individual immigration advice.
Source note: Based on an official Immigration New Zealand announcement published 18 March 2026 regarding proposed changes to the Immigration Act [1]. Article status: Policy watch.
[1] Immigration New Zealand. (2026, March 18). Changes to the Immigration Act introduced. Open source on immigration.govt.nz ↗