As NATO and the US withdrew their forces from Afghanistan after a 12-year siege, the operations to evacuate civilians commenced immediately. Countries such as Germany, Sweden, France, Switzerland, England, Australia, New Zealand, and many others, offered resettlement to the wore torn Afghanis as a gesture of goodwill.
As of July 2022, more than 1500 Afghans settled in New Zealand alone. At the moment, the evacuation program has been discontinued, whereas, visa services have started for those Afghans who possess a valid passport and can afford commercial flights.
Resettlement Applications
Afghans who served with the New Zealand Defence Forces (NZDF) or other NZ agencies in Afghanistan, and their immediate family members were given priority during the evacuation & resettlement program. The resettlement program included housing, decent subsistence, and an opportunity for employment.
The said program ran till the August of 2022, all applications received before this date will be processed in due course, however, no new applications are being entertained as the program has been discontinued.
Alternate support from the NZ government
Though the primary resettlement program has been truncated, the NZ government continues its efforts to restore the lives of the war affectees in alternate manners. One such effort underway is to work with the allies and partners to assist NZ residents and their families in Afghanistan in returning to NZ.
Similarly, Afghans who have registered with New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on the ground in Afghanistan remain in close contact with the NZ government.
Roadmap to permanent residency
Excluding the Afghans who arrived in NZ under the resettlement program, and Afghans arriving in the country on temporary travel visas, the NZ government offers a special residence category. This residence type will ensure that those arriving will be able to remain in the country and have access to state services and support programs.
The new immigration type allows Afghans to stay in NZ for an indefinite time period.
Requirements for a permanent residence visa
The criteria on which an Afghan qualifies to apply for the special immigration permit are detailed below:
- Categorized as vulnerable and at risk for working for the NZ government or its agencies
- Granted a visa to flee Afghanistan by the Associate Minister of Immigration (AMOI) before 12/9/21
- Those granted a “Critical Purpose” visit visa by the AMOI between 8/11/21 & 15/3/22
- Who traveled to NZ on other types of visas before 12/9/21
- Applicants must be exclusively Afghan nationals
- Present in Afghanistan on 15/8/21 – except those granted “Critical Purpose” visa by MOI between 8/11/21 & 15/3/22
- Are present in Afghanistan at the time of the application
Applying for a residence visa
As per the cabinet-approved special residence visa, Afghans aspiring to acquire permanent residence in NZ must apply for the same between 5th October 2021 and 12th December 2022.
The application for the “Afghan Emergency Resettlement Category for Residence” can be downloaded here. There are no fees and levies for eligible applications, whereas, applications that are not eligible will have to pay application fees and levies.
Moreover, the NZ government will cover the costs for compulsory chest x-rays of all eligible applicants. The process is streamlined and fast-tracked depending on each applicant’s case and circumstances. The immigration department examines each application separately and with utmost care and conscientiousness.
In some cases, where the applicants fail to qualify for very minor reasons, are accommodated in other humanitarian programs.
