Manifestly Unfounded Refugee and Protection Cases
Manifestly Unfounded Refugee and Protection claims: no oral hearing at the Tribunal Conclusion David Ryken Ryken & Associates
David Ryken
The Regulation of Immigration Advice in New Zealand: January 2026
The giving of immigration advice is regulated by the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007. Immigration lawyers (with New Zealand practising certificates) are regulated under the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, and the disciplinary and supervisory structures under that Act. It is an offence to provide immigration advice (which includes how to answer questions on immigration … Read more
Employment-Based Residence in New Zealand
Introduction There are several routes towards residence based on employment in New Zealand. Most require existing employment. Residence can be achieved before arrival but only for those on the Green List: Tier 1. In all other cases, a work visa and work experience is required before transitioning into residence. The rules are strict. Low skilled … Read more
New Zealand’s Parent Boost Visa
New Zealand’s Parent Boost Visitor Visas September 2025 Immigration New Zealand has issued new rules that apply to the much vaunted (in the media) new policy called “Parent Boost”. The circular was available for those who knew where to find it on the website that Immigration New Zealand maintains on 22 August 2025. For some … Read more
New Zealand’s Golden Visa: an update
New Zealand’s Golden Investment Visa Active Investor Plus August 2025 26 August 2025 D J Ryken Ryken and Associates Barristers and Solicitors Email: david@rykenlaw.co.nz
New Zealand’s new investor visa settings
New Zealand’s Golden Investment Visa Active Investor Plus August 2025 17 August 2025 D J Ryken Ryken and Associates Barristers and Solicitors Email: david@rykenlaw.co.nz
Meritless refugee cases: India and the US
Refugee and Protection cases from India and other democratic countries August 2025 The Refugee Status Unit in New Zealand has been swamped by meritless cases from India. Almost always a localised issue is the basis of the claim. One of the most misunderstood aspects of asylum law is that international protection cannot be conceded where … Read more
AO (Ukraine) Refugee status: Ethinic Russians in Ukraine
AO (Ukraine) [2024] NZIPT 802342 Ethnic Russian Citizens of Ukraine 20 years out of the country Conscientious objection to military service Conclusion 24 July 2025 D J Ryken Ryken and Associates
Parent Retirement: The annual income requirement and problems of interpretation.
PROBLEMS OF INTERPRETATION: ADDING A GLOSS TO IMMIGRATION INSTRUCTIONS: PARENT RETIREMENT AND THE ANNUAL INCOME REQUIREMENT OF $60K The Immigration and Protection Tribunal (the Tribunal) has in two decisions issued in 2023 incorrectly interpreted F3.5 Parent Retirement Category requirements. At F3.5.a(v) the Immigration Instructions require the principal applicant to “demonstrate an annual income of at … Read more
The immigration impact of criminal charges on non-citizens in New Zealand
The immigration impact of criminal charges on non-citizens Most lawyers will have clients who have recently arrived in New Zealand, many of whom will not have obtained citizenship. Others will have family and friends who are non-citizens and who come up against issues involving their status or potential status in New Zealand, arising out of … Read more
Lapsing visitor visas during the pandemic
Higgs and Witbrock v Minister of Immigration [2022] NZHC 1333 On 8 June 2022 the High Court at Auckland ruled that the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act was not breached when the Minister of Immigration lapsed various visitor visa applications where partners of New Zealand citizens were involved. During the Covid-19 pandemic Immigration New … Read more
New Zealand’s New Investor Residence Category
Active Investor Plus category: 11 August 2022 On 20 July the New Zealand Government announced that the Investor 1 and Investor 2 categories would close. Applications in process would be accepted only until 27 July. Applications that have already been lodged and are waiting in the queue will continue to be processed under the existing … Read more
High Court rules against Immigration
High Court declares refusal to consider offshore residence visa applications unlawful. In a paper dated 15 July 2020, I pointed out that the suspension of offshore residence visa applications by Immigration New Zealand was unlawful. It offended against a very basic principle, stretching back to the Magna Carta, that once a statutory application is filed … Read more
New NZ Residence Policy
New 2021 Resident Visa On 30 September 2021, the New Zealand Government announced a new one-off residence visa that will provide a simplified pathway to residence for approximately 165,000 migrant workers currently in New Zealand. This new visa provides a way forward for migrant workers whose futures in New Zealand have been shrouded by COVID-19. … Read more
New Zealand plans a new work visa system
Accredited Employer Work Visa On 1 November 2021, Immigration New Zealand (“INZ”) will introduce the Accredited Employer Work Visa (“AEWV”). AEWV is a single work visa, replacing six existing work visa categories: Essential Skills Work Visa Essential Skills Work Visa – Approval in Principle Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa Long Term Skills Shortage List Work … Read more
Parent Investment Residence
Parent Investment: New Zealand PROGRAM OVERVIEW New Zealand’s investor visa categories include the parent retirement category which allows New Zealand citizens and residents living in New Zealand an opportunity to sponsor, through investment, their parents. The investment amount is NZD$ 1 million but there must be other assets of at least $0.5 million and a … Read more
Investor 1 New Zealand
Golden Visa New Zealand: Investor 1 PROGRAM OVERVIEW New Zealand’s Investor 1 visa program offers permanent residence (for life) with, in some circumstances, as little as 88 days presence in New Zealand over the 3 year investment period. The whole family can be included (see below). INVESTMENT An investment of NZ$10 million is required. It … Read more
Golden Visas: New Zealand: Investor 2
Golden Visas: New Zealand: Investor 2 PROGRAM OVERVIEW New Zealand’s Investor 2 visa program offers permanent residence (for life) with, in some circumstances, as little as 438 days presence in New Zealand over the 4 year investment period. The whole family can be included (see below). INVESTMENT An investment of NZ$3 million is required though … Read more
Entrepreneur visas for New Zealand?
Entrepreneur Residence Visa In recent times many have had the preconceived notion that the Entrepreneur Residence Visa Category is a relatively simple way of obtaining residence in New Zealand. Prospective applicants believe they only have to either set up or purchase a business, work on it for a couple of years and they are entitled … Read more
The New Zealand Government’s Unlawful Suspension of Statutory Processes and Applications
11 September 2020 This paper focusses on the unlawful suspension of processes involving residence applicants and grantees under the Investor Categories 1 and 2.[1] In particular the paper examines the following: The investor mid-investment checks at the two-year point for Investor 1 and Investor 2 residents (who have already been granted residence). The subsequent post-investment … Read more