World Immigration News

NZ Tightens Deportation

Release Date: 2025-09-04
Media: Mirage.News
Summary: The New Zealand Government has introduced the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill to strengthen deportation powers and improve compliance within the immigration system. The bill extends deportation liability to residence visa holders for up to 20 years if they commit serious crimes, allows deportation for providing false or misleading information, and clarifies that historic crimes committed before arrival in New Zealand can trigger deportation. It also nullifies visas granted in error, enables electronic service of deportation notices, and expands immigration officers’ authority to request identity information from suspected non-compliant individuals.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford noted that under current rules, residence visa holders of more than 10 years cannot be deported for serious crimes—something the bill aims to fix. In the last financial year, 1,259 people were deported or left New Zealand voluntarily, an increase of 352 from the previous year. The bill also raises penalties for migrant exploitation, increasing the maximum prison sentence from seven to ten years. Stanford emphasized that migrant exploitation is unacceptable and further details of the bill will be released later this year.
Tags: New Zealand

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