If Immigration New Zealand has declined your visa, served you a deportation liability notice, or your visa has expired and you're now unlawful in Christchurch or anywhere in Canterbury, the clock is already running. Immigration is national law and it moves on strict deadlines: 42 days to appeal once you become unlawful, 28 days from a deportation liability notice if you hold a visa, and a one-shot Section 61 request if you've overstayed. You don't need to wait for an office to open. Our service gives free, plain-English legal information on the Immigration Act 2009, how the Immigration & Protection Tribunal works, and the first move to make. This is general legal information, not legal advice. Legal Hotline is not a law firm.
Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across Canterbury.
If Immigration New Zealand has sent you a deportation liability notice or your visa has expired, do not ignore it and do not just leave without getting information first, because the deadlines are short and unforgiving. If you hold a visa, you generally have 28 days from a deportation liability notice to appeal to the Immigration & Protection Tribunal; if you have already become unlawful (the day after your visa expired), you have 42 days to appeal on humanitarian grounds. If you have overstayed and have no appeal right, your main option is a Section 61 request asking Immigration New Zealand to grant a new visa at its absolute discretion. Write down every date on your INZ paperwork, do not let the deadline pass, and get free information on which path applies to you before you do anything.
Two things ruin immigration cases in Canterbury before they begin. First: the appeal deadlines are counted in days and they are brutal. If you hold a visa, you generally have 28 days from a deportation liability notice to appeal to the Immigration & Protection Tribunal; once you become unlawful, you have 42 days; for a visa-condition breach it can be as short as 14 days. People wait, hope it resolves, or try to gather documents, and the right to appeal simply expires. Second: if you have already overstayed and have no appeal right, your realistic option is a Section 61 request, and it is a one-shot. INZ has absolute discretion, does not have to consider it, does not have to give reasons, and there is no appeal from a refusal, so a weak or rushed request can be your only chance gone. This is general information, not legal advice, but a free call tells you which deadline is ticking on your situation.
Canterbury has real, free starting points for immigration help, and you do not have to be wealthy or know the system to use them. These are verified, no-cost or low-cost services based in Christchurch and across the region. Free information on which one fits your situation is available through our service.
Immigration New Zealand sent me a deportation liability notice in Christchurch. How long do I have?
It depends on your status. If you hold a visa, you generally have 28 days from the deportation liability notice to appeal to the Immigration & Protection Tribunal on the facts and on exceptional humanitarian grounds. If you breached your visa conditions, it can be as short as 14 days to give reasons why you should not be deported. If you have already become unlawful, you have 42 days from when your unlawful status began. These deadlines are strict, so get free information on which one applies to you straight away.
My visa expired and I'm now unlawful in Canterbury. What can I do?
You have a legal obligation to leave, but you may still have options. If you are within 42 days of becoming unlawful, you may be able to appeal to the Immigration & Protection Tribunal on humanitarian grounds. If that window has passed, your main route is a Section 61 request asking Immigration New Zealand to grant you a new visa at its absolute discretion. Section 61 is a one-shot with no appeal, so it must be done well. Get free information before you make any move, including before you decide to leave.
What is a Section 61 request and should I make one?
Section 61 of the Immigration Act 2009 lets Immigration New Zealand grant a visa to someone who is unlawfully in New Zealand, entirely at its absolute discretion. It is a request, not an application: INZ does not have to consider it, does not have to give reasons, and there is no appeal if it is refused. That makes it powerful but risky - a weak request can be your only chance gone. For free information on whether Section 61 fits your situation, reach our service.
Who is allowed to give me immigration advice in New Zealand?
Under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, only an immigration adviser licensed by the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) or an exempt person - mainly a New Zealand lawyer - may give New Zealand immigration advice. Using an unlicensed "agent" is risky and is unlawful for them. Always check the IAA register before paying anyone. Our service gives free legal information, not paid immigration advice, and can point you to licensed help in Canterbury.
Is immigration law different in Canterbury than the rest of New Zealand?
No. Immigration is national law under the Immigration Act 2009, decided by Immigration New Zealand, and the same rules apply in Christchurch as everywhere else. What is local is where you get help and where points of law are heard - the High Court at Christchurch handles Canterbury immigration appeals on points of law, and free services like Community Law Canterbury and the Canterbury Migrants Centre are right here. Get free information on how the national law applies to your case.
My work or partner visa was declined. Can I appeal?
It depends on the visa. Many temporary visa declines (work, visitor, student, partner) do not carry a right of appeal to the Tribunal and can only be challenged by a reconsideration request or a fresh, stronger application. Residence visa declines can usually be appealed to the Immigration & Protection Tribunal, but within strict time limits. Knowing which path you have decides everything. Get free information on your decline before any deadline runs.
Can I be deported for a criminal conviction in New Zealand?
Possibly, yes. Under section 161 of the Immigration Act 2009 a resident can become liable for deportation if convicted of a qualifying offence within a set period after gaining residence, and temporary visa holders can be liable too. Liability is not automatic removal - you usually have a short window to appeal to the Immigration & Protection Tribunal, including on humanitarian grounds. Get free information on your appeal rights and deadlines right away.
What changed for work visas in 2025?
Several things. From 10 March 2025 the Accredited Employer Work Visa no longer requires the median wage - only the minimum wage (now $23.50 an hour) and the market rate for the role - and the work-experience requirement dropped from three years to two. From 18 August 2025 the median wage used for various visa thresholds rose to $33.56 an hour. The Skilled Migrant Category uses a 6-point system. For free information on how these apply to you, reach our service.
How long does an appeal to the Immigration & Protection Tribunal take?
The Tribunal publishes general timeframes: residence appeals are generally decided within about 10 to 12 months of being received, and humanitarian (non-resident) deportation appeals within about 8 to 10 months. Lodging on time and getting your evidence right matters more than speed, because a late appeal is usually simply gone. Get free information on how to file your appeal correctly and on time.
Is there free immigration help in Christchurch?
Yes. Community Law Canterbury offers free legal help and a free information line (0508 226 529), and the Canterbury Migrants Centre runs a free weekly immigration and employment law clinic in Christchurch (bookings essential). The Citizens Advice Bureau can also point you in the right direction. To find out which fits your case, reach our service for free information - there is no income test to use us.
Should I just leave New Zealand if I've overstayed?
Not before you get information. Being deported or leaving with an overstay history can trigger a re-entry ban that blocks you from coming back lawfully for years, and there may be a better option - a humanitarian appeal if you are in time, or a Section 61 request. The wrong move now can lock you out for a long time. Get free information on your options before you decide anything.
We connect anxious, urgent callers across Canterbury - from Christchurch to Timaru and the wider region - with the right professional help for visa declines, deportation liability, Section 61 requests, Tribunal appeals, and family, work and residence applications. If you are a New Zealand immigration lawyer or an IAA-licensed immigration adviser working in Canterbury, especially one who can move fast on deadlines, we'd like to add you to the professionals we point callers to. Express your interest and we'll be in touch as we expand New Zealand coverage.
General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.
Whether Immigration New Zealand has served a deportation liability notice, declined your visa, or your visa has expired and you are now unlawful in Canterbury, the worst move is to wait and hope. Immigration law is national, fast, and unforgiving of missed deadlines - 28 days, 42 days, 14 days - and a botched Section 61 request can be your only chance gone. Our New Zealand service is live now on 0800 461 100, giving you free, plain-English legal information on the Immigration Act 2009, your appeal rights, and your next move. This is free legal information, not legal advice, and creates no lawyer-client relationship. Legal Hotline is not a law firm. Just real information, when you need it.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.