Deportation Notice or Visa Decline in Tasman? The Appeal Clock Is Short. Get a Free Answer.
If Immigration New Zealand has served you a deportation liability notice, declined your residence visa, or refused your refugee or protection claim, the most dangerous thing you can do is wait. Immigration is national law - the same in Richmond, Motueka and Mapua as anywhere in New Zealand - and it runs on short, strict clocks. Some appeals to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal must be lodged in just 28 days; a refugee appeal can be as little as 5 working days if you are detained. The Tribunal usually cannot accept a late appeal, and it has no power to give you more time. You do not need to wait for a law office to open. Free legal information about your situation is live now on 0800 461 100 in Tasman. 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 Tasman.
Immigration Law in Tasman — what to do right now
If you have received a deportation liability notice (a "DLN") or a decline letter, find the date on it and count from there - that date starts your appeal clock, and missing it can be permanent. Do NOT leave New Zealand or sign anything assuming it is over: leaving while liable for deportation can trigger a ban on returning, and some relief is lost the moment you depart. Keep every letter from Immigration New Zealand, note your client number, and make sure INZ has your correct postal and email address, because notices sent to an old address can still count against you. For residence and humanitarian deportation appeals the window is commonly 28 days; for a refused refugee or protection claim it is 10 working days (5 if you are in detention). Get free information on which clock is running before you do anything else.
The law in Tasman: Immigration Law
Immigration in New Zealand is NATIONAL law, not regional, and that is the single most important thing to understand. There is no "Tasman immigration law" - the rules in Richmond are the same as in Auckland or Invercargill. Visas, residence, deportation and refugee status are all governed by the Immigration Act 2009 and administered by Immigration New Zealand (INZ), part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. When INZ makes a decision against you, the place you go is not the local District Court but the Immigration and Protection Tribunal (IPT), a national tribunal run by the Ministry of Justice that decides residence appeals, deportation appeals, and refugee and protection appeals on the papers and at hearings.The deadlines are the trap. If your residence class visa is declined, you generally have 28 days to appeal to the Tribunal. If you are served a deportation liability notice as a resident or permanent resident, you have 28 days to appeal under section 154 of the Immigration Act 2009; as a temporary visa holder facing deportation, you have 28 days to bring a humanitarian appeal under section 157 (and a separate 14-day window to give INZ reasons why deportation should not proceed). If your claim to be recognised as a refugee or protected person is declined, you have just 10 working days to appeal - or only 5 working days if you are being held in detention. The Tribunal can extend some deadlines only in special circumstances, and for many it cannot extend at all. A late appeal is usually simply gone.
Refugee and protection claims run under the Act's Part 5: New Zealand recognises refugees under the 1951 Refugee Convention and "protected persons" under the Convention Against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. A claim is made to a refugee and protection officer at INZ; a decline can be appealed to the Tribunal, and unlike other appeals there is NO fee for a refugee or protection appeal. Other Tribunal appeals carry a lodgement fee of $943 (one fee covers dependent children under 18 included in the appeal).
The law is also tightening fast. An amendment to the Immigration Act took effect on 27 May 2026 that lowers the threshold for deportation liability - exposure can now arise where a person has pleaded guilty or been found guilty, even before a formal conviction is entered, and in some cases even where a court later grants a discharge without conviction. A further amendment Bill introduced on 18 March 2026 proposes to remove access to humanitarian appeals for many visitor, work and student visa holders found guilty of offences, and to extend the deportation-liability period for residents from 10 years to 20 years after residence is granted. What relief is available is changing, which is exactly why getting current information quickly matters. None of this is legal advice about your specific case - but free information on how it applies to you is one call away now on 0800 461 100.
Key Legislation (national - same everywhere in NZ)
- Immigration Act 2009 - visas, residence, deportation, refugee and protection status
- Immigration Act 2009 Part 5 - refugee and protected person determinations
- Immigration Act 2009 s154 - resident/permanent resident deportation appeals
- Immigration Act 2009 s157 - temporary visa holder humanitarian deportation appeals
- Immigration (2025) Amendment Act - lower deportation thresholds, in force 27 May 2026
Decision-Makers & Tribunals (all national)
- Immigration New Zealand (INZ) - part of MBIE; grants and declines visas, serves deportation notices
- Refugee and Protection Officers (INZ) - decide refugee and protection claims
- Immigration and Protection Tribunal (IPT) - Ministry of Justice; hears residence, deportation and refugee/protection appeals
- High Court of New Zealand - judicial review and appeals on points of law from the Tribunal
- District Court (Nelson/Whakatu, serving Tasman) - handles related criminal charges, NOT your immigration status
Deadlines That Cannot Be Missed
- Residence class visa decline: appeal to the IPT within 28 days
- Resident deportation liability notice: appeal within 28 days (s154)
- Temporary visa deportation: 14 days to give INZ reasons, plus 28 days for a humanitarian appeal (s157)
- Refugee/protection decline: appeal within 10 working days - only 5 working days if detained
- The Tribunal usually cannot accept a late appeal and often cannot extend the time
Fees & Practical Points
- IPT lodgement fee: $943 for residence and deportation appeals (covers dependent children under 18)
- Refugee and protection appeals: NO fee
- Make sure INZ has your correct address - notices to an old address can still count
- Leaving NZ while deportation-liable can trigger a re-entry ban and lose some relief
The 28-Day Clock - and the Shorter One for Refugee Claims
Two short deadlines ruin more New Zealand immigration cases than anything else. First: most appeals to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal - a declined residence visa, or a deportation liability notice - must be lodged within 28 days, and the Tribunal generally cannot accept a late one or give you more time. People wait to "get advice next week" and lose the right to appeal entirely. Second, and even tighter: if your claim to be a refugee or protected person is declined, you have only 10 working days to appeal, dropping to just 5 working days if you are in detention. These clocks are the same in Richmond and Motueka as anywhere in New Zealand, because immigration is national law. If you have a letter from Immigration New Zealand with a date on it, the date is the emergency - not the paperwork. This is information, not legal advice, and we are not your lawyers, but free information on which clock is ticking is a call away now on 0800 461 100.
Likely outcomes & penalties
Immigration outcomes turn on your visa type, the facts, the deadlines and which relief you qualify for, and no one can promise a result. These are the real consequences people in Tasman face under New Zealand law.Mistakes to avoid
How it works
Free & low-cost Immigration Law help in Tasman
There is real free and low-cost help for Tasman residents, both locally and nationally. These are verified starting points - use them, and get free information on which one fits your situation on 0800 461 100.
FAQ — Immigration Law in Tasman
I got a deportation liability notice in Tasman. How long do I have to appeal?
Count from the date on the notice. If you are a resident or permanent resident, you generally have 28 days to appeal to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal under section 154 of the Immigration Act 2009. If you are on a temporary visa, you have 14 days to give Immigration New Zealand reasons why deportation should not proceed and 28 days to bring a humanitarian appeal under section 157. The Tribunal usually cannot accept a late appeal, so the date is the emergency. Get free information on your exact deadline now on 0800 461 100.
My residence visa was declined. Can I appeal, and what does it cost?
Yes - you can appeal a declined residence class visa to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, generally within 28 days, with a lodgement fee of $943 (one fee covers dependent children under 18 included in the appeal). Miss the window and the decline normally becomes final, leaving only the much harder route of judicial review in the High Court. Free information on whether and how to appeal is available now on 0800 461 100.
My refugee or protection claim was refused. What now?
You can appeal to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, but the clock is very short: 10 working days from being told your claim is declined, dropping to just 5 working days if you are being held in detention. There is no fee for a refugee or protection appeal. The Tribunal can extend the time only in special circumstances, so act immediately. Community Law Nelson Bays can help, and free information is a call away now on 0800 461 100.
Which court handles my immigration case in Tasman - the Nelson District Court?
No. Immigration is national law, so your visa, residence or deportation decision is made by Immigration New Zealand and appealed to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, not the local court. The District Court in Nelson (Whakatu), which serves Tasman, deals with criminal and other matters - and a guilty plea there can actually create deportation liability - but it does not decide your immigration status. Get free information on which body decides your case on 0800 461 100.
Is there free immigration help near Richmond or Motueka?
Yes. Community Law Nelson Bays gives free legal help to people across the Nelson, Tasman and Buller districts, including outreach in Motueka, on 0800 246 146. The Citizens Advice Bureau Nelson Tasman has a Richmond office at 9A Cambridge Street and offers free, confidential information including on immigration and migrant support (0800 367 222). Free information on which one fits your situation is available now on 0800 461 100.
Can I be deported for a criminal charge in New Zealand?
Possibly, and the law got tougher on 27 May 2026. Deportation liability can now arise where a person has pleaded guilty or been found guilty - even before a formal conviction, and in some cases even where the court later grants a discharge without conviction. If you face a criminal charge and are not a citizen, the immigration consequences can be as serious as the criminal ones. Get free information on how a charge affects your visa now on 0800 461 100.
Do the 2026 immigration changes affect my right to appeal?
They may. A Bill introduced on 18 March 2026 proposes to remove access to humanitarian appeals for many visitor, work and student visa holders found guilty of offences, and to extend the deportation-liability period for residents from 10 years to 20 years after residence is granted. Some of these are proposals, not yet law, and the rules are moving quickly - which is exactly why current information matters. Free information on where the law stands for you is available now on 0800 461 100.
What happens if I have overstayed my visa in Tasman?
Once your visa expires and you stay, you are unlawfully in New Zealand and liable for deportation, which can bring a re-entry ban (often several years) on top of removal. Coming forward early - before enforcement finds you - almost always leaves more options than waiting. Do not assume leaving quietly fixes it, because departing while liable can itself trigger a ban. Get free information on your safest next step now on 0800 461 100.
Do I need a lawyer, or can an immigration adviser help me?
Either can help, but be careful: in New Zealand it is unlawful to give immigration advice for a fee unless you are a licensed immigration adviser or a lawyer. Always check the person is licensed (or a practising lawyer) before you pay anyone, because bad advice can sink a case. For free help, start with Community Law Nelson Bays or the Citizens Advice Bureau in Richmond. We can also help you arrange a paid consultation with a New Zealand-licensed lawyer through our Tasman line on 0800 461 100.
Will my whole family be covered if I appeal?
For Tribunal appeals where a fee applies, the $943 lodgement fee covers dependent children under 18 who are included in the appeal, so you do not pay extra for them. Whether each family member's situation is best handled in one appeal or separately depends on your visas and circumstances. Free information on how to approach a family appeal is available now on 0800 461 100 - this is general information, not legal advice.
Are you a New Zealand immigration lawyer or licensed adviser? Join our network.
We connect worried, time-pressured callers across the Tasman region - from Richmond and Motueka to Mapua, Takaka and Golden Bay - with New Zealand-licensed lawyers and immigration advisers who can take deportation appeals, residence appeals, refugee and protection claims, and visa problems. If you are a New Zealand immigration lawyer or licensed adviser who can cover the Nelson-Tasman area, we would like to add you to the professionals we match callers with. Express your interest and we will 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.
Sources & further reading
- Immigration Act 2009 - New Zealand Legislation
- Immigration and Protection Tribunal - Ministry of Justice
- IPT appeal forms and fees - Ministry of Justice
- Immigration law - Immigration New Zealand
- Community Law Nelson Bays
- Citizens Advice Bureau Nelson Tasman
- Deportation and how you can appeal - Immigration New Zealand
Don't let the appeal clock run out. Free Legal Help for Tasman — Call 0800 461 100.
Whether you have just been served a deportation liability notice, had a residence visa declined, or had a refugee or protection claim refused, the worst move is to wait and hope. New Zealand immigration law is national, fast, and unforgiving of missed deadlines - some appeals close in 28 days, refugee appeals in as little as 5 working days. Our free Tasman line is live now on 0800 461 100, where you can speak with an AI assistant trained on New Zealand immigration law. This is free legal information, not legal advice, and creates no lawyer-client relationship. Legal Hotline is not a law firm. In the meantime, Community Law Nelson Bays and the Citizens Advice Bureau in Richmond can help today.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.