Policy verified from immigration.govt.nz as of 2026-04-13
An immigration appeal is a formal challenge to an Immigration New Zealand decision, heard by the Immigration and Protection Tribunal (IPT). The IPT is an independent judicial body that can scrutinise and overturn visa declines, deportation decisions, and refugee status determinations.
Source: immigration.govt.nz — 2026-04-13
When to Appeal
An appeal is often the only way to correct an error. In many cases, a visa is declined not because the applicant is ineligible, but because of a poorly handled PPI response or a misinterpretation of immigration instructions.
Common reasons for a successful appeal:
- Factual errors: The case officer overlooked key evidence or misinterpreted documents
- Legal misinterpretation: INZ failed to apply the correct immigration instructions
- Character or medical issues: Concerns that could have been mitigated with the right argument
- New evidence: Significant information not available at the time of the original decision
Strict Deadlines
The IPT cannot accept late applications. Missing these dates by even one day results in losing your appeal rights.
- Residence visa rejection: 42 days from the decision
- Unlawful status in NZ: 42 days after visa expires
- Deportation liability (breach of conditions): 28 days from notice
- Ministerial decision challenge: 28 days from notification
Timeline and Costs
- Residence appeals: typically determined within 10-12 months
- Humanitarian deportation appeals: 8-10 months
- IPT filing fee: government charge (verify at justice.govt.nz)
- ProVisas professional fees: typically $3,000-$6,000 plus GST
How ProVisas Helps
- We review your decline letter and identify legal or factual errors
- We uncover the "hidden merits" of your case that can be used to win
- We draft professional submissions with supporting evidence
- Upfront fixed-fee quotes — no hidden costs or surprise billing
- If we believe your appeal has a low chance of success, we tell you honestly
Frequently Asked Questions
The IPT is an independent judicial body separate from Immigration New Zealand, established to provide unbiased review of visa decisions, deportation liability, and refugee status. It operates under the Ministry of Justice.
Residence visa rejection: 42 days. Deportation liability (breach of conditions): 28 days. Ministerial decision challenge: 28 days. These are strict deadlines — the IPT cannot accept late applications.
The IPT filing fee is a government charge (verify current amount at justice.govt.nz). ProVisas professional fees typically range from $3,000-$6,000 plus GST covering research, submissions, and evidence gathering.
Residence appeals typically take 10-12 months. Humanitarian deportation appeals for non-residents generally take 8-10 months.
Common reasons include factual errors by the case officer, legal misinterpretation of immigration instructions, character or medical concerns that could have been mitigated, and significant new evidence not available at the time of the original decision.
