Immigration Bill 2026: Guide to Making a Submission

How to be heard: The new Immigration Bill proposed by the Minister of Immigration on 18 March 2026?

Want to have your say on the new powers to request ID proposed by the Minister? Or worried about the new provision proposed to stop people seeking asylum from getting a partnership visa if they fall in love or get offered work or residence visa by being offered a job? Perhaps you’re bothered about the proposed removal of rights to a humanitarian appeal in some scenarios when people are liable for deportation?

What’s going on?

The Minister of Immigration tabled a bill amending many aspects of the Immigration Act 2009. It is called the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill. It sounds really boring but thats the point. This is the bill that includes:

• The proposed new powers of immigration officers to request ID information if they suspect a person is in breach of their visa or liable for deportation.
• A provision proposed to stop people seeking asylum from getting a partnership visa if they fall in love or a work or residence visa if offered particular jobs.
• It also removes people’s rights to a humanitarian appeal in some scenarios when people are liable for deportation.

It passed its First Reading in Parliament and has now been referred to the appropriate Select Committee for scrutiny and for them to hear from community. They then send it back to the House for its 2^nd Reading. So, this is the point when you can make your views known through a written submission. You can read more about it here

At the end of this guide, you can find more detail about what an individual written submission could like and additional considerations you might like to make.

What is a select committee? Select committee members are MPs chosen from all parties in proportion to their representation in parliament. Their job is to look in detail at the bill and recommend changes to improve it before it goes to the second reading in the House. In this case the Education and Workforce Committee will be looking at the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill

What is a submission? A submission is a written presentation (in Te Reo Māori or English) of views, opinions and experiences on the matter that the Select Committee is considering. In this case the Education and Workforce Committee will be looking at the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill.
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Submissions can be made online through the online webform [here]. You can’t email a submission or contact the committee members directly.
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Your submission will be published on the parliamentary website once it is released by the committee. Be aware that your personal details will be published if you put them in the body of your submission.

What is an oral submission? First, you need to make a written submission. You can tick a box on the submission form to request an opportunity to make your submission in person as well (an oral submission). If you’re invited to make an oral submission, you’ll have a chance to reinforce your written submission directly to the committee members. The committee won’t have time to hear from everyone in person.

Make it clear and well organised: Structure your submission with an introduction, your stated position (for or against the bill), your key arguments, any recommendations, and a conclusion.
‍Give yourself plenty of time to think and to write.

Make it personal, genuine and authentic: Bringing your own lived experience and values will make a powerful submission. Try to put things in your own words as much as possible. Templates are really helpful, but it is more effective to read the template and then write your own submission using some of the information provided. Use AI with caution!

Make it relevant and accurate: Anything not related to the bill will be disregarded, wasting your time and making it less likely the committee will read your submission. If you mention any data or research, you need to say where you got it from.

Make it concise and respectful: Your submission doesn’t have to be a novel. Focus on making a few points well, rather than trying to cover everything. Shorter submissions are more likely to be read in full.
Any submissions considered defamatory or offensive will be rejected.

A good format for individual submissions

1. Introduce yourself – Include any information about yourself that is relevant to the bill. This might include your family, life or work background that makes your opinion important.
   
   2. Write your introduction – A few sentences to clearly state your position on the bill, and summarise your reasons.
   
   3. Body of submission – The select committee wants to know why you think the way you do. What would the passing of this legislation mean for you? What is at stake? You could use the reasons in your introduction as headings and write about each one. Or you could use specific clauses from the bill as headings and write about each of those.
   
   4. Make recommendations – If you have any recommendations, list them clearly, even if you have mentioned or discussed them in the body of your submission.
   
   5. Write a conclusion – A few sentences to restate your position on the bill and your reasons.

Want to do help in another way too? Why not write an email to your local MP!

Find your electorate and MPs email here

You can use the template below as a Submission or/and as an email.

If sending as an email, don’t forget to add a greeting at the top such as “Tēnā koe [Name] “

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A Template (for you to add to) for a Written Submission

Your name will be published to the Parliament website. Other contact details you provide on this page will not be made publicly available.  When using the template below – delete aspects that you don’t agree with and feel free to add your own, particularly include anything from your own lived experience.

If you would like more information on additional concerns you may have about the Bill and would like to include in your submission – have a look here

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Submission on the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill and Parliamentary Paper: Proposed Additions (‘The Bill)

I oppose the Bill and call on the Select Committee to recommend it not be referred to a Second Reading.

It is clear that the effect of the changes proposed in the Bill will have a significant, negative impact on everyone, all visa holders, but especially people seeking asylum, refugees and the broader refugee protection framework in Aotearoa New Zealand. It will affect their rights to appeal on humanitarian grounds, their right to stay if they find love or are offered a job and their right to live free from inspection by Immigration Officers to provide ID on request in the community or at work.

I oppose this Bill because: 

Our commitment to human rights

1. I consider the changes in the Bill erode Aotearoa New Zealand’s longstanding commitment to refugee protection, fundamental human rights and humanitarian principles.

New Powers for Immigration Officers to Request ID on suspicion

2. I am alarmed by the new powers proposed for Immigration Officers to request identification documents from people they suspect could be liable to deportation or in breach of visa conditions because:
   1. In practice, it is clear that these powers are likely to extend to people who are in Aotearoa New Zealand legally, such as people seeking asylum and refugees but also residents or citizens, and will be used disproportionally against people based on their race, ethnicity or country of origin.
   2. It will be particularly harmful to people seeking asylum and refugees, many of whom have experienced heightened and harmful government monitoring in their countries of origin.
   3. Rather than fostering a sense of safety and belonging, these provisions risk increasing existing vulnerabilities and erode trust in public institutions.
   4. It risks vulnerable populations going further into the shadows. Individuals may avoid seeking medical care or even reporting crimes, like workplace exploitation or domestic violence, for fear of immigration enforcement and deportation.

Ban on alternative visa pathways for people who withdraw their asylum claim

3. It is cruel to ban people seeking asylum who withdraw their claim, because they have fallen in love, married or are in a settled relationship with a New Zealand partner, from being eligible for an alternative visa such as a Partnership Visa
4. It is cruel to ban people seeking asylum who withdraw their claim from being eligible for an alternative visa such as a Skills or Job specific Work to Residence Visa because they have been offered employment.

Limitation on humanitarian appeal rights

5. The limitation on humanitarian appeal rights will reduce access to independent, experienced oversight at a critical point in the immigration system.
6. These oversight and appeal rights are an important safeguard, particularly for individuals with complex or evolving humanitarian needs, including those facing serious harm if returned.
7. Limiting appeal rights could also be unduly harsh on the children of those liable for deportation. Currently, many deportation cases regarding temporary visa holders involve families with children in school who have spent the majority of their lives in Aotearoa New Zealand. Deportation can have major, adverse impacts on children’s health and well-being, notably through family separation, disrupted education, and being returned to an unfamiliar country where they may not speak the language. Retaining the right to appeal deportation is an important avenue for protecting children’s rights and upholding New Zealand’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.