Rainbow Path NZ

Financial Support

If you’re an asylum seeker or convention refugee in New Zealand on a temporary visa

After you have put in your application to seek asylum and have received your confirmation of claim letter from Immigration New Zealand (INZ), you may be able to access limited financial support from the government if you do not have enough income to support yourself financially.

Whether you can receive financial support, which financial support you can receive, and the amount you can receive will depend on your circumstances. This includes your visa status, your income and assets in New Zealand and overseas (including if you own property overseas), how much you are paying for rent, whether you are single or a couple or if you have children, etc. It’s important that you provide truthful and accurate information to WINZ.

There are 3 types of financial support asylum seekers may be able to receive from Work and Income (WINZ):

If you have dependent children under the age of 18, depending on your family’s yearly income, you may also be eligible for Family Tax Credit/ Working for Families and Best Start tax credit from the Inland Revenue (IRD). 

After you have been granted convention refugee or protected person status, while waiting for your New Zealand Residency, these continue to be the only financial support you may access from the government. 

After you are granted residency status (either residency or permanent residency), you can have access to a wider range of financial support, just like other permanent residents and citizens of New Zealand. 

To access financial support from WINZ, you must have a valid visa that allows you to be lawfully present in New Zealand (including a visitor visa, work visa, student visa, interim visa). If you do not have a valid visa, for example, if your visa has expired, you won’t be able to access WINZ until you get onto a valid visa. 

You cannot access financial support from WINZ on an Accredited Employers Work Visa (AEWV). However, after putting in your application to seek asylum, you can apply for an asylum seeker’s open work visa. You may be able to access financial support from WINZ on this open work visa if you meet the other eligibility criteria. You will no longer be tied to the same employer under your AEWV and can change to work for other employers. However, if you voluntarily quit your job or have been made redundant by your employer due to misconduct, there will be a 13-week standdown period before you can access financial support from WINZ. 

You also cannot access financial support from WINZ on an NZeTA. If you arrive in New Zealand on an NZeTA, it’s important that you apply for a visa (usually a work visa) at the same time as you apply to seek asylum, before your NZeTA expires.

We strongly recommend you get support from an experienced refugee lawyer if you are applying for asylum and the visas associated with the asylum process. Email us for recommendations of Rainbow competent refugee lawyers.

We also strongly recommend you to get in touch with Asylum Seekers Support Trust (ASST), who provides a lot of information on the services and support you are entitled to in New Zealand and how to access them. You can find more information on ASST’s website: 

https://asst.org.nz/resources-v1/

https://asst.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Copy-of-Print-Copy-New-and-Updated-Guide-of-Asst-2025c_compressed-1.pdf

If you’re a convention refugee in New Zealand with residency or citizenship

If you’re recognised by Immigration New Zealand as a convention refugee or a protected person, and you are granted New Zealand residency or permanent residency, you can have access to a wider range of financial support from the government, just like other permanent residents and citizens of New Zealand. 

If you arrived in New Zealand as a quota refugee

People who came to New Zealand as quota refugees are permanent residents on arrival. They can have access to a wider range of financial support from the government, just like other permanent residents and citizens of New Zealand.

If you’re a migrant in New Zealand on temporary visa 

Generally, people on temporary visas who are not asylum seekers or refugees do not have access to financial support from the government. In exceptional circumstances such as family violence, some financial support from the government will be available.

Steps for asylum seekers to access financial support from WINZ 

After arriving in New Zealand, there are three steps asylum seekers need to go through to access financial support from WINZ: 1. Opening a bank account -> 2. Applying for benefit from WINZ -> 3. Getting an IRD number. 

Step 1. Opening a bank account 

Opening a bank account is the first step to access a WINZ benefit. To open a bank account, you will need to show the bank: 

  • your passport or another official photo ID the bank accepts 
  • proof of your address (usually an official letter addressed to you confirming your physical address in New Zealand, for example, your Confirmation of Claim letter from INZ if it has your address)
  • a valid visa (any visa that’s not expired)
  • your Confirmation of Claim letter from INZ if you’re on a visitor visa

Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) is currently the most understanding bank for asylum seekers who want to open a bank account on a short-term visa (e.g., a visitor visa). They usually accept the Confirmation of Claim letter from INZ as your proof of address. 

After your bank account is set up, ask the bank for a signed and stamped bank statement from your new account. You do not need to have money to open a bank account, but if there is no money in the account, ask the bank to confirm in writing that the account is “functional” or “active”. This document can then be used as your proof of bank account for the next two steps – to apply for a WINZ benefit and an IRD number. 

Unfortunately, banks usually only open an account using the name and gender marker on your overseas passport. Some branch managers may have the discretion to use your correct name. However, most will only do this after you can legally change your name in New Zealand (after you have residency or permanent residency). 

You can contact Asylum Seekers Support Trust (ASST) for support if you run into any problems opening a bank account.

Step 2. Applying for financial support from Work and Income (WINZ)

The second step is to apply for a benefit from Work and Income (WINZ). You may be eligible for Emergency Benefit (EB) to help with essential living expenses and Temporary Additional Support (TAS) to help with accommodation costs if you are paying rent. 

To apply, you first need to get a 9 digit client number online. Use this number as reference when filling in your application form and booking your appointment with WINZ. 

Next, you need to fill out a paper-based application form. WINZ has stopped producing the Emergency Benefit application forms, and you will need to fill in the equivalent benefit form: 

  • If you’re a single person, a couple, or a family with children => fill in the Jobseeker Support form;
  • If you’re a single parent => fill in the Sole Parent Support form;
  • If you’re above 65 years old => fill in the New Zealand Superannuation form. 

These forms also contain the application for Temporary Additional Support (TAS) – under the heading of Accommodation Supplement.

Even though the WINZ website says people can apply for financial support through their online portal, this online portal does not work for people who are not New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. This means you need to fill in a hard copy form. You can visit a WINZ service centre or contact ASST to get the hard copy application forms for Jobseekers Support (or for Sole Parent Support or New Zealand Superannuation). 

Note: even though you have to fill out one of these forms, you will still only be able to receive the Emergency Benefit (EB) and Temporary Additional Support (TAS) if you are eligible for them.

While you fill in the application form, you also need to book an appointment with a WINZ service centre convenient to you to put in your application. You can either phone 0800 559 009 or go to a WINZ service centre in person to book an appointment. We recommend you to go to a WINZ service centre to book your appointment in person, because it can take a very long time waiting to speak to someone over the phone. You should have your client number and your passport with you when booking this appointment. 

When going to your WINZ appointment, you will need to bring:

  • the application form you have filled out;
  • your Confirmation of Claim letter from INZ, which shows that you have an ongoing asylum claim;
  • your passport or another official photo ID that WINZ accepts (for asylum seekers, only one form of ID is needed)
  • a valid visa (can be a visitor visa, open work visa, student visa, interim visa); and
  • proof of your bank account (see step 1)
  • tenancy or rental agreement if you are also applying for Temporary Additional Support (TAS) 

If you are also applying for Temporary Additional Support (TAS), you will need to provide proof that you’re paying rent. Usually this is an agreement you have signed with your landlord or your flatmate showing the amount of rent you’re paying. If you are paying board (for both rent and food), WINZ will only help pay towards the rent part of your board. The following templates provide what this agreement should contain:

There may be other documents required depending on your personal circumstances. You can upload additional documents requested by WINZ onto your My MSD account as requested. 

You do not need an IRD number (New Zealand tax number) to receive financial support from WINZ. You can temporarily receive WINZ support before getting an IRD number, but you should apply for IRD as soon as you can (see step 3)

After submitting your application and supporting documents at your appointment, it usually takes WINZ about 10 working days to process your application. If approved, WINZ will usually pay your benefit from the date you submit your application. 

Community service card 

Once you have been granted a WINZ benefit, you will automatically be issued a Community Service Card. You can use this Community Service Card to pay at a cheaper rate when accessing publicly funded healthcare (including GP visits, prescriptions, etc) and public transport.

You may still be eligible for a Community Service Card if you’re not receiving a benefit but your income is below a certain amount. You can find more information here. 

If you encounter problems when accessing WINZ 

When first applying for financial support from WINZ, your WINZ case manager may ask you why you are seeking asylum. But you have no obligation to tell them any details of your asylum claim. 

You can contact ASST for support if you run into problems or are mistreated in this process. For example, if WINZ does not accept your identity documents, if WINZ asks you for documents you cannot obtain, if you are not getting the right amount of benefit, if your benefit has been declined or stopped, or if a WINZ staff made queerphobic, racist or xenophobic comments, etc.  

Make sure that you update WINZ every time your immigration status changes. This includes updating WINZ whenever you are granted a new visa until you are granted permanent residency, and letting WINZ know as soon as you can after you have been granted refugee or protected person status. These are to ensure you continue to be eligible for the financial support you are receiving. 

You should also update WINZ when you have found employment and have received your first payment, or when your relationship status changes. If you haven’t updated WINZ promptly, and WINZ discovers these changes, you may be asked to pay money back. 

While receiving financial support from WINZ, depending on your situation, you may be required to engage in job-preparation or job-seeking activities. It’s important that you adhere to these requirements. However, if WINZ requires you to look for or take on work you are not able to do, please contact ASST for support. This can include if you don’t have enough English to do the work, if you have a disability or medical condition that limits your ability to work, if you face discrimination and harassment at the workplace for being queer or transgender, etc. 

Step 3. Applying for an IRD (tax) number 

The third step is to apply for an IRD number to make sure you’re paying the right amount of tax.

Asylum seekers do not need an IRD number to apply for a WINZ benefit initially. However, you should apply for an IRD number as soon as you can, especially once you start to receive a WINZ benefit or start to earn an income.

You can apply for an IRD number by filling in the online application form or the paper form IR595 – IRD number application – individual currently in New Zealand, then go to an IRD service centre or an AA Driver Licensing Agent within 20 days to verify your identity. 

We recommend asylum seekers to go to an IRD service centre instead of AA, as they have more understanding of asylum seekers’ immigration status and ID issues often faced by transgender people. 

When applying for an IRD number, you will need to provide: 

  • your passport or another official photo ID accepted by IRD (for asylum seekers, only one form of ID is needed)
  • your Confirmation of Claim letter from INZ
  • proof of your address (usually an official letter addressed to you confirming your physical address in New Zealand, for example, your Confirmation of Claim letter from INZ if it has your address)
  • a valid visa
    • if you have a visa that allows you to work, for example, a work visa, or a student visa or an interim visa with work conditions => you can just show this visa to the IRD staff. 
    • if you have a visa that does not allow you to work, for example, a visitor visa, or a student visa or interim visa without work conditions => you will need to show this visa and provide the reason why you are applying for an IRD number. This can be a letter from WINZ stating that you have applied for or you are currently receiving a WINZ benefit.
  • Your overseas tax number if you have one

You can find more information on the official IRD website. 

You can contact ASST for support if you run into any problems in this process. 

Other financial support asylum seekers and convention refugees on temporary visas may be eligible for

Family Tax Credit/ Working for Families and Best Start tax credit from IRD

The Family Tax Credit/ Working for Families and Best Start tax credit payment are for families with dependent children aged 18 and under. The amount you can get is based on your yearly family income and family circumstances. Asylum seekers and convention refugees on temporary visas are eligible for these while receiving a benefit. You can find more information here and apply for it here. 

Payment of bond from WINZ (recoverable)

WINZ may also be able to help with the payment of your bond when you move to a new rental house. To be eligible for this, your landlord must be registered with WINZ. This is a recoverable grant which you will have to pay back to WINZ. It is also worth asking WINZ if you can get any help to pay for other emergency costs including food and clothing, which you can pay back later.

Food assistance from ASST

ASST may be able to deliver food boxes to asylum seekers and convention refugees in Auckland. Contact ASST to enquire more. 

ASST’s short-term loans for asylum seekers

Depending on your situation, ASST may be able to offer interest-free small short-term loans up to $2,000 for asylum seekers. You will need to pay this back weekly within six months.

Re-Establishment (Special Needs) Grant

Asylum seekers granted refugee status within one year of arriving in New Zealand may also be able to apply for a Re-Establishment Grant. The maximum grant is $5,000. Most asylum seekers will not be able to apply for this grant, because it currently takes more than a year for your claim to be decided, even if you applied for asylum as soon as you arrived in New Zealand.