Election day is Saturday 7 November 2026. Parties have published competing pledges on work visas, permanent residency, overstayers, asylum and citizenship. None of these become law unless a government is formed after the vote and Parliament passes the changes.
RNZ summarised the main positions on residency, overstayers and asylum seekers on 6 November.
Work visas and changing employers
NZ First wants a new work visa that is not tied to a single employer, with recruitment organised by region and occupation instead.
Labour says it would keep the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) but let migrants change employer after three months.
The Greens would also allow workers to switch employers, and would remove the 12-month stand-down that currently applies between some visas.
How temporary work visas interact with the Green List and graduate pathways already affects many Asian households. We have previously covered the Green List changes planned for March 2027 and the post-study work visa for graduate diploma holders.
Making permanent residency harder — or opening pathways
Labour, ACT and NZ First all want permanent residency to be harder or longer, and focused on people who are well settled.
The Greens and Te Pāti Māori support residence pathways for long-settled people, including those whose visas have expired.
NZ First proposes a 24-month clemency period for Pacific overstayers to apply to stay legally.
Labour also pledges a citizenship pathway for New Zealand-born children of non-resident parents, and a review of the parent visa, health requirements and English-language rules.
Refugees, asylum and health rules
The Greens want the refugee quota raised from 1,500 to 5,000 by 2029, and say they would abolish health requirements for immigrants and refugees.
NZ First says people who arrived on work visas should not be able to claim asylum. It also wants a 10-year welfare stand-down for non-citizens, including residents; citizen-only access to superannuation and voting; the removal of automatic work rights for international students; and a referendum to cap resident visas at 20,000 a year.
NZ First immigration spokesperson Casey Costello was quoted by RNZ saying the party did not want to be "importing poverty". The Salvation Army told RNZ it does not track the residency status of food bank clients.
National and ACT enforcement pledges
National points to the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill. RNZ reported the bill would extend deportation liability, remove some Immigration and Protection Tribunal appeal rights, and stop people who withdraw asylum claims from applying for visas. National also says it would trial digital passport-free travel between New Zealand and Australia before the 2028 T20 World Cup.
ACT wants a dedicated overstayer enforcement unit; Uber and DoorDash to verify and report work rights; employers who facilitate overstaying to lose accreditation; and a $6-a-day infrastructure surcharge on temporary work visas.
What this means for voters
These are campaign pledges. Final results after special votes can still change who forms government — we explained that process in our guide to how special votes work in the 2026 election. Polling places and voting options are covered in our election day voting guide.
If you hold a temporary visa, check Immigration New Zealand's website for your current conditions. Campaign promises do not change your visa overnight.
Sources: RNZ, Residency, overstayers and asylum seekers: parties set out their stalls (6 November 2026).
