Kia ora Aj Wright,
 
On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 18/05/2026 requesting, under the Official
Information Act 1982, the following:
 
I am requesting information relating to visa overstayers and student visa
compliance within New Zealand.

I request the following information regarding individuals currently
believed to be unlawfully in New Zealand due to overstaying the conditions
or duration of their visas:

The total number of known or estimated visa overstayers currently in New
Zealand.

A breakdown of overstayers by the length of time they have remained
unlawfully in New Zealand, including:

More than 6 months

More than 1 year

More than 2 years

More than 5 years

More than 10 years

The age demographics of these overstayers, including:

Under 18

18–24

25–34

35–44

45–54

55+

The countries of origin or citizenship of overstayers, including a
breakdown by nationality where available.

The regions, cities, or districts within New Zealand where overstayers are
known or believed to be residing, where such information is recorded.

Information on the methods and processes Immigration New Zealand uses to
identify, monitor, locate, and deport or repatriate visa overstayers,
including:

Compliance operations

Data matching with other agencies

Workplace inspections

Community reporting mechanisms

Border alerts

Cooperation with overseas authorities

The number of deportations or removals carried out in the past five years
relating specifically to visa overstayers.

The estimated costs incurred annually by Immigration New Zealand relating
to:

Locating overstayers

Compliance investigations

Deportation and repatriation processes

The number of compliance officers or investigators employed specifically
for immigration compliance and overstayer investigations.

Information regarding individuals currently in New Zealand on student
visas, including:

Total number of active student visa holders

Countries of origin

Age demographics

Institutions attended where available

Information on how Immigration New Zealand monitors and enforces student
visa work limitations, including:

How compliance with the 20-hour-per-week work restriction is verified

Whether payroll, tax, or IRD information is used for compliance checks

The number of investigations conducted into student visa work breaches in
the past five years

The number of student visas cancelled or enforcement actions taken due to
breaches of work conditions

Information regarding employers found to have knowingly employed
individuals in breach of visa conditions, including:

Number of investigations

Number of prosecutions or penalties issued

Industries most commonly involved

Any available statistics regarding:

Overstayers involved in criminal offending

Overstayers currently serving prison sentences or on corrections orders

Instances where overstayers have later obtained residency or other legal
status

Copies of any current policies, operational manuals, or guidance documents
relating to:

Visa overstayer enforcement

Student visa compliance monitoring

Risk assessment procedures for unlawful migrants

If any part of this request is likely to be refused under the Act, I
request that the remaining information still be released where possible.

I would prefer the information in electronic format where available.
 
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and no
later than 16/06/2026, being 20 working days after the day your request
was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
notify you of an extension of that timeframe. If you have any enquiries
regarding your request feel free to contact us via email to
[1][MBIE request email].
 
Nāku noa, nā
Ministerial Services
Strategy and Assurance
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 |  P O Box 1473 Wellington 6140

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[MBIE request email]

Kia ora AJ
 
Please see attached a letter regarding your request for information under
the Official Information Act 1982.

Ngā mihi nui,

Ministerial Services
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140