Hearing process
Residence class visa appeals and humanitarian appeals against deportation are ‘heard on the papers’. This means that the Immigration & Protection Tribunal will decide your appeal on the basis only of the paperwork (information and evidence) provided, without holding an oral (face to face) hearing. However, an oral hearing may be provided at the absolute discretion of the Tribunal for humanitarian appeals against deportation.
Oral hearings will normally be conducted for refugee and protection status appeals, deportation appeals by residents/permanent residents, and for deportation appeals resulting from cancelled refugee and/or protection status persons (if involving a resident/permanent resident).
When an oral hearing is required, you and any representative (and possibly Immigration New Zealand) will be required to appear in person before the Tribunal. You or your representative will receive a Notice of Hearing which will state the date, time, and place of your hearing. The Notice of Hearing will also tell you the date by which you must lodge any further evidence or submissions you wish the Tribunal to consider.
Hearings are open to the public, except where the case involves a claimant for refugee and protection status, a refugee or protected person, a person formerly recognised as a refugee or protected person and in certain other cases when the Tribunal decides to receive evidence in private.
If you fail to attend your oral hearing without reasonable excuse, the Tribunal can decide your appeal on the papers.
Free interpreter service
If you require an interpreter at an oral hearing, you need to inform the Tribunal. Complete the Interpreter section of the Notice of Appeal form and advise the language and dialect required.
If the Tribunal considers that an interpreter is required it will provide and pay for the interpreter.
Find out more
The processes and procedures for hearings are set out in more detail in the Tribunal's practice notes.
