New Zealand Immigration has released official figures showing that 1,393 people were deported during the 2025/2026 financial year, with India ranking first among the top ten nationalities removed from the country.
According to data published by New Zealand Immigration, India accounted for 270 deportations, followed by China with 195 and Vietnam with 173. The list also includes several Pacific Island nations, reflecting the broad range of nationalities affected by the country's immigration enforcement activities.
Full Breakdown of Top 10 Deportation Nationalities
The complete ranking of the ten countries with the highest number of deported citizens is as follows:
- India: 270 people
- China: 195 people
- Vietnam: 173 people
- Samoa: 147 people
- Tonga: 117 people
- Fiji: 89 people
- Philippines: 69 people
- Great Britain: 26 people
- Malaysia: 26 people
- United States of America: 24 people
An additional 257 people from other nationalities were also deported, bringing the total number of deportations to 1,393 for the financial year.
How New Zealand Defines Deportation Categories
New Zealand Immigration distinguishes between three separate categories: deportation, self-deportation, and voluntary departure. A deportation applies to a person who is unlawfully in the country, has been served with a deportation order, and subsequently leaves. It also covers temporary visa holders who were made liable for deportation and depart after the relevant deadline.
Self-deportation refers to someone unlawfully in New Zealand who leaves of their own accord, at no cost to the Ministry, before a deportation order is formally served. Voluntary departure covers those who leave willingly and at their own expense before the point at which a deportation order could legally be issued.
The full statistics are available on the official New Zealand Immigration website.
Related Immigration Enforcement News
In a related story, Legit.ng reported that New Zealand had released a list of the top 10 countries whose citizens overstayed their visas in 2026. The country has also identified categories of people facing travel disruptions, according to an advisory published by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
The advisory addressed holders of visitor, work, student, and other temporary visas, whether they were physically present in New Zealand at the time or stranded abroad. It was triggered by widespread flight cancellations and delays caused by disruptions to key international transit hubs and the closure of airspace in Iran and surrounding regions.
