PTC Web Desk:  New Zealand’s Immigration and Protection Tribunal has rejected all 40 published asylum cases linked to Khalistan that it decided in 2025 and 2026, a sharp change from the two claims it accepted in 2024.

A review of publicly available tribunal decisions found that 15 such cases were decided in 2025, followed by another 25 so far in 2026. None of the applicants in these cases were granted refugee recognition.

Tribunal takes different view after 2024 decisions

The latest figures, highlighted in a recent report by Awaaz, come after two Indian nationals were recognised as refugees by the tribunal in 2024.

In those cases, the tribunal accepted that the applicants’ highly visible support for the Khalistan movement could put them at risk of persecution if they were sent back to India.

The two cases involved applicants with prominent political profiles. Their activities included regular pro-Khalistan posts on social media, links to separatist organisations and, in one case, a prominent tattoo associated with Khalistan.

The 2024 rulings have subsequently been cited by lawyers representing other asylum seekers. According to Australia Today, at least nine later cases referred to one or both of those decisions, although those applications were ultimately unsuccessful.

Low-profile activities not considered enough

In a number of more recent cases, the tribunal has drawn a distinction between highly visible political activity and relatively limited participation in Khalistan-related events.

The tribunal has repeatedly noted that applicants failed to provide sufficient evidence showing that Indian authorities were aware of their political activities or considered them a threat.

One case involved an applicant who had participated in a non-binding Khalistan referendum in Auckland and attended a demonstration outside the Indian High Commission in Wellington.

However, the tribunal described those activities as “low level” and found no evidence that they had come to the attention of Indian authorities.

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Individual risk remains key to refugee claims

The decisions suggest that simply expressing support for Khalistan does not, by itself, establish a successful refugee claim in New Zealand.

Applicants seeking refugee recognition must demonstrate that they face a genuine and individualised risk of persecution if returned to India. The tribunal’s recent decisions indicate that the nature and visibility of an applicant’s political activities, along with evidence that authorities are aware of them, can be important factors.

Immigration New Zealand does not track grounds separately

Immigration New Zealand does not publish asylum figures broken down according to the specific grounds cited by applicants.

An INZ spokesperson told Awaaz that relevant information may exist in individual case records, but compiling it would require extensive manual examination because the information is not maintained in a readily retrievable format for reporting.