Kim Dotcom's fate in the hands of Immigration Minister

The deportation inquiry - which could see Dotcom returned to Finland or Germany - came after court files revealed the entrepreneur had pleaded guilty in 2009 to doing 149km/h in a 50km/h zone. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Kim Dotcom's ability to stay in New Zealand will be decided by Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse and could come inside a month.

The inquiry was launched after the New Zealand Herald revealed the besieged internet entrepreneur had not declared a dangerous driving conviction when applying for residency in New Zealand.

The decision is completely separate from the extradition hearing which Dotcom is facing in just a few months, which could also see him removed from New Zealand.

The extradition hearing came after charges laid in the United States alleged a criminal conspiracy to breach copyright through his defunct Megaupload website.

The deportation inquiry - which could see Dotcom returned to Finland or Germany - came after court files revealed the entrepreneur had pleaded guilty in 2009 to doing 149km/h in a 50km/h zone.

Eight months later, on his residency application, he was asked: "Have you or your family members included in your application ever been ... convicted of an offence (including a traffic offence) committed in the last five years involving dangerous driving."

The form, dated June 3, 2010, had a clear mark in the "No" box.

Dotcom has said it was a misunderstanding and he had believed advisers handling the application were aware of the conviction.

Immigration NZ's acting area manager Katie Knowles said the agency was "still assessing Mr Dotcom's liability for deportation" for not declaring the conviction.

"In the interests of fairness and natural justice, Mr Dotcom and his advisers have been asked to make submissions on the matter by 4 May.

"Once that process is complete a decision will then be made by the Minister of Immigration on whether Mr Dotcom is liable for deportation."