This site is in beta. We are still smoothing out rough edges. If you spot something wrong or have a suggestion, tell us on the contact page.

NZ visa processing times

How long Immigration New Zealand is currently taking for every visa product: the time within which 50% and 80% of recent applications were completed, from INZ's published figures, captured daily. Open a visa for its trend over time.

Figures as at 16 October 2026.

Visa products tracked
131
Figures as at
16 October 2026
Captured
Daily, from INZ

Visitor visas

Visitor visas, 50% and 80% of recent applications processed within
Visa50% within80% within
Academic Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Adoption Pre-citizenship Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Adoption Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Antarctic Traveller Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Arts and Music Festival Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Business Visitor Visa3 days1.5 weeks
Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Child of a Student Visitor Visa5 weeks7 weeks
Child of a Worker Visitor Visa5 weeks7 weeks
Child of Military Visitor Visa5 weeks7 weeks
Crew joining a Ship or Plane Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa2 weeks5 weeks
Dismissed Worker Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Escort of Medical Patients Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
German Law Student Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Group Visitor Visa1.5 weeks2 weeks
Guardian Visitor Visa2 weeks6 weeks
Medical Treatment Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Occupational Registration Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa7.5 weeks3 months
Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa4.5 weeks8 weeks
Partner of a Student Visitor Visa5 weeks7 weeks
Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa5 weeks7 weeks
Partner of Military Visitor Visa5 weeks7 weeks
Pitcairn Islander Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Private Yacht or Plane Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Refugee Claimant Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Short-term Entertainment Act Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Sports Events Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Super Yachts Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Tour Escort Visitor Visa4 days1 weeks
Transit Visa2 days4 days
Visiting Media Visitor Visa2 weeks4.5 weeks
Visitor Visa1 week2 weeks

Work visas

Work visas, 50% and 80% of recent applications processed within
Visa50% within80% within
Accredited Employer Work Visa2 weeks5 weeks
Argentina Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Austria Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Belgium Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Brazil Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Canada Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Chile Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
China Special Work Visa3 weeks7 weeks
China Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Croatia Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Czech Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Denmark Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Domestic Staff of a Diplomat Work Visa3 weeks7 weeks
Entertainers Work Visa1 weeks2 weeks
Entrepreneur Work Visa19 months19 months
Estonia Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Finland Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Fishing Crew Work Visa7 weeks7 weeks
France Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Germany Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Hong Kong SAR Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Hungary Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Indonesia Special Work Visa3 weeks7 weeks
Ireland Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Israel Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Italy Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Japan Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Japanese Interpreters Work Visa3 weeks7 weeks
Korea Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Latvia Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Lithuania Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa4 weeks4 weeks
Luxembourg Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Malaysia Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Malta Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Mexico Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Netherlands Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Norway Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa5 weeks6.5 weeks
Partner of a Student Work Visa3 weeks6 weeks
Partner of a Worker Work Visa3 weeks6 weeks
Partner of an NZ Scholarship Student Work Visa3 weeks6 weeks
Partner of Military Work Visa3 weeks7 weeks
Peru Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Philippines Special Work Visa3 weeks7 weeks
Philippines Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Poland Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Portugal Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Primary Sector Trainees Work Visa3 weeks7 weeks
Religious Worker Work Visa2 weeks3 weeks
Republic of Korea Special Work Visa3 weeks7 weeks
Singapore Work Exchange Programme Visa1 week2 weeks
Slovakia Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Slovenia Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
South Island Contribution Work Visa3 weeks7 weeks
Spain Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Specific Purpose Work Visa2 weeks3 weeks
Student and Trainee Work Visa3 weeks7 weeks
Sweden Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Taiwan Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa2.5 weeks2.5 weeks
Thai Chefs Work Visa3 weeks7 weeks
Thailand Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Turkey Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Uruguay Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
USA Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Victims of Family Violence Work Visa2 weeks3 weeks
Vietnam Special Work Visa3 weeks7 weeks
Vietnam Working Holiday Visa1 week2 weeks
Work Exchange Scheme Work Visa2 weeks2 weeks

Study visas

Study visas, 50% and 80% of recent applications processed within
Visa50% within80% within
Dependent Child Student Visa5 weeks8 weeks
English Language Student Visa3 weeks7 weeks
Exchange Student Visa3 days1 weeks
Fee Paying Student Visa3 weeks7 weeks
Foreign Government Supported Student Visa3 weeks3 weeks
NZ Government Scholarship Student Visa3 weeks3 weeks
Pathway Student Visa3 weeks7 weeks
Vocational Trainee Student Visa3 weeks3 weeks

Residence visas

Residence visas, 50% and 80% of recent applications processed within
Visa50% within80% within
Dependent Child Resident Visa6 months7 months
Global Impact Permanent Residence Visa3 weeks7 weeks
Pacific Access Category Resident Visa36 months38.5 months
Parent Resident Visa7 months11 months
Parent Retirement Resident Visa14 months24.5 months
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa6 months7 months
Permanent Resident Visa1.5 weeks2 weeks
Religious Worker Resident Visa4.5 months6 months
Samoan Quota Resident Visa18 months21 months
Second or Subsequent Resident Visa2.5 weeks4 weeks
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa9 weeks3.5 months
Straight to Residence Visa8 weeks3 months
Victims of Family Violence Resident Visa3 months12 months
Work to Residence Visa8 weeks3 months

Other visas

Other visas, 50% and 80% of recent applications processed within
Visa50% within80% within
Active Investor Plus Visa7 weeks4 months
China Skilled Workers Visa3 weeks7 weeks
Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa2 days4 days

Frequently asked questions

It depends on the visa product. Immigration New Zealand publishes, for each visa, how quickly 50% and 80% of recent applications were completed. This page tracks those figures daily for all 131 visa products; open any visa for its current figures and trend.

They are completion percentiles for recently decided applications. If 50% is 4 days and 80% is 2 weeks, half of recent applications were completed within 4 days and four out of five within 2 weeks. Your own application can take longer, especially if INZ asks for more information.

From Immigration New Zealand's published processing-time figures, captured daily so trends over time are visible. INZ updates its figures regularly; the date shown on each page is the latest capture.

Sources