New Zealand
New Zealand visa processing times
How long does each New Zealand visa take? Below are the typical decision windows for all 5 routes we track, each sourced directly from Immigration New Zealand (INZ). Click any route to see the full breakdown, including what drives the timeline and whether a priority service is available.
| Route | Published timing | Reality check | Sponsor needed? | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa# Residence visa for skilled workers through one of New Zealand's three current Skilled Migrant Category pathways. | Immigration New Zealand snapshot checked 10 September 2026: 80% of Skilled Migrant Category applications completed within 4 months, with a 9.5-week average wait. | Published percentile available Delay trigger: After 4 months (published percentile) | No | 2026-09-10 |
| Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa# Residence visa for partners (married, civil union, or de facto) of New Zealand citizens or residents. | Immigration New Zealand lists the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa at 80% within 7 months; the resident-visa wait times page currently shows a 5.5-month average. | Published percentile available Delay trigger: After 7 months (published percentile) | No | 2026-09-10 |
| Working Holiday Visa# Temporary visa for young people (18–30 or 18–35) from partner countries to work, travel, and study in New Zealand. | INZ working holiday country pages, including the United Kingdom scheme, currently list 80% of applications processed within about 2.5 weeks. | Published percentile available Delay trigger: After 18 days (published percentile) | No | 2026-09-10 |
| Student Visa# Visa for international students studying full-time at approved New Zealand education providers. | Immigration New Zealand lists the Fee Paying Student Visa at 80% within 9.5 weeks. | Published percentile available Delay trigger: After 67 days (published percentile) | Yes | 2026-09-10 |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)# Employer-sponsored temporary work visa — New Zealand's main route for skilled workers with a job offer from an accredited employer. | Immigration New Zealand lists Accredited Employer Work Visa worker applications at 80% within 8 weeks. | Published percentile available Delay trigger: After 8 weeks (published percentile) | Yes | 2026-09-10 |
Source authority: Immigration New Zealand. Processing times are indicative and change without notice — always confirm before applying.
Cite or reuse this dataset
This figure is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite the Visa Atlas page for the compiled, dated dataset, and cite the official source for the underlying government rule.
Suggested citation
Visa Atlas, "New Zealand processing times dataset", https://visaatlas.org/processing-times/new-zealand. Latest source check 10 September 2026.
- JSON endpoint
- https://visaatlas.org/api/public/processing-times
Primary sources (5)
Frequently asked questions
Are these New Zealand processing times official?+
Yes. Every window on this page is the figure published by Immigration New Zealand (INZ), shown with the date it was last checked. The figures are indicative rather than guarantees, and the linked source is authoritative on the day you apply.