Timeframes for Capped Family applications

New Zealand carefully plans allocation of residence places.

The Government's annual residence programme gives priority to skilled and business migrants and the partners of returning New Zealanders. Demand for places under the capped family stream (which consists of parent, adult child and sibling residence cases) currently exceeds the number of places available. 

There is a waiting time of 18-24 months for a place to become available within the cap. In practice this means that an application will usually take from 18-24 months from the time of lodgement to be allocated to a case officer for assessment.

How quickly can you expect us to make a decision on your application?

If you supply us with all the documents that we ask for, you can expect us to meet the following timeliness standards at our Apia branch office.

• Student visa applications – 20 working days
• Visitor visa applications – 10 working days
• Work visa applications – 20 to 30 working days
• RSE visa applications – five working days
• Applications for second or subsequent resident visas/travel conditions on a resident visa/permanent resident visas/transit visas/transfer of labels – 10 working days.

Note: If applications require verification or further information then they will take longer than the stated processing times.

Contact details must be provided; in the event processing of your application is completed before check back date.

All applications lodged are receipted and should be entered into our computer system within 24 hours.

Remember to include all the documentation, fees, and photographs listed on the application form and in our checklists.