We realise that you have a lot of things to keep in mind when you're preparing to visit, study, work, or live in New Zealand.
In order to help you make your preparations, we've put together some approximate timeframes and guidelines around the Immigration New Zealand residence or temporary entry permit/visa application process.
Medical and Chest X-ray Certificates
In November 2005, Immigration New Zealand introduced new guidelines concerning the medical status of people applying for visas and permits to visit, study, work, or live in New Zealand.
If you have an existing medical condition, or there are questions arising from the Medical and or Chest X-ray Certificate that you have submitted with your application for a visa/permit, we are required to refer your documents to an independent medical assessor for their opinion on your health.
Certificates referred to an assessor can take a minimum of four weeks to return to us. We may then ask you to provide additional information in the form of specialist reports clarifying the nature and prognosis of your condition.
No decision can be made on the outcome of your visa/permit application until any and all questions regarding your medical status have been resolved.
Skilled Migrant Category processing times
- The Pool draw, which may allocate your Expression of Interest (EOI) to either the Auckland Central Branch or the Henderson Branch, occurs every two weeks.
- An immigration officer will make an initial assessment of your EOI within eight to ten weeks of the Pool draw. Your immigration officer will then contact you, either inviting you to apply for residence or requesting further information.
- If you are successful in your EOI you will receive an Invitation To Apply (ITA) pack. Please read the instructions carefully and contact your immigration officer if you have any problems.
- Once your residence application has been lodged with us, it is processed by the branch issuing your ITA. Both branches aim to deliver a decision within six to nine months of your application being accepted.
- The combined performance for the Auckland-based branches as at 31 August 2009 is:
- 29% of applications decided within four months
- 57% of applications decided within six months
- 74% of applications decided within nine months
- All remaining applications decided within about a year.
- Processing times largely depend on whether you have supplied your immigration officer with everything they have requested in your ITA and any verification that is required. Delays can occur if all requested documentation has not been provided.
Things that may delay a Skilled Migrant application include:
- an existing medical condition (If full medical reports clarifying the history and prognosis of any existing conditions are provided, it will minimise any processing delays)
- a criminal conviction listed on your police certificate (please give a written account outlining the circumstances surrounding the offence)
- work references which do not list your position and the start and end dates of your complete employment history
- any custody issues surrounding children that may be included with a residence application
- the time needed to carry out verification work