Applications for the 2021 Resident Visa opened on 1 December 2021 and closed on 31 July 2022. Those eligible had to be in New Zealand on 29 September 2021 on an eligible visa and either have lived in New Zealand for the previous three years, earn at or above the median wage or work in a role on a scarce list.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) received around 106,000 2021 RV applications. As of 15 March 2023, nearly 84,000 applications have been approved, providing residence to more than 160,000 people, while the remainder of applications are still to be processed, and a small number have been withdrawn or declined.  This represents around five years of standard residence processing across 15 months.

INZ is committed to processing applications as quickly as possible and aims to have the vast majority of the remaining applications decided by June 2023.

While we recently committed to prioritise RV21 medical professionals and split families applications, we are processing all applications as fast as we can but we can’t do all at once.

The 2021 RV application process is generally working well, but we acknowledge some technical issues have caused frustration for some applicants.  Where technical issues have occurred, or are being brought to our attention, we are seeking to resolve these as quickly as possible.

The time it takes to process an application depends on several factors, including third party checks, how long it takes for each processing task to be completed, whether manual assessment is needed, or whether we are waiting on information from an applicant.

The order in which an application is released for processing does not determine the order that the application will be approved.

Processing an application that has more than one applicant included may take longer than an application for one person.

There were two application phases. Phase one was from 1 December 2021 to 28 February 2022. Phase two opened on 1 March 2022 and processing of these started at the end of March, in order of visa expiry.

Recent changes for 2021 RV interim visa holders:

1. Option to apply for grant of visa to travel overseas.
   • We have made changes to help families reunite when they may not have seen each other for a long time, due to COVID restrictions and border closures.
   • In October 2022, we made changes so 2021 Resident Visa applicants currently on an interim visa while they await the outcome of their application can now request the grant of a visa to allow them to travel overseas.
2. Priority for split families.
   • We also established an email escalation process to prioritise 2021 Resident Visa applications from applicants currently separated from their offshore partners and/or dependent children.
   • They were kept apart because of COVID border restrictions and the later decision to extend the 2021 Resident Visa processing timeframe from 12 to 18 months. 
   • Applicants need to meet certain criteria to have their 2021 Resident Visa application prioritised under this process. For example, the offshore partner must have been in a relationship with the onshore partner prior to the COVID-related border restrictions.
   • Any 2021 Resident Visa applicant whose application includes overseas family members and is at the ‘under assessment’ stage, should email us to request prioritisation for their application.
   • We action any requests for prioritisation when the application reaches the ‘Under Assessment’ stage. That is because key checks including an identity check, character check and possible health check must be done before we can assess any requests for prioritisation.
   • Applicants currently separated from their offshore partners and/or dependent children, and who meet the prescribed criteria, can use the INZ Employment Visa Escalation process to request that their application is prioritised.
3. Priority for Green List medical professionals.
   • Prioritisation has now been given to 2021 Resident Visa (2021RV) applications from Green List medical professionals to meet demand for a small number of highly skilled health sector roles.
   • Green List medical professionals who did not list their occupation in their 2021RV application need to go to the NZ Employment Visa Escalation web page for information on how to request to have their application prioritised.
   • We action any requests for prioritisation when the application reaches the ‘Under Assessment’ stage. That is because key checks including an identity check, character check and possible health check must be done before we can assess any requests for prioritisation.
   • Green List medical professionals who listed their occupation in their 21RV application do not need to do anything. Once it reaches the ‘under assessment’ stage, it will be prioritised.
   • Medical professional roles added to the Green List in December (2022) also qualify for this prioritisation.
4. Applicants whose interim or temporary visas expire soon.
   • Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is allowing holders of 2021 Interim Visas which are set to expire in the next few months to request a new interim visa. This will allow 2021 Resident Visa applicants to stay in New Zealand while their application is processed.
   • There is no fee to request a new visa. The new visas will include conditions to allow travel overseas. 2021 Resident Visa applicants holding an interim visa with less than one month’s validity should email a request for a new visa to us:  21RVinterims@mbie.govt.nz
   • The request must be made before the expiry of their current visa. The new visa will be valid for 12 months.
   • We are also automatically granting 2021 Interim Visas to 2021 Resident Visa applicants once their current temporary visas expire. This interim visa will allow them to stay in New Zealand while their resident visa application is being processed. The interim visa will be valid for 12 months and there is no fee.
   • People who are granted an interim visa and wish to travel need to request to have travel conditions added to their interim visa to allow overseas travel. There is no fee to do this. Information about requesting a new visa and requesting travel conditions:
     2021 Interim Visa

2021 Resident Visa