Check if you can make an escalation request
Check if you can make an escalation request to get your application urgently assigned to an immigration officer.
Escalation for urgent applications
Request to have your application allocated urgently for assessment using our visa escalation process.
How we allocate applications
We usually allocate applications for visas, employer accreditation and Job Checks by the date we receive them, from the oldest first. When we allocate an application, it means we assign it to an immigration officer to start assessing it.
How long it takes to process an application
In some cases you can make a request for urgent allocation, so we can allocate your application as a priority to an immigration officer. This request is called an 'escalation request'. We follow our visa escalation process to assess your request.
Visa escalation process
If you meet the all the criteria, you can send an email to make an escalation request. Your request goes to our visa escalation team to assess. The team will let you know if your request is accepted or not.
Check if you can submit an escalation request
Check if you can make a visa escalation request
Note
We do not consider travel bookings alone to be a reason for urgent allocation.
We usually cannot accept escalation requests for applications submitted less than 5 days ago. This is to give enough time for the application to be properly entered into our system.
If we have already assigned your application to an immigration officer, we cannot escalate it because it is already being assessed.
Criteria for an escalation request
Your escalation request must have a compelling or very important reason for your application to be allocated urgently. This includes:
- compelling personal and business circumstances
- humanitarian factors, and
- matters of national interest.
Other requirements
There are additional requirements and criteria for some applications. Check the following situations.
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, Straight to Residence Visa, and Work to Residence Visa
On 29 September 2023 we changed how we prioritise skilled residence applications. This affects Work to Residence, Straight to Residence and the Skilled Migrant Category Resident visas.
We will allocate your application for processing before other skilled residence applications if you meet any of the following criteria.
- You have an occupation on the Tier 1 Green List.
- You are paid 3 times the median wage.
- You are a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa applicant with 6 points without work experience.
Read the Amendment Circular for more details.
Wage rate requirements for visas
You can make an escalation request for these visa types if you meet any of these criteria. You must still meet all other criteria for an escalation request.
Supporting visa applications for your partner or dependent children
If you are supporting a partner or dependent child's visa application, you can only request an escalation for their visa after your visa application has been approved.
You must still meet all the criteria for an escalation request.
Visitor visa or Permanent Resident Visa
The visa escalation team does not assess email requests for urgent allocation of a visitor visa or Permanent Resident Visa. This is because of the large number of requests we get.
How to request urgent allocation for these visas depends on if you are from the Pacific or outside the Pacific.
Applications from the Pacific
If you are from the Pacific and need to request urgent allocation for a visitor visa or Permanent Resident Visa, contact our Pacific visa escalations email address:
pacificvisaescalations@mbie.govt.nz
You must still meet all other criteria for an escalation request.
The countries and territories in the Pacific are:
- American Samoa
- Cook Islands
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- French Polynesia
- Kiribati
- Marshall Islands
- Nauru
- New Caledonia
- Niue
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
Applications from outside the Pacific
If you are from outside the Pacific and need to request urgent allocation for a visitor visa or Permanent Resident Visa, call the Immigration Call Centre:
You must still meet all other criteria for an escalation request
Make your escalation request
If you meet the criteria for an escalation request, you can send your request to our escalations team.
Who can make a request
To make an escalation request for your application, you must be:
- the main applicant on the application form, or
- the legal representative or licensed immigration adviser for the main applicant.
How to make a request
Send your request to:
You need to include:
- applicant's first name and last name
- application number
- applicant's passport number
- applicant's date of birth
- applicant's INZ client number — if you know it
- why you need the application urgently allocated — explain why there are compelling or very important personal circumstances, humanitarian factors, or matters of national interest
- documents of evidence supporting your request.
We assess your escalation request
When we assess escalation requests, we check that there are:
- compelling or very important personal circumstances
- humanitarian factors, or
- matters of national interest.
We look at:
- the information in the request including any supporting documents, and
- the circumstances of the application.
We let you know if your request is accepted or declined
The visa escalation team will email you to let you know if your request is accepted or not. This normally takes 2 to 5 working days.
If we accept your request, we will let you know in the email when we are likely to start assessing your application.
You can check your visa application status at any time.
We escalate your application
If we accept your request, we allocate your application as a priority to an immigration officer.
Note
If we accept your escalation request, it does not mean we will also approve your application. It also does not mean the time we need to assess your application will be shorter.
We assess all applications using our normal processes, criteria and times.