How long it takes to process an application
Processing times for NZeTA, visitor, student, work and other visas.
Waiting for a visa
- Checking your visa application status
- How long it takes to process an application
- Skilled Migrant Category and Residence from Work processing
- 2021 Resident Visa processing times
- Working holiday visa processing updates
- Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa data
- Recovery Visa processing
- Why some applications are processed faster than others
- Fees, decision times & where to apply
- Request or change your personal information
- Skilled Migrant Category reopening
- Employment Visa Escalation process
Many visas have only recently reopened. This means it may take some time to build an accurate picture of processing times. To provide clearer information, we are improving the way we publish processing times, and the frequency at which we update them.
We advise travellers not to book non-refundable travel until their visa has been approved.
How to understand this information
Our processing times are based on applications we have decided (approved or declined).
The processing times in this page are based on applications decided in April 2023. We are reporting on applications received since each visa reopened.
We use the median value to determine the average.
‘Weekdays’ means Monday to Friday.
Accredited Employer Work Visas
Employer accreditation
We aim to process straightforward applications for employer accreditation in 10 weekdays, excluding public holidays.
On average, we process employer accreditation applications in 4 weekdays. 90% of applications are processed within 19 weekdays.
Once approved, accreditation lasts for between 12 and 24 months. Employer accreditations will automatically be extended by 12 months if their first accreditation is applied for by 4 July 2023.
Job Checks
We aim to process straightforward applications for Job Checks in 10 weekdays, excluding public holidays.
On average, we process Job Check applications in 4 weekdays. 90% of applications are processed within 11 weekdays.
Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWV)
We aim to process straightforward AEWV applications in 20 weekdays, excluding public holidays.
On average, we process AEWV applications in 17 weekdays. 90% of applications are processed within 51 weekdays.
This category has only recently opened, and times may change as we receive and process more applications.
Visitor visas
We aim to process visitor visa applications in 20 weekdays, excluding public holidays.
On average, we process visitor visa applications in 9 weekdays. 90% of applications are processed within 34 weekdays.
These times are for all the visitor visas we are processing. To see the timeframes for a specific visa:
This category has only recently reopened, and times may change as we receive and process more applications.
Student visas
We aim to process straightforward applications for student visas in 30 weekdays, excluding public holidays.
On average, we process student visa applications in 19 weekdays. 90% of applications are processed within 67 weekdays.
This category has only recently reopened, and times may change as we receive and process more applications.
Why some applications are processed faster than others
You can also find out online how long it takes to process visas for international students depending on the type of education provider.
Working holiday visas
On average, we process working holiday visa applications in 3 weekdays. 90% of applications are processed within 23 weekdays.
Between 14 March 2022 and 12 January 2023 we received 46,210 applications for a working holiday visa. Of those, 43,145 have been approved, 1,881 are being processed and the rest were declined.
NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority)
Some visitors and transit passengers can travel to New Zealand without a visa if they get an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before travel.
Most NZeTA requests are processed within 72 hours. Many requests are processed more quickly but some may take longer.
Other visas and applications
| Visa | 50% of applications completed within: | 90% of applications completed within: |
|---|---|---|
| Partner of a New Zealander resident visa | 5 months | 14 months |
| Permanent Resident Visa | 16 weekdays | 24 weekdays |
| Variation of travel conditions on a resident visa | 7 weekdays | 18 weekdays |
| Visa Transfers | less than a day | 4 weekdays |
Visa Transfer requests are made on a paper form. It currently takes 5 weeks to enter these types of applications into our system. Once they are in our system they are usually finalised within 3 days. The time it takes to add these paper applications into our system is not included in the above timeframes.
Processing times for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa are not included at this time. The selection of expressions of interest resumed in November 2022 and customers have four months to submit their application if they are invited to apply for the visa.
Other resident visas
Find recent processing times for other resident visas.