A16.3 General Instruction on manner of processing visas using the enhanced Immigration Online system

A16.3 General Instruction on manner of processing visas using the enhanced Immigration Online system

Under section 26(4) of the Immigration Act 2009 and acting under delegated authority from the Chief Executive of the Ministry of the Business, Innovation, and Employment, I give the following general instructions as to the manner of processing of visa applications using the enhanced Immigration Online system (referred to within INZ as ADEPT), effective from 29 May 2026.

A16.3.10 Performing activities within the enhanced Immigration Online system

1. An application within the Enhanced Immigration Online system is divided into a set of activities required to complete the application. Activities may be automatically completed by the system.
2. Assessment activities are those activities that require assessing the application against immigration instructions. All assessment activities (unless they are automated) must be completed by an immigration officer.
3. Assessment activities can be assigned to an immigration officer through the system or by their manager. Activities can be either:
   1. assigned on an application-basis, so that the immigration officer is responsible for completing all or most of the assessment activities required for a particular application (case-based processing), or
   2. assigned to an immigration officer individually, so that an immigration officer is responsible only for considering the activity assigned (activity-based processing).
4. Where an immigration officer has been assigned one or more activities within an application, they are expected to focus on the activity or activities they are assigned, without considering previous activities already completed by either the system or by another immigration officer, unless they consider this is necessary in the circumstances to complete the activity they are assessing.

A16.3.15 Performing activities pertaining to final gathering of information, assessment and decision

1. An immigration officer carrying out the final assessment of an application where one or more instructions were not met:
   1. Will consider any activities where the system or an immigration officer determined that instructions were not met, or where concerns were raised by (an) immigration officer(s)
   2. Is not required to review any activities where the system or an immigration officer determined the instructions were met, but may do so if necessary or appropriate
   3. Will notify the applicant about any further information required, or any potentially prejudicial information (where applicable, in accordance with immigration instructions)
   4. Will apply principles of fairness and natural justice when considering any further information provided, or if the applicant fails to provide any further information when the timeframe for the provision of information has passed
   5. Will consider whether an exception to instructions is required and appropriate
   6. May, but is not obligated to, consider whether the applicant meets the requirements to be granted a visa under a different category
   7. Will reach a final decision on the application and record reasons for the outcome.

Note: Where all activities have been completed, and where either some instructions are not met, concerns have been raised, or the visa is of a type that is not fully automated, the system will raise an activity for an officer to carry out a final assessment of an application where one or more instructions were not met. As part of this assessment, the immigration officer may request further information, or disclose potentially prejudicial information to the applicant before reaching a decision on the application.

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Jeannie Melville
Chief Operating Officer
Immigration New Zealand

22 May 2026

Effective: 29/05/2026