Work to Residence Visa processing time: current New Zealand figures

Immigration New Zealand currently reports that 50% of Work to Residence Visa applications are processed within 52 working days, and 80% within 86 working days. These are working days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and New Zealand public holidays.

The figures are a guide based on current processing timeframes, not a deadline or promise for an individual application. Missing information, application complexity and peak demand can make a case take longer.

Which Work to Residence wait this page tracks

These figures belong to the current Work to Residence Visa entry in INZ’s processing-time tool. They do not measure time spent becoming eligible, completing qualifying work or preparing an application.

This current route is also separate from the closed 2021 Resident Visa. Similar residence wording is not a reason to transfer one route’s published wait to another.

Route facts checked October 2, 2026 against INZ Work to Residence Visa guidance. Eligibility and visa conditions can change; the official page controls.

History we have recorded

INZ does not provide a source update date for this tool. We therefore date a value when GovWait first observes it and add a new history row only when the official value changes.

How to read New Zealand’s 50% and 80% processing-time figures →