GovWait Official government processing times, tracked weekly

New Zealand visa wait-time baseline and changes

Immigration New Zealand publishes two points for each visa: when 50% and 80% of represented applications were processed. The distance between them shows how much wider the slower part of the current distribution is.

By GovWait Research Desk Published August 23, 2026 Data checked September 1, 2026 How we make these pages
25
reviewed visa types
50%
median completion point
80%
most-completed point
102
changes since prior observation

Largest gaps between 50% and 80% processed

A larger gap does not predict a particular application. It shows that the current 80% point sits substantially beyond the halfway point for that visa type. All values remain in INZ working days; this report does not convert them into guessed calendar dates.

Parent Retirement Resident Visa499-day gap
Parent Resident Visa98-day gap
Dependent Child Resident Visa54-day gap
Straight to Residence Visa42-day gap
Accredited Employer Work Visa36-day gap
Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa35-day gap
Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa35-day gap
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa35-day gap
Fee Paying Student Visa34-day gap
Pathway Student Visa34-day gap
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa32-day gap
Active Investor Plus Visa28-day gap
Work to Residence Visa28-day gap
Partner of a Student Work Visa26-day gap
Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa25-day gap
Post Study Work Visa9-day gap
Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa8-day gap
Medical Treatment Visitor Visa8-day gap
Partner of a Worker Work Visa7-day gap
Specific Purpose Work Visa7-day gap
Permanent Resident Visa5-day gap
Visitor Visa4-day gap
Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa2-day gap
Transit Visa2-day gap
Business Visitor Visa1-day gap

All reviewed visa baselines

Visa50% processed80% processed80% ÷ 50%
Parent Retirement Resident Visa455 working days954 working days2.1×
Parent Resident Visa200 working days298 working days1.5×
Dependent Child Resident Visa143 working days197 working days1.4×
Straight to Residence Visa50 working days92 working days1.8×
Accredited Employer Work Visa21 working days57 working days2.7×
Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa51 working days86 working days1.7×
Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa38 working days73 working days1.9×
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa64 working days99 working days1.5×
Fee Paying Student Visa23 working days57 working days2.5×
Pathway Student Visa23 working days57 working days2.5×
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa171 working days203 working days1.2×
Active Investor Plus Visa43 working days71 working days1.7×
Work to Residence Visa52 working days80 working days1.5×
Partner of a Student Work Visa17 working days43 working days2.5×
Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa11 working days36 working days3.3×
Post Study Work Visa15 working days24 working days1.6×
Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa9 working days17 working days1.9×
Medical Treatment Visitor Visa9 working days17 working days1.9×
Partner of a Worker Work Visa30 working days37 working days1.2×
Specific Purpose Work Visa10 working days17 working days1.7×
Permanent Resident Visa9 working days14 working days1.6×
Visitor Visa7 working days11 working days1.6×
Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa2 working days4 working days2.0×
Transit Visa2 working days4 working days2.0×
Business Visitor Visa3 working days4 working days1.3×

Verified changes

Visa measurePreviousCurrent
Accredited Employer Work Visa — 50% processed22 working days21 working days
Argentina Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Argentina Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Austria Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Austria Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Belgium Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Belgium Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Brazil Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Brazil Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Canada Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Canada Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Chile Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Chile Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
China Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
China Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Croatia Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Croatia Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Czech Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Czech Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Denmark Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Denmark Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Estonia Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Estonia Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Finland Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Finland Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
France Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
France Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Germany Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Germany Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Hong Kong SAR Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Hong Kong SAR Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Hungary Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Hungary Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Ireland Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Ireland Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Israel Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Israel Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Italy Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Italy Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Japan Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Japan Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Korea Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Korea Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Latvia Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Latvia Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Lithuania Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Lithuania Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Luxembourg Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Luxembourg Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Malaysia Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Malaysia Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Malta Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Malta Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Mexico Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Mexico Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Netherlands Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Netherlands Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Norway Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Norway Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Parent Resident Visa — 50% processed203 working days200 working days
Parent Resident Visa — 80% processed291 working days298 working days
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa — 50% processed169 working days171 working days
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa — 80% processed213 working days203 working days
Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa — 80% processed79 working days73 working days
Partner of a Worker Work Visa — 50% processed24 working days30 working days
Partner of a Worker Work Visa — 80% processed32 working days37 working days
Peru Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Peru Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Philippines Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Philippines Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Poland Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Poland Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Portugal Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Portugal Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Singapore Work Exchange Programme Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Singapore Work Exchange Programme Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa — 50% processed63 working days64 working days
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa — 80% processed95 working days99 working days
Slovakia Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Slovakia Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Slovenia Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Slovenia Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Spain Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Spain Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Straight to Residence Visa — 50% processed46 working days50 working days
Sweden Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Sweden Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Taiwan Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Taiwan Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Thailand Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Thailand Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Turkey Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Turkey Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Uruguay Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Uruguay Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
USA Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
USA Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Vietnam Working Holiday Visa — 50% processed3 working days4 working days
Vietnam Working Holiday Visa — 80% processed10 working days11 working days
Work to Residence Visa — 80% processed81 working days80 working days

Method and limits

INZ defines the average as the point at which 50% of applications were processed and “most completed within” as the 80% point. Both use working days. Incomplete or complex applications can take longer, and the remaining 20% are outside the second figure.

Official source: Immigration New Zealand processing-time tool · values first observed September 1, 2026 · not immigration advice.