NZ processing-time changes: September 29, 2026
GovWait compared 11 INZ records from September 25, 2026 with the official values dated September 29, 2026. Of 11 routes with a published value at both checks, 11 changed and 0 stayed at the same published value.
This URL preserves the comparison dated September 29, 2026. Later refreshes create new issues instead of rewriting this one. Subscribe to the GovWait reports RSS feed for newly detected changes.
Largest increases
“Longer” means the agency’s newer published value increased; it does not mean every individual application slowed by that amount.
| Route | September 25, 2026 | September 29, 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Visitor Visa | 7 working days | 8 working days | Longer 14.3% |
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa | 102 working days | 105 working days | Longer 2.9% |
| Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa | 172 working days | 175 working days | Longer 1.7% |
| Parent Resident Visa | 205 working days | 207 working days | Longer 1% |
Largest decreases
“Shorter” means the newer official value fell. It remains a planning statistic, not a deadline or a promise for a particular case.
| Route | September 25, 2026 | September 29, 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | 42 working days | 37 working days | Shorter 11.9% |
| Work to Residence Visa | 56 working days | 52 working days | Shorter 7.1% |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | 31 working days | 29 working days | Shorter 6.5% |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | 16 working days | 15 working days | Shorter 6.3% |
| Work to Residence Visa | 85 working days | 80 working days | Shorter 5.9% |
| Parent Resident Visa | 312 working days | 298 working days | Shorter 4.5% |
| Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa | 51 working days | 49 working days | Shorter 3.9% |
Where changes were concentrated
| Service | Changed routes | Longer | Shorter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Parent Resident Visa | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Work to Residence Visa | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Business Visitor Visa | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Complete list of changed published values
The table below contains all 11 numeric changes in this issue, not only the largest movements.
| Route | Previous | Current | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Visitor Visa | 7 working days | 8 working days | Longer 14.3% |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | 42 working days | 37 working days | Shorter 11.9% |
| Work to Residence Visa | 56 working days | 52 working days | Shorter 7.1% |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | 31 working days | 29 working days | Shorter 6.5% |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | 16 working days | 15 working days | Shorter 6.3% |
| Work to Residence Visa | 85 working days | 80 working days | Shorter 5.9% |
| Parent Resident Visa | 312 working days | 298 working days | Shorter 4.5% |
| Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa | 51 working days | 49 working days | Shorter 3.9% |
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa | 102 working days | 105 working days | Longer 2.9% |
| Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa | 172 working days | 175 working days | Longer 1.7% |
| Parent Resident Visa | 205 working days | 207 working days | Longer 1% |
Method and limits
GovWait compares consecutive rows in its append-only history. A numeric change is counted only when both official observations contain a published duration and the normalized values differ. Unchanged values and unavailable states are counted separately. Percentages are calculated from normalized days, while the tables retain the agency’s original day-or-week wording.
This analysis describes changes in published planning figures, not case outcomes, approval odds or a guarantee for an individual application. Read the current NZ comparison and methodology or the full GovWait methodology.