GovWait Official government processing times, with source status

NZ processing-time changes: October 13, 2026

GovWait compared 16 INZ records from October 9, 2026 with the official values dated October 13, 2026. Of 16 routes with a published value at both checks, 16 changed and 0 stayed at the same published value.

16
published values changed
10
became longer
6
became shorter
0
same published value
Permanent change issue

This URL preserves the comparison dated October 13, 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.

RouteOctober 9, 2026October 13, 2026Change
Work to Residence Visa 4 working days53 working daysLonger 1225%
Work to Residence Visa 11 working days88 working daysLonger 700%
Parent Resident Visa 29 working days196 working daysLonger 575.9%
Parent Resident Visa 56 working days309 working daysLonger 451.8%
Straight to Residence Visa 16 working days52 working daysLonger 225%
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa 23 working days65 working daysLonger 182.6%
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa 65 working days172 working daysLonger 164.6%
Straight to Residence Visa 37 working days91 working daysLonger 145.9%
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa 98 working days196 working daysLonger 100%
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa 51 working days98 working daysLonger 92.2%

Largest decreases

“Shorter” means the newer official value fell. It remains a planning statistic, not a deadline or a promise for a particular case.

RouteOctober 9, 2026October 13, 2026Change
Permanent Resident Visa 309 working days14 working daysShorter 95.5%
Permanent Resident Visa 196 working days10 working daysShorter 94.9%
Accredited Employer Work Visa 53 working days15 working daysShorter 71.7%
Accredited Employer Work Visa 88 working days36 working daysShorter 59.1%
Partner of a Worker Work Visa 52 working days25 working daysShorter 51.9%
Partner of a Worker Work Visa 91 working days45 working daysShorter 50.5%

Where changes were concentrated

ServiceChanged routesLongerShorter
Accredited Employer Work Visa202
Parent Resident Visa220
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa220
Partner of a Worker Work Visa202
Permanent Resident Visa202
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa220
Straight to Residence Visa220
Work to Residence Visa220

Complete list of changed published values

The table below contains all 16 numeric changes in this issue, not only the largest movements.

RoutePreviousCurrentDirection
Work to Residence Visa 4 working days53 working daysLonger 1225%
Work to Residence Visa 11 working days88 working daysLonger 700%
Parent Resident Visa 29 working days196 working daysLonger 575.9%
Parent Resident Visa 56 working days309 working daysLonger 451.8%
Straight to Residence Visa 16 working days52 working daysLonger 225%
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa 23 working days65 working daysLonger 182.6%
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa 65 working days172 working daysLonger 164.6%
Straight to Residence Visa 37 working days91 working daysLonger 145.9%
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa 98 working days196 working daysLonger 100%
Permanent Resident Visa 309 working days14 working daysShorter 95.5%
Permanent Resident Visa 196 working days10 working daysShorter 94.9%
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa 51 working days98 working daysLonger 92.2%
Accredited Employer Work Visa 53 working days15 working daysShorter 71.7%
Accredited Employer Work Visa 88 working days36 working daysShorter 59.1%
Partner of a Worker Work Visa 52 working days25 working daysShorter 51.9%
Partner of a Worker Work Visa 91 working days45 working daysShorter 50.5%

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.

Official sources: INZ dataset 1 · compared October 9, 2026 with October 13, 2026 · not immigration or legal advice.