GovWait Official government processing times, with source status

NZ processing-time changes: October 23, 2026

GovWait compared 12 INZ records from October 9, 2026 through October 16, 2026 with the official values dated October 23, 2026. Of 12 routes with a published value at both checks, 12 changed and 0 stayed at the same published value.

12
published values changed
5
became longer
7
became shorter
0
same published value
Permanent change issue

This URL preserves the comparison dated October 23, 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, 2026 through October 16, 2026October 23, 2026Change
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa 98 working days107 working daysLonger 9.2%
Straight to Residence Visa 88 working days94 working daysLonger 6.8%
Work to Residence Visa 53 working days56 working daysLonger 5.7%
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa 63 working days65 working daysLonger 3.2%
Accredited Employer Work Visa 35 working days36 working daysLonger 2.9%

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, 2026 through October 16, 2026October 23, 2026Change
Partner of a Worker Work Visa 42 working days36 working daysShorter 14.3%
Partner of a Worker Work Visa 21 working days18 working daysShorter 14.3%
Business Visitor Visa 9 working days8 working daysShorter 11.1%
Parent Resident Visa 193 working days176 working daysShorter 8.8%
Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa 30 working days28 working daysShorter 6.7%
Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa 51 working days50 working daysShorter 2%
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa 192 working days191 working daysShorter 0.5%

Where changes were concentrated

ServiceChanged routesLongerShorter
Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa202
Partner of a Worker Work Visa202
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa220
Accredited Employer Work Visa110
Business Visitor Visa101
Parent Resident Visa101
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa101
Straight to Residence Visa110
Work to Residence Visa110

Complete list of changed published values

The table below contains all 12 numeric changes in this issue, not only the largest movements.

RoutePreviousCurrentDirection
Partner of a Worker Work Visa 42 working days36 working daysShorter 14.3%
Partner of a Worker Work Visa 21 working days18 working daysShorter 14.3%
Business Visitor Visa 9 working days8 working daysShorter 11.1%
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa 98 working days107 working daysLonger 9.2%
Parent Resident Visa 193 working days176 working daysShorter 8.8%
Straight to Residence Visa 88 working days94 working daysLonger 6.8%
Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa 30 working days28 working daysShorter 6.7%
Work to Residence Visa 53 working days56 working daysLonger 5.7%
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa 63 working days65 working daysLonger 3.2%
Accredited Employer Work Visa 35 working days36 working daysLonger 2.9%
Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa 51 working days50 working daysShorter 2%
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa 192 working days191 working daysShorter 0.5%

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 through October 16, 2026 with October 23, 2026 · not immigration or legal advice.