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.
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.
| Route | October 9, 2026 through October 16, 2026 | October 23, 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa | 98 working days | 107 working days | Longer 9.2% |
| Straight to Residence Visa | 88 working days | 94 working days | Longer 6.8% |
| Work to Residence Visa | 53 working days | 56 working days | Longer 5.7% |
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa | 63 working days | 65 working days | Longer 3.2% |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | 35 working days | 36 working days | Longer 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.
| Route | October 9, 2026 through October 16, 2026 | October 23, 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | 42 working days | 36 working days | Shorter 14.3% |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | 21 working days | 18 working days | Shorter 14.3% |
| Business Visitor Visa | 9 working days | 8 working days | Shorter 11.1% |
| Parent Resident Visa | 193 working days | 176 working days | Shorter 8.8% |
| Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa | 30 working days | 28 working days | Shorter 6.7% |
| Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa | 51 working days | 50 working days | Shorter 2% |
| Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa | 192 working days | 191 working days | Shorter 0.5% |
Where changes were concentrated
| Service | Changed routes | Longer | Shorter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Business Visitor Visa | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Parent Resident Visa | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Straight to Residence Visa | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Work to Residence Visa | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Complete list of changed published values
The table below contains all 12 numeric changes in this issue, not only the largest movements.
| Route | Previous | Current | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | 42 working days | 36 working days | Shorter 14.3% |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | 21 working days | 18 working days | Shorter 14.3% |
| Business Visitor Visa | 9 working days | 8 working days | Shorter 11.1% |
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa | 98 working days | 107 working days | Longer 9.2% |
| Parent Resident Visa | 193 working days | 176 working days | Shorter 8.8% |
| Straight to Residence Visa | 88 working days | 94 working days | Longer 6.8% |
| Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa | 30 working days | 28 working days | Shorter 6.7% |
| Work to Residence Visa | 53 working days | 56 working days | Longer 5.7% |
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa | 63 working days | 65 working days | Longer 3.2% |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | 35 working days | 36 working days | Longer 2.9% |
| Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa | 51 working days | 50 working days | Shorter 2% |
| Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa | 192 working days | 191 working days | Shorter 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.