Visa processing times

We will ensure your application is right from the start.

How long until my New Zealand visa is approved?

Processing times vary greatly depending on the type of application, but on average, visitor, student, and work visas are processed within weeks.

Each person's situation is different. Discuss you case with a Licensed Immigration Adviser today.

Visitor visas and NZeta

Visa type	Average wait time
New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)	72 hours
Visitor Visa	4 weeks
Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa	11 weeks
Business Visitor Visa	2 weeks

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

Visa type	Average wait time	80% of applications
AEWV (All roles) AEWV (Green list roles) AEWV (ANZSCO skill level 1 roles) AEWV (ANZSCO skill level 2 roles) AEWV (ANZSCO skill level 3 roles) AEWV (ANZSCO skill level 4 roles) AEWV (ANZSCO skill level 5 roles) AEWV (Hospitality sector roles) AEWV (Construction sector roles) AEWV (Primary Industry sector roles) AEWV (Tourism sector roles) AEWV (Retail sector roles) AEWV (Health sector roles all) AEWV (Health sector roles Green List) AEWV (Education sector roles) AEWV (ICT sector roles) AEWV (Transportation and logistics sector roles) AEWV (Other sector roles)	7 weeks 4 weeks 3 weeks 9 weeks 8 weeks 14 weeks 11 weeks 7 weeks 9 weeks 7 weeks 7 weeks 10 weeks 5 weeks 2 weeks 3 weeks 4 weeks 10 weeks 5 weeks	15 weeks 6 weeks 7 weeks 14 weeks 16 weeks 19 weeks 19 weeks 16 weeks 14 weeks 10 weeks 14 weeks 18 weeks 10 weeks 4 weeks 6 weeks 8 weeks 20 weeks 11 weeks

Visa type

Average wait time

80% of applications

AEWV (All roles)

AEWV (Green list roles)

AEWV (ANZSCO skill level 1 roles)

AEWV (ANZSCO skill level 2 roles)

AEWV (ANZSCO skill level 3 roles)

AEWV (ANZSCO skill level 4 roles)

AEWV (ANZSCO skill level 5 roles)

AEWV (Hospitality sector roles)

AEWV (Construction sector roles)

AEWV (Primary Industry sector roles)

AEWV (Tourism sector roles)

AEWV (Retail sector roles)

AEWV (Health sector roles all)

AEWV (Health sector roles Green List)

AEWV (Education sector roles)

AEWV (ICT sector roles)

AEWV (Transportation and logistics sector roles)

AEWV (Other sector roles)

7 weeks

4 weeks

3 weeks

9 weeks

8 weeks

14 weeks

11 weeks

7 weeks

9 weeks

7 weeks

10 weeks

5 weeks

2 weeks

3 weeks

4 weeks

10 weeks

5 weeks

15 weeks

6 weeks

7 weeks

14 weeks

16 weeks

19 weeks

16 weeks

14 weeks

10 weeks

14 weeks

18 weeks

10 weeks

4 weeks

6 weeks

8 weeks

20 weeks

11 weeks

Employer Accreditation and Job Check

Application type	Average wait time	80% of applications
Employer accreditations for AEWV Accreditation renewals	5 weeks 5 weeks	11 weeks 11 weeks
Job checks (All roles) Job checks (Green list roles) Job checks (ANZSCO skill level 1 roles) Job checks (ANZSCO skill level 2 roles) Job checks (ANZSCO skill level 3 roles) Job checks (ANZSCO skill level 4 roles) Job checks (ANZSCO skill level 5 roles) Job checks (Hospitality sector roles) Job checks (Construction sector roles) Job checks (Primary Industry sector roles) Job checks (Tourism sector roles) Job checks (Retail sector roles) Job checks (Health sector roles all) Job checks (Health sector roles Green List) Job checks (Education sector roles) Job checks (ICT sector roles) Job checks (Transportation and logistics sector roles) Job checks (Other sector roles)	7 weeks 3 weeks 4 weeks 8 weeks 7 weeks 8 weeks 9 weeks 8 weeks 6 weeks 5 weeks 7 weeks 9 weeks 4 weeks 4 days 1 week 6 weeks 7 weeks 7 weeks	14 weeks 7 weeks 11 weeks 15 weeks 13 weeks 15 weeks 15 weeks 15 weeks 13 weeks 12 weeks 12 weeks 16 weeks 10 weeks 1 week 2 weeks 12 weeks 14 weeks 13 weeks

Application type

Average wait time

80% of applications

Employer accreditations for AEWV

Accreditation renewals

5 weeks

11 weeks

Job checks (All roles)

Job checks (Green list roles)

Job checks (ANZSCO skill level 1 roles)

Job checks (ANZSCO skill level 2 roles)

Job checks (ANZSCO skill level 3 roles)

Job checks (ANZSCO skill level 4 roles)

Job checks (ANZSCO skill level 5 roles)

Job checks (Hospitality sector roles)

Job checks (Construction sector roles)

Job checks (Primary Industry sector roles)

Job checks (Tourism sector roles)

Job checks (Retail sector roles)

Job checks (Health sector roles all)

Job checks (Health sector roles Green List)

Job checks (Education sector roles)

Job checks (ICT sector roles)

Job checks (Transportation and logistics sector roles)

Job checks (Other sector roles)

7 weeks

3 weeks

4 weeks

8 weeks

7 weeks

8 weeks

9 weeks

8 weeks

6 weeks

5 weeks

7 weeks

9 weeks

4 weeks

4 days

1 week

6 weeks

7 weeks

14 weeks

7 weeks

11 weeks

15 weeks

13 weeks

15 weeks

13 weeks

12 weeks

16 weeks

10 weeks

1 week

2 weeks

12 weeks

14 weeks

13 weeks

Residency

Visa type	Wait time
Parent Resident Visa	10 months
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa (New visa criteria)	5 months
Straight to Residence Visa	3 months
Work to Residence Visa	4 months
Permanent Resident Visa	2 weeks

Student visas

Education provider	Wait time
Te Pūkenga	7 weeks
PTEs	6 weeks
Universities	5 weeks
Schools	3 weeks

Find out more about student visa requirements and study options on our dedicated portal.

Variations of conditions

Business visas

Visa processing times

How long until my New Zealand visa is approved?

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