Visa processing time to peak over summer
Immigration New Zealand is currently receiving very high numbers of applications, and the busy period is expected to continue until March 2019.
You should wait until your application is completed before you make travel plans
New Zealand is an incredibly popular destination, and even more so over summer, when visitors flow in to visit our great outdoors, and students seek visas for January and July intakes.
Processing times (INZ website)
How does this affect me?
If you have travel plans, we recommend you take these increased processing time into account. INZ will not assess your application faster because you have a travel deadline, and you may end up losing your airfare.
How can my application be processed faster?
At New Zealand Shores, we ensure your information is correct and your application meets all requirements before lodgement of your visa application. This will mitigate the risk of delay in processing.
Typical processing times for the most common temporary visas
As of 12/2018, 80% applications processed within this timeframe.
| Visa category and type | Average processing time |
|
Essential Skills work visa |
55-65 days |
|
Work to residence visa |
20-30 days |
| Visitor visa | 18-20 days |
| Student visa | 30-40 days |
| Partner of a New Zealander | 30-50 days |
| Partner of a worker | 40-60 days |
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR A NZ VISA?
