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)	24 to 72 hours
Visitor Visa	2 weeks
Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa	9 weeks
Business Visitor Visa	1.5 weeks

Work Visas

Visa type	Average wait time	80% of applications
AEWV (All roles)	2 weeks	5 weeks
Working Holiday Visa	1 day	2 weeks
Partner of a worker work visa	4 weeks	6 weeks
Post-Study Work Visa	2 weeks	54 weeks

Employer Accreditation and Job Check

Application type	Average wait time	80% of applications
Employer accreditations for AEWV Accreditation renewals	2 days 2 days	2 weeks 2 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)	4 days 2 days 3 days 1.5 weeks 4 days 3 days 3 days 1 week 1 week 3 days 4 days 4 days 2 days 1 day 2 days 3.5 days 4 days 1 week	2 weeks 1.5 weeks 1.5 weeks 3 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks 2.5 weeks 2 weeks 1 week 2 weeks 1 week 3 days 3 days 2 weeks 2 weeks 3 weeks

Application type

Average wait time

80% of applications

Employer accreditations for AEWV

Accreditation renewals

2 days

2 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)

4 days

2 days

3 days

1.5 weeks

4 days

3 days

1 week

3 days

4 days

2 days

1 day

2 days

3.5 days

4 days

1 week

2 weeks

1.5 weeks

3 weeks

2 weeks

2.5 weeks

2 weeks

1 week

2 weeks

1 week

3 days

2 weeks

3 weeks

Residency

Visa type	Wait time
Parent Resident Visa	10-16 months
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa	3-4 months
Straight to Residence Visa	3-5 months
Work to Residence Visa	6-11 weeks
Permanent Resident Visa	2-4 weeks
Partner of a New Zealand Resident Visa	6-8 months

Student visas

Education provider	Wait time
Te Pūkenga	3-7 weeks
PTEs	2.5-5 weeks
Universities	2-4 weeks
Schools	1-3 weeks

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

Variations of conditions

Business visas

How accurate is this information?

The information above is as at April 2025. Things change frequently and rapidly.

Each person's situation is different and your circumstances may affect the time it takes Immigration New Zealand to process your application. Discuss you case with a Licensed Immigration Adviser today.

Visa processing times

How long until my New Zealand visa is approved?

How accurate is this information?

Take our eligibility assessment

Job search in New Zealand