Visa processing times by month

Detailed data on our processing times for various student, work, visitor and residence visas.

Research and statistics

This page contains visa processing times for the past 6 months. If you are planning to apply for a visa, you can find more up to date information about how long it takes for us to process visas here.

How long it takes to process an application

Visitor Visa processing times

Processing times are grouped by the type of visitor visa.

Visitor Visa

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Visitor Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.

Table 1: Wait times for Visitor Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
8 19 27

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Visitor Visa applications.

Table 2: Number of work days taken to process Visitor Visas each month.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 10 20 31
December — 2024 9 17 27
November — 2024 12 23 28
October — 2024 12 18 20
September — 2024 7 11 15
August — 2024 7 10 14

 

Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.

Table 3: Wait times for Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
32.5 52 84

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa applications.

Table 4: Number of work days taken to process visitor visas each month for Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visas.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 30 60 76
December — 2024 28 50 77
November — 2024 35 54 71
October — 2024 29 57.2 77.6
September — 2024 32 55.6 78.6
August — 2024 35.5 57 79.8

Business Visitor Visa

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Business Visitor Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.

Table 5: Wait times for Business Visitor Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
6 7 11

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Business Visitor Visa applications.

Table 6: Number of work days taken to process visitor visas each month for Business Visitor Visas.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 5 7 8
December — 2024 5 7 8
November — 2024 5 7 9
October — 2024 6 11 15
September — 2024 5 7 9
August — 2024 5 6 8

Work visa processing times

Processing times are grouped by the type of work visa.

Accredited Employer Work Visa

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Accredited Employer Work Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.

Table 7: Wait times for Accredited Employer Work Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
11 29 46

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Accredited Employer Work Visa applications.

Table 8: Number of work days taken to process work visas each month for Accredited Employer Work Visas.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 11 27 47
December — 2024 10 35 79
November — 2024 25 67 90
October — 2024 38 78 96
September — 2024 52 79 96
August — 2024 47 70 88

Partner of a Worker Work Visa

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Partner of a Worker Work Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.

Table 9: Wait times for work visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
20 30 38

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Partner of a Worker Work Visa applications.

Table 10: Number of work days taken to process work visas each month for Partner of a Worker Work Visas.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 18 24 29.7
December — 2024 13 29 51
November — 2024 27 38 42
October — 2024 22 35 53.6
September — 2024 34 40 44
August — 2024 33 39.4 51.2

Working holiday visa

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide working holiday visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.

Table 11: Wait times for working holiday visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
2 5 15

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide working holiday visa applications.

Table 12: Number of work days taken to process work visas each month for working holiday visa applications.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 2 11 25.4
December — 2024 2 20 39
November — 2024 3 23 36
October — 2024 6 15 23
September — 2024 2 10 30
August — 2024 2 8 25

Post Study Work visa

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Post Study Work visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.

Table 13: Wait times for Post Study Work visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
9 18 26

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Post Study Work visa applications.

Table 14: Number of work days taken to process work visas each month for Post Study Work visa applications.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 12 15 21
December — 2024 6 11 16
November — 2024 9 25 31
October — 2024 15 21 29
September — 2024 13 27 36
August — 2024 15 18 22

Student visa processing times

Processing times are grouped by the type of education provider.

Te Pūkenga

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide student visa applications for Te Pūkenga processed in the last 4 weeks.

Table 15: Wait times for student visa applications processed for Te Pūkenga in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
17 29 33

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide student visa applications for Te Pūkenga.

Table 16: Number of work days taken to process student visas each month for Te Pūkenga.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 19 27.6 32
December — 2024 13 23 36.2
November — 2024 19 35 42
October — 2024 20 33 44
September — 2024 24 37 48.3
August — 2024 22 33 40

Private training establishments

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide student visa applications for private training establishments (PTEs) in the last 4 weeks.

Table 17: Wait times for student visa applications processed for private training establishments (PTEs) in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
16 28 34

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide student visa applications for private training establishments (PTEs).

Table 18: Number of work days taken to process student visas each month for PTEs.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 17 27 33
December — 2024 10 20 28
November — 2024 16 30 37
October — 2024 16 27 39
September — 2024 18.5 34 43
August — 2024 21 32 38

Universities

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide student visa applications for universities processed in the last 4 weeks.

Table 19: Wait times for student visa applications processed for universities in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
10 20 28

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide student visa applications for universities.

Table 20: Number of work days taken to process student visas each month for universities.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 12 21 27
December — 2024 9 17 24
November — 2024 9 20 28.1
October — 2024 14 22 30
September — 2024 15 27 35
August — 2024 15 26 33

Schools

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide student visa applications for schools processed in the last 4 weeks.

Table 21: Wait times for student visa applications processed for schools in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
7 12 16

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide student visa applications for schools.

Table 22: Number of work days taken to process student visas each month for schools.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 9 14 19
December — 2024 7 9 14
November — 2024 6 9 14
October — 2024 10 14 18
September — 2024 8 13 19
August — 2024 13 21 28

Resident visa processing times

Processing times are grouped by the type of resident visa.

Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.

Table 23: Wait times for Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
42 109 138

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa applications.

Table 24: Number of work days taken to process resident visas each month for Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa applications.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 56.5 96.4 150.8
December — 2024 53.5 88 111.5
November — 2024 51 95 111
October — 2024 48 94.8 121.4
September — 2024 46 103.2 123.8
August — 2024 52 105.8 130.2

Straight to Residence Visa

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Straight to Residence Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.

Table 25: Wait times for Straight to Residence Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
44 102.4 119.1

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Straight to Residence Visa applications.

Table 26: Number of work days taken to process resident visas each month for Straight to Residence Visas.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 61 89 119
December — 2024 49 80.8 118.4
November — 2024 43 77.8 106
October — 2024 39 64 91.2
September — 2024 36.5 71 102
August — 2024 35 82 109

Work to Residence Visa

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Work to Residence Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.

Table 27: Wait times for Work to Residence Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
39 63 88.5

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Work to Residence Visa applications.

Table 28: Number of work days taken to process resident visas each month for Work to Residence Visas.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 57 74.8 81.4
December — 2024 57 66 72.7
November — 2024 56 76 108
October — 2024 51 84 106.6
September — 2024 43 92 109
August — 2024 42 99.2 124.6

 

Permanent Resident Visa

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Permanent Resident Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.

Table 29: Wait times for Permanent Resident Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
8 10 13

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Permanent Resident Visa applications.

Table 30: Number of work days taken to process resident visas each month for Permanent Resident Visas.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 6 8 12
December — 2024 5 8 11
November — 2024 4 6 11
October — 2024 8 11 14
September — 2024 6 10 11
August — 2024 4 7 9

 

Partner of a New Zealand Resident Visa

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Partner of a New Zealand Resident Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.

Table 31: Wait times for Partner of a New Zealand Resident Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
126 148 172

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Partner of a New Zealand Resident Visa applications.

Table 32: Number of work days taken to process resident visas each month for Partner of a New Zealand Resident Visas.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 128 150 166
December — 2024 131 151 172.2
November — 2024 133 148 164
October — 2024 132 152 182
September — 2024 128 153 181
August — 2024 127 153 191

 

Family Parent Resident Visa

Latest data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Family Parent Resident Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.

Table 33: Wait times for Family Parent Resident Visa applications processed in the last 4 weeks.
Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
258 293.8 334.4

 

Monthly data

This table displays the number of work days to decide Family Parent Resident Visa applications.

Table 34: Number of work days taken to process resident visas each month for Family Parent Resident Visas.
Month — Year Median (50% of applications) 80% of applications 90% of applications
January — 2025 247 280.8 313
December — 2024 192 238.4 261
November — 2024 194 232 266
October — 2024 177 221.4 256.8
September — 2024 174 210.4 238.2
August — 2024 156 190.8 226.4