After you submit your visa application you can find out its status and the timeframes for a decision.
We check your application and supporting documents to make sure you have sent us everything we need to make a decision.
The time it takes to process your application depends on the visa you apply for, your circumstances and the information you supply with your application. If your application is not complete you may have to wait longer for a decision about your visa.
When you applied, you set up an online account with us. You can log in to find out if we need more information from you and other information about your application's progress.
You do not need to do anything else once you submit your application. We will contact you if we need more information from you.
Find the visa that you applied for and use the 'Apply Online' button to log in to your account.
For some of our most popular visas, you can also use the log in link at the top of any page on this site and select the type of visa you applied for.
You can check your application status by logging in to Immigration Online using your Glossary for RealMe® account. On the 'My Visas' tab go to the 'Submitted applications' section and check the 'Status' column. You can also find out more detail on the progress of your application by selecting the 'view application progress' link.
The 'view application progress' link is only available for applications that were submitted after 30 July 2023. Applications submitted before this date display a status in the 'Status' column, but they do not have a 'view application progress' link.
For more information on application statuses, check the following:
We have received your application and it will start moving through our processing system.
Your application has been entered into our system and we are confirming the details you have supplied.
We will confirm your identity and check the documents you have submitted. We may contact you to ask for other documents or information. The status in your online account will be updated to tell you what we need.
The status will still show until we have received the documents, checked them and entered them into the system. This can take some time, so do not worry if your status does not update after you submit your documents.
This usually means we need you to supply travel documentation to support your application.
We have a temporary measure in place where we are only requesting temporary visa applicants provide high-quality scans of their passport, and not to send their physical passport. You will have received a letter advising you of this. That status will still read ‘Waiting on you to provide travel documentation’, even if no physical passport was requested.
This means we need your supporting partner to supply their completed sponsorship form.
This means we need your sponsor to supply their completed sponsorship form.
Why some applications are processed faster than others
Your application details and documentation are almost ready for assessment. We will share your application with other agencies and our health team to confirm your details, where required. This is when we may need any medical information, so we may contact you to ask for a medical examination.
This means we need you to complete a medical examination.
This status will still show until we have received the information, checked it and confirmed it has been entered into the system. This can take some time, so do not worry if your status does not update after you submit your documents.
Why some applications are processed faster than others
Your application and all your documents are ready to be assessed, so we can make a decision whether to approve a visa or not.
Your application will be assessed, but this might not occur immediately. The time it takes to assess applications depends on how many other applications we have received and are assessing.
During this stage, we may contact you if we need any further information.
For AEWV applications based on a reused job token, we will generally only start processing an application when your current AEWV expiry date is within the next 9 months, or as our processing capacity allows.
This means we need more information from you before we can make a decision on your application. There will be a letter in your dashboard explaining what we need.
This status will still show until we receive a response and we confirm that no further information is needed. This can take some time, so do not worry if your status does not update after you submit your documents.
Why some applications are processed faster than others
You have asked to withdraw your application. Your request is waiting for review before it can be completed.
Your application has been withdrawn. You will receive confirmation of this through your Immigration Online account.
Your application has been approved. You will receive your eVisa and information related to your new visa will be added to your Immigration Online account.
Your application has been declined. Your Immigration Online account will have details on why your application has been declined.
This advice also covers family members included in a 2021 Resident Visa or Visitor Visa application. It does not cover Group Visitor Visas or family members of Accredited Employer Work Visa applicants. For information on checking the status of these applications, see other visas below.
Log in using your RealMe® account. If your application's status is 'Submitted' it is ready to be processed. If we need more information, we email you to let you know that we have attached a letter to your online account.
We aim to process applications as soon as possible. At very busy times it may take longer for us to make a decision about your application.
Some visitors and transit passengers need an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before they travel to New Zealand. If you have requested an NZeTA you can check its status.
After you have logged in to your account, select 'My application' from the right-hand side of the page. Once you've selected this, the status of your application displays.
If your application shows:
After you have logged in to your account, select 'My application' from the right-hand side of the page. Once you've selected this, the status of your application displays.
Check first to see how long it normally takes to process the type of visa you applied for.
Fees, decisions times & where to apply
If your application is taking longer to process than is usual for that type of visa, you can contact us.
Get in touch with your immigration adviser to find out the status of your application. We will let them know if we need any more information to support your application.
If the Visa Application Centre (VAC) is outside New Zealand they will be unable to provide an update on your application status.
We contact you if we need more information to support your application. We phone, email or notify you on your online account.
If your application is taking longer to process than the normal time frame for that type of visa, you can contact us.