Reference ยท Service times
New Zealand visa wait times at the 50th and 80th percentiles
Immigration New Zealand reports both the middle processing time and how long it took to complete 80% of recently decided applications. For the Accredited Employer Work Visa, the two published figures were two and five weeks when checked on 11 November 2026.
Sources checked
Each bar represents the 80th percentile. The table also shows the 50th percentile for each route.
The two columns describe different points in the queue
Immigration New Zealand uses the 50th percentile for the figure it calls the average. Half of completed cases took that amount of time or less. The second column uses the 80th percentile. One in five of the completed cases took longer than that threshold. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
The gap depends on the route
The Accredited Employer Work Visa and Post-Study Work Visa both showed two weeks at the 50th percentile. Their 80th percentiles were five and three and a half weeks, respectively. A single middle value can hide differences among applications that take longer. Source 2
Compare the exact visa names
The Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa showed seven weeks at the 80th percentile, while the resident route with a similar name showed seven months. Keep the visitor or residence label with the figure when comparing the two. The agency calculates both measures using working days and presents the results in days, weeks or months. Source 1 Source 3
Use a fresh snapshot before making plans
The tables describe cases completed in a rolling four-week window and are refreshed weekly. Your case can take longer. Consult the live page for the current snapshot or the monthly statistics to check how processing times have shifted over a longer period. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4