INZ visa wait times: visitor visas average one week, AEWV two weeks

Immigration New Zealand's latest average processing times, as at 14 October 2026, put visitor visas at one week, the Accredited Employer Work Visa at two weeks and student visas at four weeks. Here is what the figures mean for Filipinos planning visits, study, work or family reunions.

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Immigration New Zealand (INZ) posted its latest average visa processing times on Facebook on Wednesday 14 October 2026, listing figures "as at 14 October 2026". Visitor visas averaged 1 week, the NZeTA 24 hours, International Student Visas 4 weeks, the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) 2 weeks and the Working Holiday Visa 4 days.

INZ says the 'average wait time' is how long it took for 50% of applications to be processed, so an individual application may take longer. Its website, which is updated weekly, also gives a 'most completed within' figure based on 80% of applications: 2 weeks for visitor visas, 5 weeks for the AEWV and 2 weeks for the Working Holiday Visa. INZ advises allowing 3 days for an NZeTA.

For Filipinos in the Philippines and in New Zealand, the figures are a planning guide rather than a guarantee. Families arranging visits can look at the visitor visa times, while the Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa averaged 4.5 weeks. Students are strongly encouraged by INZ to apply 3 months before they intend to travel.

Workers and their families may also want to check related categories on INZ's website. The Partner of a Worker Work Visa averaged 4 weeks and the Post-Study Work Visa 3 weeks. Resident visa averages were longer: 9.5 weeks for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, 6 months for the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa and 7 months for the Parent Resident Visa.

INZ says applications that include all the documentation it needs are processed closer to the average wait time. Applicants can check the latest figures on INZ's processing times pages before booking flights or making other commitments.