Standard timeframes
Standard timeframes for customers to respond to requests from Immigration New Zealand are set out below.
These timeframes should be used unless there are valid reasons why a client requires more time to respond to the
correspondence. Such reasons should be judged on a case-by-case basis. Extensions may be granted if they are
reasonable and are justified by circumstances.
Note some application categories have their own timeframes:
• Skilled Migrant Category - see “setting due dates guidelines”
• Refugee Family Support Category - see the end of this document.
• Entrepreneur, Residence from Work (Talent), and Investor categories (as outlined in the tables below)
Basic information (including health and character)
Information being requested
Timeframe
Any mandatory lodgements* (if not RFLing application)
3 working days
Details missing from application form
5 working days
Additional details form
5 working days
Original or certified copies of any document
5 working days
Statutory declaration
5 working days
Passport for onshore Immigration ONLINE applications (if a passport is required)
5 working days
Response to PPI letter (temporary entry)
5 working days
Approval in principle for student visa
5 working days
Response to PPI letter (residence or entrepreneur categories)
10 working days
Full birth cert (including additional/secondary ID)
10 working days
Evidence of booking a Medical or Chest X-ray examination
10 working days
Medical tests or evidence of appointment with specialist
10 working days
Overseas police certificate†
10 working days
Approval in principle for temporary visa (excluding student visa)
10 working days
Response to PPI letter/information request (investor categories)
15 working days
Passport for offshore Immigration ONLINE applications (if a passport is required)
20 working days
* Excludes passport submission for Immigration ONLINE applications.
† In some instances, where an overseas police certificate takes a long to time obtain, more time may be
given. The time given should be decided on a case-by-case basis.
Relationship information
Information being requested
Timeframe
Evidence of close family support
5 working days
Evidence of dependence
5 working days
Marriage certificate or evidence of relationship
5 working days
Employment, business and funds information
Information being requested
Timeframe
Full employment agreement and/or job description
5 working days
IRD Summary of Earnings, payslips, bank statements
5 working days
Evidence of registration
5 working days
Evidence of maintenance, accommodation and outward travel
5 working days
Evidence of insurance
5 working days
Evidence of NZ work experience
5 working days
Basic employment questionnaire to employer (questions only)
5 working days
Evidence of overseas work experience
5 working days
Employer supplementary form
5 working days
Full employment questionnaire to employer (incl. supporting docs)
5 working days
Evidence of self-employment/business operation
5 working days
Work reference letter or email direct from previous employer
5 working days
Skills Match Report, if occupation skill level reassessed by INZ to ANZSCO 4-5
10 working days
Evidence for Talent residence and Entrepreneur categories
10 working days
Evidence for Investor categories
15 working days
Education and English language ability
Information being requested
Timeframe
Evidence of English ability
5 working days
NZ qualification certificate
5 working days
Evidence of offer of place, confirmation of enrolment, or tuition fees
10 working days
Offshore qualification certificate
10 working days
Evidence of IELTS test date booking
10 working days
Evidence of commencing NZQA assessment process
10 working days
Refugee Family Support Category
Information being requested
Timeframe
Response to PPI letter
20 working days
Full birth cert (including additional/secondary ID)
20 working days
Overseas police certificate†
20 working days
All other interactions not covered above
10 working days
† In some instances, where an overseas police certificate takes a long to time obtain, more time may be
given. The time given should be decided on a case-by-case basis.
Note: These are the recommended set timeframes for information requests, reasonable discretion
may be used by offices when setting timeframes for information requests pending on individual
circumstances.
Global Process Manual
You are here: Residence > Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) > Assess >
Assess Eligibility (SMC)
Assess Eligibility (SMC)
When to use
When assessing a Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) application.
Role
Immigra on Officer, or
Senior Immigra on Officer
Guidelines
Use this SOP, the linked SOPs, and the SMC case summary to complete an assessment of the applicant’s overall eligibility under this visa category
If you have concerns about whether the applicant can be awarded points for a specific employability or capacity building factor (SM1.10),
consider whether the applicant meets SMC points requirements through a combina on of other factors before sending a PPI le er
Follow the Se ng due dates guidelines (on a case-by-case basis) to determine how long to allow a client to provide required informa on:
Informa on being requested
Timeframe
Details missing from applica on form
3 working days
Addi onal details form
3 working days
Full employment agreement and/or job descrip on
3 working days
IRD Summary of Earnings, payslips, bank statements
3 working days
Evidence of registra on
3 working days
Evidence of English ability
3 working days
Marriage cer ficate or evidence of rela onship
3 working days
Evidence of dependence
3 working days
Verifica on of NZ work experience
3 working days
Original or cer fied copies of any document (for paper
3 working days
applica ons only)
Evidence or Verifica on of overseas work experience
5 working days
NZ qualifica on cer ficate
5 working days
Offshore qualifica on cer ficate
10 working
days
Full birth cer ficate (For online applica ons, birth
10 working
cer ficates are only required as evidence of dependency, or
days
poten ally if there are concerns with iden ty)
Medical tests or evidence of appointment with specialist
10 working
days
Evidence of English language test date booking
10 working
days
Evidence of commencing NZQA assessment process
10 working
days
Response to PPI le er
10 working
days
Global Process Manual
You are here: Residence > Family Category Residence > Assess >
Request Additional Information
Request Additional Information
When to use
When the visa applica on is at one of the following stages:
Pre-assessment before lodgement
Assessment of the applica on
Role
Support Officer
Immigra on Officer.
Guidelines
Follow the SMC meframes for se ng due dates to determine how long to allow a client to provide required informa on. The informa on listed below may
required for every applica on and you should only request further informa on when a specific need is iden fied:
Informa on being requested
Timeframe
Details missing from applica on form
3 working days
Addi onal details form
3 working days
Full employment agreement and/or job descrip on
3 working days
IRD Summary of Earnings, payslips, bank statements
3 working days
Evidence of registra on
3 working days
Evidence of English ability
3 working days
Marriage cer ficate or evidence of rela onship
3 working days
Evidence of dependence
3 working days
Verifica on of NZ work experience
3 working days
Original or cer fied copies of any document (for paper
3 working days
applica ons)
Evidence or Verifica on of overseas work experience
5 working days
NZ qualifica on cer ficate
5 working days
Offshore qualifica on cer ficate
10 working
days
Full birth cer ficate (For online applica ons, birth
10 working
cer ficates are only required as evidence of dependency, or
days
poten ally if there are concerns with iden ty)
Medical tests or evidence of appointment with specialist
10 working
days
Evidence of English language test date booking
10 working
days
Evidence of commencing NZQA assessment process
10 working
days
Response to PPI le er
10 working
days
