30 June 2025
John Luke
[FYI request #30501 email]
DOIA-REQ-0011788
Tēnā koe John
Thank you for your correspondence of 23 March 2025 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment (MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:
-
[1] A weekly breakdown of the number of skilled migrant applications that have been allocated to
a case officer since Jan 2024 to date (non-priority and priority applications)
-
[2] A weekly breakdown of the number of skilled residence applications completed since Jan 2024
to date
-
[3] A monthly breakdown of the number of applications that are still awaiting allocation to an
Immigration Officer since Jan 2024 to date by the date of lodgment.
-
[4] Number of case officers working on skilled migrant visa applications (priority and non-priority)
-
[5] The oldest skilled migrant residence visa application in the system and it's status.
-
[6] How many skilled migrant residence visa you are currently have on hand?
On 28 March 2025, we asked you to clarify your request, particularly, if you were seeking information on
the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) only, or both SMC and the Green List? We also asked if your request
would include categories SR4 Green List Straight to Residence or SR5 Green List Work to Residence, or
both?
On 1 April 2025, you advised that you were seeking information on SMC only.
On 22 April we advised you that MBIE has decided to extend the period of time available to make a decision
on your request under section 15A(1)(b) of the Act, as consultations necessary to make a decision on your
request are such that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably be made within the original time
limit.
On 13 May 2025, we advised that MBIE had assessed and decided to grant your request and would provide
you the requested information. However, it would take us some time to process. We sincerely apologise
for the delay in responding to you.
Our response
Questions 1, 2 and 3
Please refer to tables 1, 2 and 3 of the appendix at the end of this letter.
Please note that the data in Table 1 covers new SMC visa category under SR3 instructions only. Due to data
limitations, we are unable to provide data for SMC applicants made under the old category. As such, this
part of your request is refused under section 18(f) of the Act as because the information requested cannot
be made available without substantial collation or research.
This task would remove Ministry staff from their core duties and therefore the greater public interest would
not be served. I have considered whether the Ministry would be able to respond to your request given
extra time or the ability to charge for the information requested but I have concluded, in both cases, the
Ministry’s ability to undertake its work would still be prejudiced.
Question 4
There were 23 immigration officers working on SMC applications as at 15 June 2025.
Question 5
As at 15 June 2025, the oldest in progress SMC application was submitted on 4 September 2015 and is
allocated to an immigration officer. Please note that a decision was previously made on this application
however it was returned to the branch for reconsideration following an appeal.
Question 6
As at 15 June 2025, there were 482 on hand SMC applications.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further assistance,
please con
tact [email address].
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of our decision to extend the
time limit. Information about how to make a complaint is available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Sarah Clifford
Director Visa
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Appendix
Table 1: The number of allocated SMC (SR3) applications between July 2024 – 31 March 2025 broken down
by week as at 16 June 2025.
Week commencing
Number of applications
1 July 2024
30
8 July 2024
21
15 July 2024
26
22 July 2024
35
29 July 2024
48
5 August 2024
35
12 August 2024
35
19 August 2024
40
26 August 2024
37
2 September 2024
56
9 September 2024
40
16 September 2024
50
23 September 2024
58
30 September 2024
53
7 October 2024
63
14 October 2024
67
21 October 2024
56
28 October 2024
15
4 November 2024
16
11 November 2024
45
18 November 2024
29
25 November 2024
34
2 December 2024
50
9 December 2024
34
16 December 2024
29
23 December 2024
11
30 December 2024
9
6 January 2025
45
13 January 2025
57
20 January 2025
53
27 January 2025
37
3 February 2025
39
10 February 2025
34
17 February 2025
41
24 February 2025
59
3 March 2025
59
10 March 2025
56
17 March 2025
62
24 March 2025
51
31 March 2025
24
7 April 2025
81
14 April 2025
56
21 April 2025
35
28 April 2025
104
05 May 2025
55
12 May 2025
63
19 May 2025
58
26 May 2025
58
2 June 2025
33
9 June 2025
70
Please note that due to reporting limitations Immigration New Zealand is unable to report on the number
of allocated SMC (SR3) applications prior to July 2024. I have considered whether the Ministry would be
able to respond to your request given extra time or the ability to charge for the information requested. I
have concluded that, in both cases, the Ministry’s ability to undertake its work would still be prejudiced.
Table 2: Weekly breakdown of SMC (both new SR3 SMC and the previous SMC) visa applications completed
from 1 January 2024 to 14 June 2025 as at 15 June 2025.
Week commencing Number of applications
01 January 2024
47
08 January 2024
126
15 January 2024
98
22 January 2024
135
29 January 2024
115
05 February 2024
233
12 February 2024
235
19 February 2024
115
26 February 2024
154
04 March 2024
156
11 March 2024
145
18 March 2024
102
25 March 2024
134
01 April 2024
92
08 April 2024
95
15 April 2024
149
22 April 2024
82
29 April 2024
113
06 May 2024
113
13 May 2024
74
20 May 2024
100
27 May 2024
51
03 June 2024
49
10 June 2024
88
17 June 2024
87
24 June 2024
66
1 July 2024
64
8 July 2024
74
15 July 2024
55
22 July 2024
132
29 July 2024
81
5 August 2024
66
12 August 2024
57
19 August 2024
73
Week commencing Number of applications
26 August 2024
67
2 September 2024
56
9 September 2024
77
16 September 2024
65
23 September 2024
44
30 September 2024
55
7 October 2024
26
14 October 2024
26
21 October 2024
68
28 October 2024
36
4 November 2024
32
11 November 2024
67
18 November 2024
106
25 November 2024
77
2 December 2024
151
9 December 2024
72
16 December 2024
78
23 December 2024
39
30 December 2024
27
6 January 2025
52
13 January 2025
64
20 January 2025
37
27 January 2025
33
3 February 2025
50
10 February 2025
31
17 February 2025
52
24 February 2025
24
3 March 2025
96
10 March 2025
48
17 March 2025
82
24 March 2025
65
31 March 2025
87
7 April 2025
81
14 April 2025
56
21 April 2025
35
28 April 2025
104
05 May 2025
55
12 May 2025
63
19 May 2025
58
26 May 2025
57
2 June 2025
51
9 June 2025
86
Total
6,092
Table 3: The number of SMC (SR3) applications awaiting allocation to an immigration officer from January
2024, as at 15 June 2025.
Month, year
Number of applications
June 2025
44
Please note SMC (SR3) applications submitted in other months have been allocated to an immigration
officer.
