20 June 2022
Ankush
[FYI request #19416 email]
Ref: DOIA 2122-2208
Dear Ankush,
Thank you for your email of 20 May 2022, requesting under the Official Information Act 1982, the following
information:
“Can I please get some information around how long New Zealand Police Checks are taking
currently for Phase 2 applications - Resident Visa applications.
And how many of applicants visa expiring in 2024 got their RV2021 approved so far?
How much amount was invested to design this new Enhanced online Immigration system?”
Our Response
“Can I please get some information around how long New Zealand Police Checks are taking currently for
Phase 2 applications - Resident Visa applications”
The time to complete the New Zealand Police check process can vary depending on the volume of
vetting requests submitted, individual information provided by the applicant, and the volume of
information held by the New Zealand Police.
I can advise that as at 13 June 2022, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) had sent 83,394 requests to the
New Zealand Police vetting team and received 50,512 responses. Ninety five percent of those
responses were received within 20 working days.
The New Zealand Police provide INZ with a weekly breakdown of the checks that have been
completed. The report does not differentiate between Phase 1 and Phase 2 applications. Therefore,
we are unable to provide a breakdown of the Phase 2 data separately.
“And How many of applicants visa expiring in 2024 got their RV2021 approved so far?”
As at 20 June 2022, the total number of approved 2021 Resident Visa applications from 1 December 2021,
where the applicant’s substantive visa was due to expire in 2024 is 9,613. This represents the number of
approved applications submitted by principal applicants and does not reflect any dependent applicants
included in the applications.
INZ publishes processing data on 2021 Resident Visa applications on the INZ website which you may find
useful. The relevant link is below.
2021 Resident Visa Processing times
“How much amount was invested to design this new Enhanced online Immigration system”
On 2 July 2020, Cabinet agreed in principle that the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
could commit capital expenditure funding of $16.8 million, plus an ongoing operating expenditure of
$2.2 million for the design and implementation of the enhanced Online Immigration System. This
equates to a total investment of $19 million.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, please contact
[email address]. Yours sincerely,
Nicola Hogg
General Manager, Border and Visa Operations
Immigration New Zealand
