Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced that, from 1 June 2026, applications for family of temporary visa holders have moved to its enhanced Immigration Online system. INZ says people applying for one of these visas should be aware of several changes.
According to INZ, the move is part of its Our Future Services programme, which began last year and will progressively shift all visa applications onto the enhanced Immigration Online platform. INZ first introduced the platform in 2021 and has already moved several visa types onto it, including international student visas, visitor visas, Accredited Employer Work Visas and Permanent Resident Visas. INZ says the programme is designed to deliver a simpler, faster and more user-friendly process that reduces waiting times, improves communication on application status and increases self-service.
Which applications are affected
INZ says that from 1 June 2026, anyone starting a new application for one of the following visa types will be automatically directed to enhanced Immigration Online.
Student visas
- Dependent Child Student Visa
Work visas
- Partner of a Worker Work Visa
- Partner of Military Work Visa
- Partner of a Student Work Visa
- Partner of an NZ Scholarship Student Work Visa
Visitor visas
- Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa
- Child of a Worker Visitor Visa
- Partner of a Student Visitor Visa
- Child of a Student Visitor Visa
- Partner of Military Visitor Visa
- Child of Military Visitor Visa
INZ says all applications submitted through the old system on or before 31 May will still be processed, and applicants who have already applied do not need to resubmit. Those applicants will keep access to their application to upload documents and respond to requests until a decision is made and communicated.
People with a draft application in the old system can choose to complete and submit it there, or start a new application in enhanced Immigration Online. INZ notes that the old application form is still used for some other visas and will be closed once those visas move across. INZ says it will contact people with draft applications to make sure they have enough time to finish before the old form closes.
Enhanced Immigration Online now the preferred system
From 1 June, INZ says enhanced Immigration Online is its preferred system for receiving applications from family of temporary visa holders. The existing Immigration Online system will remain available so applicants can complete and submit drafts already in progress, communicate about submitted applications, and apply for other visa types that use the same form.
INZ says applications submitted through the enhanced system will be prioritised for assessment during the transition. It is training staff and shifting processing across using a staggered approach, so that trained staff are progressively matched to the growing number of applications coming through the new system. INZ expects the use of the old system to fall as more applications and staff move onto the enhanced platform.
INZ strongly encourages people to submit new applications through enhanced Immigration Online, saying this will support the best possible processing experience and reduce the risk of delays linked to the old system. It also says that since late March it has had additional staff supporting the processing of family of temporary applications, which has continued through May and into June and has helped reduce the number of applications on hand ahead of the transition.
For applications received in the old system, INZ says processing will continue, with priority given to applications once the primary applicant’s visa is granted.
New application form and system
INZ says its design approach for the enhanced Immigration Online process focuses on an improved customer experience, making the process easy to understand and clear about what is expected. INZ lists the following benefits.
- clearer questions with help and guidance built into the form, making it easier to understand what to do
- fewer delays and faster processing, as the dynamic form asks questions relevant to the applicant’s situation and helps them provide complete and accurate information the first time
- reduced risk of input errors, with passport details captured automatically using the Identity Document Reader
- a simpler, more user-friendly process with improved visibility of the application, helping applicants feel more informed and supported
More information
INZ says people can access submitted or draft applications in the old system through its ‘Access Immigration Online’ page.
Further detail on the Our Future Services programme is available from INZ and from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Our Future Services, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
