Recently, Immigration New Zealand released resident visa processing data for the 2025/26 financial year (1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026). The overall approval rate was approximately 92.5%, with Chinese applicants at about 94.3% and the Green List Straight‑to‑Residence pathway at around 95.6% – figures that immediately attracted widespread attention.
However, what do these statistics actually represent? What logic lies behind the high approval rates? What are the differences among the three main skilled immigration pathways? And what does the policy change effective 24 August 2026 mean?
This article analyses the topic from three levels.
Overview of Processing Data
1.1 Overall Processing
From July 2022 to June 2026, Immigration New Zealand completed processing 356,000 resident visa applications. In the 2025/26 financial year, the overall approval rate was about 92.5%. The two main skilled immigration streams – the Skilled Migrant Category (Six‑Point System) and the Green List – both had approval rates above the average, at 94.0% and 95.6% respectively.
Approval rates for Six‑Point System and Green List, FY2025/26
It should be noted that “not approved” in the statistics does not all equate to traditional refusals. This category may include applicants who voluntarily withdrew their application, resubmitted, withdrew due to approval of another application, or cases where individual circumstances changed during processing.
1.2 Processing for Chinese Applicants
The data for Chinese applicants is even more notable: 6,072 applications completed, of which 5,708 were approved and 364 not approved, giving an approval rate of approximately 94% – nearly 2 percentage points above the overall average.
Approval rates for Chinese applicants under Six‑Point System and Green List
1.3 Resident Visa Source Country Data
By source of approved applications, applicants from India, the Philippines, and China ranked in the top three. Indian and Filipino applicants predominantly used the Green List Straight‑to‑Residence pathway, while Chinese applicants were more likely to use the Six‑Point System, demonstrating the clear advantage of Chinese applicants in the points‑based channel.
Details by country:
· India – 134,592 applications
· Philippines – 91,485
· China – 77,585
· South Africa – 50,186
· United Kingdom – 39,263
· United States – 18,581
Chinese applicants’ RV approval rates over the past three years
Interpreting the Data Signals
2.1 High Approval Rates Do Not Mean “Easy to Apply”
An overall approval rate of 92.5% and 94.3% for Chinese applicants may indeed give the impression that “nine out of ten applicants will get approved.” However, this data reflects that among applications that have formally entered the resident visa process and received a final decision, most were approved. It does not mean that every person with an idea of immigration inherently has over a 90% chance of success.
Applicants for resident visas are themselves a population that has already undergone one or more rounds of screening. For skilled immigration, for example, before formal application, applicants typically already need to have a qualifying New Zealand job or job offer – the job title must match, the actual work content must align with the immigration policy definition of the relevant occupation, the salary must meet the applicable threshold, qualifications or registration or work experience must satisfy the chosen pathway, the employer and employment relationship must be genuine and compliant, and age, health, character, and English requirements must also be met.
In other words, those who reach the resident visa application stage are generally no longer a random population, but one with a certain baseline eligibility. The overall approval rate cannot be directly extrapolated to any individual. For those considering New Zealand immigration or wanting a tailored plan, feel free to consult Zhaolong Immigration at WeChat: 13811023472 to schedule a free assessment with our professional advisory team.
2.2 Chinese Applicants Perform Well, but Nationality Itself Is Not an Advantage
The 94.3% approval rate for Chinese applicants is higher than the overall average, indicating that Chinese applicants who reach the formal approval stage generally perform well. However, this should not be interpreted as “Chinese nationals have a 94.3% success rate for New Zealand PR,” nor does it mean that a Chinese passport confers any additional advantage in the process.
Nationality is not a qualification criterion for New Zealand skilled immigration. What Immigration New Zealand actually reviews is always which pathway the applicant is applying under, whether the applicant meets the policy requirements of that pathway, and whether the submitted materials form a complete, truthful, and consistent chain of evidence. This process places high demands on the documentation team, so applicants must be careful in selecting an immigration agency.
In recent years, Chinese applicants have concentrated in IT, engineering, education, healthcare, construction and surveying, financial auditing, food science, and professional technical services – many of which overlap significantly with Green List or Six‑Point eligibility. If the applicant has a clear academic background, stable New Zealand employment, consistently met salary levels, and work and employment documents that corroborate each other, overall approval tends to be favourable.
But even if two people have the same qualification and the same job title, outcomes can be completely different. Immigration New Zealand looks not only at what the employment contract says, but also at daily job duties, grade level, employer operations, reasonableness of salary, whether the position genuinely exists, and whether qualifications/registration match the work. What truly creates an advantage is the alignment between occupation and policy, not nationality itself.
2.3 Three Pathways Have Different Positions – Choosing the Right Path Matters More than Approval Rates
Although all three skilled residency pathways have approval rates above 90%, their respective positions and target populations are distinctly different.
· Green List Straight to Residence: Mainly for Green List Tier 1 occupations. Eligible applicants can apply directly for a resident visa without needing to accumulate two years of New Zealand work experience first. However, “straight to” means the path is more direct, not that the application escapes scrutiny. Common issues in practice include job titles that resemble Green List occupations but whose actual duties do not match – Immigration New Zealand will not just look at the contract title.
· Green List Work to Residence: Mainly for Green List Tier 2 occupations. Applicants typically need to accumulate 24 months of qualifying work experience in New Zealand before applying for a resident visa. The most easily overlooked point is that simply being in the role for two years is not enough. During the work experience accumulation period, the occupation, actual duties, salary, working hours, employer, and registration status may all affect whether that period counts.
· SMC Skilled Migrant Category: Has a broader scope; the occupation does not necessarily need to be on the Green List. The current SMC mainly targets those who have a qualifying skilled job or offer in New Zealand and can reach 6 points through registration, a bachelor’s or higher degree, high‑paid employment, and qualifying New Zealand skilled work experience. But 6 points is only one part of the core eligibility – applicants must also have qualifying skilled work, meet the salary threshold, have duties consistent with skilled work, and satisfy age, health, character, and English requirements.
Therefore, applicants should not first ask “which pathway has the highest approval rate,” but rather “which pathway does my occupation and experience actually fit?”
2.4 Fluctuations in Total Processing Reflect Structural Factors, Not Simply “Loosening” or “Tightening”
Total resident visa processing volumes in recent financial years have been influenced by special policies, historical backlogs, and processing rhythms:
· FY2022/23: 86,552
· FY2023/24: 33,051
· FY2024/25: 34,854
· FY2025/26: 28,580
The notable peak in FY2022/23 is related to the concentration of applications such as the 2021 Resident Visa entering processing. Therefore, total volume in any single financial year should not be used alone to conclude that policy is significantly relaxing or suddenly tightening. More noteworthy are structural changes – such as the ongoing expansion of Green List occupations, adjustments to the Six‑Point System (SMC), and the new rules effective 24 August 2026.
Strategic Planning and Adaptation
3.1 24 August 2026: A Key Policy Cut‑off
24 August 2026 is an important policy cut‑off date. Immigration New Zealand has confirmed that several significant changes will take effect from that date:
· Two new SMC pathways: In addition to the existing Six‑Point points pathway, a Skilled Work Experience Pathway and a Trades and Technician Pathway will be added. The Trades and Technician Pathway applies only to specified occupations, not all blue‑collar or technical roles.
· Wage threshold rule changes: Most SMC applicants will only need to meet one wage threshold, rather than one standard for work experience accumulation and a higher one for the resident visa application.
· Points for qualifications and recognition rules changed: Applicants with Level 8 and 9 qualifications will need to provide evidence of the postgraduate qualification and the supporting undergraduate degree.
· Green List Tier 2 wage calculation rule changes: From 24 August 2026, applicants for Tier 2 Green List, Care Workforce, and certain Transport sector Work to Residence visas will generally only need to meet the wage standard applicable at the start of work experience accumulation, and after changing employers will not usually need to follow the increased wage threshold.
3.2 Applying Under Current Rules: Both EOI Submission Timing and Document Completeness Matter
Those planning to apply under the current SMC rules need to formally submit their EOI before 24 August 2026. Immigration New Zealand has clearly advised that draft EOIs not yet submitted will expire and be deleted when the new rules take effect.
However, this does not mean everyone should rush to submit an EOI. Applicants need to assess:
· Do I already meet the current rules?
· Can my points sources be justified?
· Does my skilled employment and salary meet requirements?
· Are my qualification, registration, and work experience documents complete?
At the same time, one should compare whether one might have a more suitable path under the new rules. Some applicants are already well‑qualified under the current Six‑Point system and may benefit from early EOI submission; others may not have enough points now but may have better prospects under the new Skilled Work Experience Pathway or Trades and Technician Pathway.
Submitting inaccurate, incomplete, or contradictory information just to meet the deadline may carry greater risk than waiting for the new policy. Employment contracts, job descriptions, payslips, bank records, tax records, qualifications, registration, employment references, and employer documents in an immigration application generally need to corroborate each other. If significant contradictions appear, Immigration New Zealand may request further explanations or may question the genuineness of the role, continuity of employment, or points source.
3.3 Pathway Selection Strategy Based on Individual Circumstances
Facing policy transitions and multiple pathway choices, applicants should make rational judgments based on their own conditions:
· If your occupation is on Green List Tier 1: Green List Straight to Residence remains one of the fastest and most certain pathways. The key is to verify carefully that the occupation definition, actual job duties, salary, qualification, and registration requirements all precisely align with policy.
· If your occupation is on Green List Tier 2: Work to Residence is the primary pathway. Special attention should be paid to the 24‑month work experience accumulation rules – whether each period of work continuously satisfied the conditions applicable at the time, including occupation, duties, salary, and employer qualifications.
· If your occupation is not on the Green List but you have points from qualifications, registration, or high pay: SMC is the main option. Determine whether you meet the conditions under the current Six‑Point system and whether you would be better placed under the new pathways after 24 August.
· If you are in a trades or technician occupation: The new Trades and Technician Pathway after 24 August may offer a new opportunity, but you need to confirm that your occupation is on the specified list.
Whichever pathway you choose, check several core questions:
· Does my occupation meet the policy definition?
· Are my actual job duties consistent with the occupation?
· Does my salary meet the applicable standard?
· Is my qualification or registration recognised?
· Can my work experience be counted?
· Is my employer and position genuine and stable?
3.4 Data Shows Trends, Policy Lies in Details, Outcomes Depend on Personal Circumstances
Statistics can help us understand overall trends, but they cannot complete an individual eligibility assessment for anyone.
94.3% or 95.6% – they are simply overall outcomes of completed assessments. In a specific application, what truly determines the result is always whether the applicant’s occupation, work, salary, qualifications, experience, and evidence accurately correspond item by item to the policy requirements.
Before making a final decision, at least one question should be clearly answered: which specific requirement of which policy pathway does my personal profile correspond to?
Data shows trends, policy is in the details, and the application ultimately depends on personal circumstances.
Feel free to call Zhaolong Immigration to schedule a professional immigration assessment and obtain a customised immigration plan.
