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NZ migration statistics

Net migration was 20,348 in the year to July 2026, more than double the 9,593 a year earlier. 64,966 New Zealand citizens departed and 26,631 arrived in the year to July 2026, provisional. Work visas were the most common visa for non-New Zealand arrivals in the year to July 2026.

Updated

Since Luxon's government took office

  • Net migration, 12 months: 130,934 (Year to Sep 2023) to 20,348 (Year to Jul 2026); down 110,586.
  • Arrivals, 12 months: 229,536 (Year to Sep 2023) to 134,434 (Year to Jul 2026); down 95,102.
  • Departures, 12 months: 98,602 (Year to Sep 2023) to 114,083 (Year to Jul 2026); up 15,481.

Luxon's government took office on 27 November 2023. These compare the last reporting period before the 14 October 2023 election with the latest period. Economic shocks, global conditions and earlier decisions also affect the figures. How we choose the periods.

More on migration

Each topic combines its data, definitions, questions and downloads.

Arrivals and departuresLong-term migrant arrivals over 12 months were 134,434 (Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa; NZ in Numbers calculation, Year to Jul 2026).VisasNon-NZ migrant arrivals included 2,650 on work visas, 1,377 on resident visas, 5,380 on student visas, 2,391 on visitor visas (Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa, Jul 2026).

Net migration has more than doubled in a year

134,434 people arrived and 114,083 left in the year to July 2026.

134,434

Migrant arrivals, 12 months, Year to Jul 2026. Check the full series.

Source: Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa; NZ in Numbers calculation, NZ in Numbers calculation.

Work visas were the most common visa for non-New Zealand arrivals in the year to July 2026

Bars show the sum of the last 12 monthly values for each visa type, plus New Zealand citizens.

Non-NZ citizens: work visaNon-NZ citizens: student visaNon-NZ citizens: visitor visaNon-NZ citizens: resident visaAustralian citizens (no visa needed)Non-NZ citizens: other visaNZ citizens arriving
Non-NZ citizens: work visa32,355
Non-NZ citizens: student visa29,328
Non-NZ citizens: visitor visa23,521
Non-NZ citizens: resident visa16,769
Australian citizens (no visa needed)4,783
Non-NZ citizens: other visa1,047
NZ citizens arriving26,631
Show the figures
PeriodNon-NZ citizens: work visa (number)
Year to Jul 202632,355
Year to Jun 202631,731
Year to May 202631,014
Year to Apr 202630,490
Year to Mar 202629,988
Year to Feb 202629,365
Year to Jan 202629,357
Year to Dec 202529,072
Year to Nov 202528,880
Year to Oct 202528,522
Year to Sep 202528,131
Year to Aug 202527,810
Year to Jul 202528,055
Year to Jun 202528,331
Year to May 202528,811
Year to Apr 202529,680
Year to Mar 202531,149
Year to Feb 202533,186
Year to Jan 202534,812
Year to Dec 202436,540
Full data: migration arrivals by visa

Year to Jul 2026. Bars start at zero.

Non-NZ citizens: work visa: 32,355
Work visas were the most common visa for non-New Zealand arrivals in the year to July 2026. Non-NZ citizens: work visa: 32,355 in Year to Jul 2026. Non-NZ citizens: student visa: 29,328 in Year to Jul 2026. Non-NZ citizens: visitor visa: 23,521 in Year to Jul 2026. Non-NZ citizens: resident visa: 16,769 in Year to Jul 2026. Australian citizens (no visa needed): 4,783 in Year to Jul 2026. Non-NZ citizens: other visa: 1,047 in Year to Jul 2026. NZ citizens arriving: 26,631 in Year to Jul 2026.

Source: Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa, International migration: arrivals by citizenship and visa.

All migration data

Each has its own chart, the full data table, definitions and downloads.

Migration: arrivals, departures and net (12-month totals)134,434 (Year to Jul 2026)Migrant arrivals by citizenship and visa type13,893 (Jul 2026)Migration by citizenship and direction1,820 (Jul 2026)Migration: arrivals, departures and net13,893 (Jul 2026)New Zealand citizen migration: arrivals, departures and net26,631 (Year to Jul 2026)

NZ migration statistics: missing data

Official data does not record the qualifications of people leaving New Zealand, so 'skilled emigration' cannot be measured directly. Visa data on skilled migrants needs a manual download from MBIE and is not yet included.

NZ migration statistics: official sources

The organisations and licences behind the published datasets in this section.