Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ) has published its regular release on international migration covering July 2026. The release forms part of the agency's ongoing series tracking arrivals, departures, and net migration for New Zealand.

Stats NZ issues these migration releases on a monthly cycle. Each publication reports estimated migration arrivals and departures, together with the resulting net migration figure, based on border movement data.

The headline data feed directly into New Zealand's immigration planning. Policymakers at Immigration New Zealand and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment use the series to monitor population change, labour supply pressure, and demand on visa programmes.

Why the July 2026 release matters

Net migration figures regularly shape debate over New Zealand's visa settings. Recent years have seen large swings in arrivals and departures, prompting reviews of work visa categories and residence programme settings.

The July 2026 publication provides the latest official benchmark. Analysts, employers, and migrants tracking New Zealand's immigration outlook should consult the release directly rather than rely on secondary summaries, as Stats NZ revises provisional estimates in subsequent months when more complete border data becomes available.

Who uses these figures

The audience for the release is broad:

• Government agencies setting annual residence targets and work visa policy.
• Employers forecasting labour availability in sectors dependent on migrant workers.
• Migrants and advisers assessing trends in residence and temporary entry streams.
• Economists modelling population growth, housing demand, and wage pressures.

Where to find the official data

Stats NZ publishes the full dataset, methodology notes, and interactive tools on its official website. The release includes tables broken down by citizenship, visa type where applicable, and direction of movement — arrivals versus departures.

Passport File reminds readers that statistical releases describe migration trends at a national level. They do not change any individual's visa eligibility or immigration status. Questions about specific visa applications should go to Immigration New Zealand or a licensed immigration adviser.

This article summarises the existence and purpose of the release. For the exact arrival, departure, and net migration figures for July 2026, readers should consult the Stats NZ publication itself, which remains the authoritative source for New Zealand's official migration statistics.