Northern Territory Consolidated Regulations8.04. Time for appearance
Unless the Court otherwise orders, the time stated in the writ or originating motion for the defendant to file an appearance shall be:
(a) where the originating process to be served in the Territory:
(i) is filed in the Darwin Registry and the place of service is within 200 Kilometres from Darwin - not less than 7 days after service;
(ii) is filed in the Alice Springs Registry and the place of service is within 200 Kilometres from Alice Springs - not less than 7 days after service; or
(iii) is filed in the Darwin or Alice Springs Registry and place of service is not within 200 Kilometres from the filing Registry - not less than 14 days after service;
(b) where the originating process is to be served elsewhere within the Commonwealth - not less than 21 days after service;
(c) where the originating process is to be served in New Zealand or in Papua New Guinea - not less than 28 days after service; and
(d) in any other case - not less than 42 days after service.