<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-08-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000724910</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NVE CORP /NEW/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>nvec</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195590</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOLLISTER PATRICIA M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3455 LYMAN BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHASKA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55318-3052</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>57.24</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-08-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2020-08-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2030-08-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option granted automatically on Ms. Hollister's reelection to NVE's Board of Directors</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Curt A. Reynders, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-08-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2020-08-06
0
0000724910
NVE CORP /NEW/
nvec
0001195590
HOLLISTER PATRICIA M
3455 LYMAN BLVD
CHASKA
MN
55318-3052
1
0
0
0
Non-Qualified Stock Option
57.24
2020-08-06
4
A
0
1000
0
A
2020-08-06
2030-08-06
Common Stock
1000
8000
D
Option granted automatically on Ms. Hollister's reelection to NVE's Board of Directors
/s/Curt A. Reynders, by power of attorney
2020-08-10