New Zealand To Increase Visa Fees In October

The New Zealand government has announced a significant increase in visa fees set to take effect in October, aiming to generate over NZ$500 million in revenue over the next four years.

The fee hike will affect various visa categories, including student, work, and visitor visas.

The most notable change is for student visas, which will double from NZ$375 to NZ$750.

For those applying for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, the fee will rise to NZ$6,450 from the current NZ$4,290. The cost of the Accredited Employer Work Visa will also see a sharp increase, doubling from NZ$750 to NZ$1,540.

Applicants for working holiday visas will face a fee of NZ$670, while those seeking to extend their working holidaymaker visa will be charged NZ$700.

The cost of a visitor visa will increase by 61 percent, from NZ$130 to NZ$341.

You can view the complete list of updated visa fees on the official website.

However, visa applicants from Pacific countries will continue to benefit from subsidised fees, according to Immigration New Zealand.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford explained that the fee adjustments are intended to shift the financial burden of the immigration system from taxpayers to those who directly benefit from it.

“The new charges reflect the true costs of visa processing, including assessing and managing higher-risk applications, increased compliance costs related to migrant exploitation, handling more asylum claims, and the need to maintain and upgrade Immigration New Zealand's IT systems,”

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford

New Zealand is highly regarded as a top destination around the world due to its safety, security, and excellent quality of life.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford emphasised that the increase in visa fees will not diminish New Zealand's global appeal.

Potential Impact On New Visa Costs

The substantial increase in visa processing fees has been labelled a “risky” move potentially discouraging migrants from seeking to visit, study and find work in the country.

Among the various visa categories, student visa fees will see a substantial hike. Increasing international student visa costs will reduce New Zealand’s competitiveness as a destination for international students.

Some tourism organisations have expressed concerns about the lack of government consultation, questioning why New Zealand has made this decision at a time when international visitor demand is already declining.

Recent data revealed a 27 percent increase in visitor numbers in June 2024 compared to June 2023. However, the numbers are still below arrivals in the year before the pandemic.

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