New Zealand repriced its entire visa system on 1 October 2024 — most charges roughly doubled, and the levy component is often bigger than the fee itself.
- 24 August 2026 — affects who can apply (see Selection System): Skilled Migrant Category residence settings change substantially — two new residence pathways, red/amber occupation lists, simplified median-wage settings and revised qualification points. No change to application fees announced, but eligibility for the residence visa you're paying for will change.
Announced by the official authority but not yet in force — always verify against the official source before relying on it.
Overview
Immigration New Zealand (INZ), part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), charges a visa application fee plus an immigration levy, and for most visitors, students and working holidaymakers a separate NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). The whole schedule was restructured on 1 October 2024 to put the system on a cost-recovery footing: an Accredited Employer Work Visa rose from NZD 750 to NZD 1,540 and a Skilled Residence application from NZD 4,290 to NZD 6,450. Charges are banded — Band A (applying in New Zealand), Band B (subsidised Pacific rates) and Band C (rest of world) — so the exact amount depends on where and what you apply for; INZ's Fee Finder tool is the canonical source per application. Related costs sit with other agencies: Immigration and Protection Tribunal appeals cost NZD 943 (Ministry of Justice), and citizenship by grant costs NZD 560 per adult (Department of Internal Affairs, since November 2025). Figures verified against immigration.govt.nz, justice.govt.nz and govt.nz as of June 2026.
What the Main Applications Cost (INZ Schedule from 1 October 2024)
Totals below are Band A (applying from within New Zealand) and include the immigration levy. The IVL of NZD 100 is added on top of most visitor, NZeTA, student, working holiday and some work applications. Always confirm with INZ's Fee Finder — every application is different.
| Application | Total (NZD, incl. levy) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor visa | 341 + 100 IVL | Band B Pacific fee 175 |
| NZeTA (visa-waiver travellers) | 17 app / 23 website + 100 IVL | Required before travel |
| Student visa | 750 + 100 IVL | Dependent-child category exempt from IVL |
| Working holiday scheme | 670 + 100 IVL | |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) | 1,540 | Was 750 before 1 Oct 2024 |
| Work to Residence / Partnership work visa | 1,630 | |
| Post-study work visa | 1,670 | Levy is 1,350 of this |
| Skilled Residence (SMC, Straight to Residence) | 6,450 | Was 4,290; levy is 3,570 of this |
| Family category residence (e.g. partner) | 5,360 | |
| Parent Boost Visitor Visa | 3,000 + 100 IVL | 2,450 Pacific band |
| Parent Retirement Resident Visa | 12,850 | |
| Active Investor Plus | 27,470 | Levy is 15,400 of this |
| Entrepreneur Work Visa | 12,380 | Entrepreneur Residence 14,890 |
| Permanent Resident Visa (upgrade) | 315 | Second/subsequent resident visa 275 |
How the Charging System Works
- Fee + levy structure: Every charge is a processing fee plus an immigration levy; for residence categories the levy dominates (NZD 3,570 of the 6,450 Skilled Residence total). The IVL (NZD 100 since 1 October 2024, up from 35) is charged separately on most visitor visas, NZeTAs, student visas, working holiday and work exchange schemes, and specific purpose work visas.
- Pacific subsidy (Band B): Applicants from Pacific countries pay reduced rates — for example NZD 1,860 instead of 2,880 for the Skilled Residence fee component, and NZD 2,450 for Parent Boost.
- Employer-side charges: AEWV employer accreditation costs NZD 775 (standard) or 1,280 (high volume), and each Job Check costs NZD 735. These are paid by the employer as part of the three-stage AEWV 'gateway' process — the NZD 1,540 visa application fee is the worker's stage.
- Use the Fee Finder: INZ's 'Fees, decision times and where to apply' tool gives the exact fee, levy and IVL for your nationality, location and visa — the published table is a general guide only.
- VAC service fees: In countries where applications are handled through a Visa Application Centre, the VAC charges its own service fee on top of INZ's charges.
Fees You Only Meet When Things Go Wrong
- Reconsideration of a declined temporary visa: NZD 220, available only if you are lawfully in New Zealand and request it within 14 days of the decline.
- Immigration and Protection Tribunal appeal: NZD 943 for residence appeals and all deportation appeals (Ministry of Justice). The fee includes dependent children under 18 on the same appeal, cannot be waived, and is only refunded if the appeal is not accepted. Refugee and protected person appeals are free.
- Section 61 grants: If INZ grants a visa to someone unlawfully in New Zealand under section 61 of the Immigration Act 2009, the charge is NZD 640 for a temporary visa or NZD 1,510 for a residence class visa — payable only if a visa is actually granted; making the request itself costs nothing.
- Special direction request: NZD 260.
- Declined applications: the application fee is generally not refunded if your visa is declined — budget for the appeal or reapplication separately.
Beyond the Visa — Related Government Charges
- Citizenship by grant: NZD 560 per adult and NZD 280 per child under 16 (Department of Internal Affairs, increased from 470.20/235.10 in November 2025).
- Apostilles for your NZ documents: NZD 37 per document (paper or e-apostille) from the DIA Authentication Unit; NZD 74 for non-Hague authentication.
- NZQA International Qualification Assessment: NZD 746 if your overseas qualification needs assessing for points or registration.
- Medical examinations and police certificates: panel physician fees are set by each clinic and paid by you; your own New Zealand criminal record from the Ministry of Justice is free.
- Driver licence conversion: NZTA application and test fees apply when you convert an overseas licence — amounts depend on whether your country is test-exempt.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it really cost to get New Zealand residence through the Skilled Migrant Category?
The INZ application itself is NZD 6,450 (Band A, including the NZD 3,570 immigration levy) since 1 October 2024. On top of that, budget for an English test (IELTS, PTE or similar at the provider's price), a panel physician medical for each family member, police certificates from every country you have lived in for 12+ months in the last 10 years, and an NZQA International Qualification Assessment (NZD 746) if your degree is not on the exempt list. If you are already in New Zealand on an AEWV, you have typically also paid NZD 1,540 for that visa. Use INZ's Fee Finder for your exact combination.
Why did New Zealand visa fees jump so sharply in October 2024?
The Government announced on 9 August 2024 that visa charges would move to full cost recovery from 1 October 2024, so that 'those using and benefiting from the immigration system cover the costs of running it'. Most charges rose steeply: the AEWV went from NZD 750 to 1,540, Skilled Residence from 4,290 to 6,450, and the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy nearly tripled from NZD 35 to 100. At the same time, people using the immigration system began funding 80% of ESOL (English language) programme costs in schools. Pacific applicants kept subsidised Band B rates.
Do I have to pay the NZD 100 IVL, and what is it for?
The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy funds conservation and tourism infrastructure and is collected with your visa or NZeTA payment. It applies to most visitor visas (excluding partner and dependent categories), NZeTAs, student visas (excluding dependent children), working holiday and work exchange schemes, and student, trainee and specific purpose work visas. It is non-refundable. Notably, AEWV holders and residence applicants do not pay the IVL — their charges are structured as fee plus immigration levy instead. Australians and many transit passengers are outside the IVL net entirely.
Are fees cheaper for applicants from Pacific countries?
Yes. New Zealand maintains subsidised Band B rates for applicants from Pacific countries as part of its regional commitments. Examples from the 1 October 2024 schedule: the Skilled Residence fee component is NZD 1,860 instead of 2,880, the visitor visa fee NZD 175 instead of 300, and the Parent Boost Visitor Visa NZD 2,450 instead of 3,000. The Samoan Quota Scheme (NZD 820) and Pacific Access Category (NZD 1,300, with an NZD 89 annual registration) have their own low rates. The Fee Finder applies the correct band automatically based on your details.
If my visa is declined, do I get my money back?
Generally no — the fee pays for processing, not the outcome, so a declined application is money spent. That makes the downstream costs predictable: NZD 220 to request reconsideration of a declined temporary visa (within 14 days, only if you are lawfully in New Zealand), or NZD 943 to appeal a declined residence class visa to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal within 42 days. The Tribunal fee is refunded only if your appeal is not accepted for filing. The IVL is explicitly non-refundable. Before paying again, read the decline letter carefully — reapplying without addressing the stated concerns usually buys the same result.
What does my employer pay versus what I pay for an Accredited Employer Work Visa?
The AEWV is a three-stage gateway. Your employer pays for stage one, accreditation (NZD 775 standard or 1,280 high-volume), and stage two, the Job Check for the specific role (NZD 735). You pay stage three, the visa application itself: NZD 1,540. Employers must not pass their accreditation or Job Check costs on to you — charging migrants for the costs of recruitment is a breach of the accreditation rules and can be reported to MBIE. If your application is declined, the NZD 250 reconsideration fee for employer-side decisions sits with the employer; your own visa reconsideration costs NZD 220.