Commencing on October 1, 2024, the New Zealand government has announced major hikes in immigration fees that would affect almost all visa categories. According to Immigration Minister Erica Stanford, the goal of the revisions is to transfer the financial burden from taxpayers to those seeking visas, so resulting in a more sustainable immigration system.
Over the next four years, the improvements are anticipated to lower public financing requirements by more than NZ$563 million (US$338 million), according to research by ICEF Monitor.
Minister Stanford stressed that taxpayers have provided significant financial support for the current immigration system. "We're moving the cost to people who gain from the system through the improvements we're making. We're making sure it's more effective and self-sustaining," she remarked.
The Minister pointed out that although the fees have gone up, they are still competitive when compared to Australia and the UK, which makes New Zealand a desirable travel destination for tourists, workers, and students. These increases will go toward covering the costs associated with processing visas and handling higher-risk applications.
Effect on Visas for Students
The cost of a student visa will increase significantly among the several visa categories, going from NZ$375 to NZ$750, a hefty increase.
This change comes after Australia made a similar one, recently raising the application price for a student visa to AUD 1,600. The cost of a New Zealand student visa application will be slightly more than 40% of that of an Australian study visa application, which is still much less than the costs charged in Australia.