New Zealand government announces increase in visa charges from October 1, 2024

Immigration is a significant part of New Zealand's economy, community and workforce. The visa charges are being increased to improve the immigration system and ensure that it is self-funding, efficient and sustainable.

Study in New Zealand: Following a recent survey that shows increased satisfaction of international students in studying in New Zealand, the country has announced that it is increasing visa charges from October 1, 2024, to keep the immigration system updated, sustainable and self-funding.

The government said that immigration makes a significant contribution to the country's community, workforce and economy.

“It reunites friends and families, provides employers with access to key skills and capital, contributes to New Zealand’s international and humanitarian commitments, and supports the security and integrity of our border. It is appropriate that those using and benefiting from the immigration system cover the costs of running it,” reads the government's statement.

From October 1, for those coming from non-Pacific countries, the student visa will increase to NZD$750 and post-study work visa fees will increase from NZD$700 to NZD$1,670.

“Until now, our immigration system has been heavily subsidised by taxpayers. The changes we’re making are shifting the cost to those benefitting from the system. We’re ensuring it is self-funding and more efficient,” said immigration minister Erica Stanford, as reported by The Pie News.

“The new charges reflect the costs associated with visa processing, assessing and managing more high-risk applications, and increased compliance costs as we deal with higher levels of migrant exploitation, managing more asylum claims, and maintaining and upgrading Immigration New Zealand’s ICT systems,” she said.

Erica Stanford added, “We expect that once further improvements are made to modernise immigration systems in the coming years, the running costs will reduce over time and efficiencies will improve.”

Cost of study visa to have little impact on student's study plan, says survey

IDP recently conducted a pulse survey into how visa fees will impact the study plans of the prospective students, and it was conducted months before the actual fee increase in Australia and New Zeland. Around 50% of students said that it would not impact their study abroad plans in New Zealand, out of the other 50%, 22% said that there would be a medium impact and remaining 28% said it would have a high impact.

IDP Partnership Director Jerry He said, "We can see that NZ-bound students appear to be more price sensitive, with half of the surveyed students claiming that student visa [fees] influences where they intend to study. This large proportion of students influenced by visa fees should benefit New Zealand,” as reported by ICEF Monitor.

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