The New Zealand government has confirmed increased student visa fees and policy changes starting October 1st, 2024. This change will affect all visa categories since the government wants to align the fees with the actual costs for processing a visa application.
Why has the New Zealand Government increased student visa fees and policy?
Erica Stanford, the New Zealand Immigration Minister stated that these changes intend to shift the financial burden from taxpayers to visa applicants to create a sustainable immigration. She has also mentioned that the current immigration system is being heavily weighed on taxpayers therefore, to create an efficient self-funding system these changes are necessary.
The increased fees will manage high-risk visa applications and cover the cost of visa processing fees. New Zealand visas remain competitive with Australia and the UK even after the increase.
Pacific Visas
Despite the substantial increase, New Zealand is dedicated to supporting its Pacific neighbors by introducing subsidized visa fees exclusive to applicants from the Pacific countries.
New Zealand Visa Rates: Current VS New
| Application Type | Current Rates (NZD) | New Rates from October 1st (NZD) |
| Visitor Visa | $246 | $341 |
| Work Visa Under Partner (Worker or Student) | $700 | $1355 |
| Work Visa Under Partner (NZ PR/Citizen) | $860 | $1630 |
| Student Visa | $410-$430 | $750 |
| Post-Study Work Visa | $700 | $1670 |
| AEWV Work Visa | $750 | $1540 |
The fee increase came after Australia decided to double its student visa application fee to $1600 (AUD).
Accredited Employer Work Visa Scheme by New Zealand
The NZ government has announced changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa Scheme on 7th April 2024.
