Student Visa Fee Increase
Beginning October 1, 2024, the New Zealand government will increase visa fees across most categories, including student, work, and tourist visas. Student visa fees will rise from NZ$300 to NZ$485. India, currently the second largest source of students for New Zealand with 17% of the student population, follows China which accounts for 35%, according to Education New Zealand (ENZ).
Tourist Visa Fee Surge
Tourist visa fees have seen a significant increase as well, jumping from NZ$190 to NZ$300. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford stated that the hike aims to create a more sustainable immigration system by transferring the financial burden from taxpayers to visa applicants.
Financial Impact and Competitiveness
The increased visa fees are expected to cover processing costs as well as managing higher-risk applications. This adjustment could potentially reduce the need for public funding by over NZ$563 million (£338 million) over the next four years. Despite the hikes, Stanford emphasized that New Zealand’s visa fees remain competitive when compared to countries like Australia and the United Kingdom.
| Visa Category | Old Rate | New Rate |
| Skilled Residence Visa | NZ$2,480 | NZ$2,880 |
| Entrepreneur Residence Category | NZ$3,710 | NZ$11,320 |
| Active Investor Plus Category | NZ$4,630 | NZ$12,070 |
| Family Category | NZ$2,060 | NZ$1,940 |
| Dependent Child Visa | NZ$2,060 | NZ$1,830 |
| Parent Retirement Category | NZ$3,710 | NZ$9,430 |
| Visitor Visa | NZ$190 | NZ$300 |
| Student Visa | NZ$300 | NZ$485 |
| Post-study Work Visa | NZ$490 | NZ$320 |
| Work Visa – Partner | NZ$650 | NZ$570 |
| Working Holiday Scheme | NZ$210 | NZ$215 |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | NZ$540 | NZ$480 |
Statistics and Rejection Rates
New Zealand approved 115,008 visas for Indian nationals in 2023, a notable increase from 83,583 in 2019 before the pandemic. However, the rejection rate for Indian applicants stands at 28%, second only to Pakistan’s 71% rejection rate.
