HYDERABAD: Students planning to pursue higher education in New Zealand need to pay more for visa as the country has announced increase visa fees in most of the categories, with effective from October 1, 2024.
The application fees for student visa will double. The fees for a student visa will increase from NZD 375 to NZD 750 including current immigration levy, while the fees for post-study work visas will go up to NZD 1,670 from NZD 700.
The move comes a month after Australia doubled student visa application fees to AUD$1,600 (NZ$1,750).
Meanwhile, those applying for a visitor visa will be charged NZD 341 instead of the current NZ 211 fee.
Under the new policy, application costs for a skilled residence visa will increase to NZD 6,450 from NZD 4,290. The fees for family category visa will also increase to NZD 5,360 from NZD 2,750.
For more details on the change in the visa fees: Click Here
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said that even with the new charges, New Zealand’s visa fees remain competitive compared to countries such as Australia and UK.
Visa fees for the applicants received under Band B and C, including much of the world outside of the Pacific and other specific regions will see a rise to NZD 485 from NZD 300. The student visa levy will rise to NZD 265 from NZD 95.
Post-study work visa fee
The post-study work visa fee will decrease to NZD 320 from NZD 490. But it will have a little impact on the total fee as the immigration levy associated with these visas will go up to NZD 1350 from the current NZD210.
Accredited Employer Work Visa
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), the primary temporary work visa in New Zealand, will also change. Though the AEWV fee will reduce NZD 480 from NZD 540, the immigration levy will increase to NZD 1,060 from NZD 210. This visa is crucial for ensuring that natives of New Zealand are given a priority in jobs while allowing the employers to hire skilled migrants in the event of labour shortage.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand government has introduced new requirements aimed at regulating the employment of migrant workers further. Among the major changes is the introduction of English as language requirement for migrants applying for low-skilled roles classified under ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) levels 4 and 5.]
Apart from this, a minimum skill and work experience threshold will be implemented.
For roles at ANZSCO levels 4 and 5, employers will have to engage with Work and Income, New Zealand’s welfare agency, before they are granted approval to hire migrants.
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