New Zealand has decided to increase fees for most visa categories, as announced on the country’s immigration official website.
This change, set to enter into force on October 1, 2024, aims to “recover the costs of processing a visa” in the country, VisaGuide.World reports.
Under the new policy, application costs for a Skilled Residence visa will increase from NZD 4,290 to NZD 6,450.
Meanwhile, Family Category visa fees will increase from NZD 2,750 to NZD 5,360, while those for Parent Retirement Category from NZD 5,260 to NZD 12,850.
The upcoming policy will also affect those applying for a temporary visa in New Zealand. The fees for a student visa will increase from NZD 375 to NZD 750, while for post-study work visas, they will increase from NZD 700 to NZD 1,670.
Meanwhile, those applying for a visitor visa will be charged NZD 341 instead of the current NZ 211 fee.
In addition to the above-mentioned, fees for some other visa categories will increase from October 1.
In contrast, visa fees under the Samoan Quota Scheme will remain the same. Meanwhile, costs for the Pacific Access Category will see a slight increase compared to other categories.
‘Beneficiaries of the Immigration System Should Cover Costs of Its Running’
The increase in visa fees is one of the government’s steps to recover the fiscal discipline and rebuild its economy, according to Immigration Minister Erica Stanford.
As she further explained, the government aims to establish a more “sustainable immigration system” by adapting international visa fees.
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-funded and more efficient.
Stanford said that this decision is one of the government’s steps to restore fiscal discipline and rebuild the economy.
The Green Party Considers Visa Fees Increase as Irresponsible Decision
The decision to increase visa fees was not well-received by the Green Party in New Zealand.
Green Party immigration spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March, as cited by Radio New Zealand, said that the government is overloading foreign workers with higher fees to its tax reduction.
The government is using migrants as cash cows.
He further said that the new policy was “irresponsible” and would make foreigners “more vulnerable” to exploitation if they were forced to.