Immigration New Zealand charges processing fees for applications under all entry categories. Under a number of bilateral agreement, there are some countries that have fee exemptions. These include the US, Japan, Italy, Austria and Finland.
You can find out more about fee exemptions, along with more specific information about fees in general, by taking a look at our Guide to Fees PDF.
Please note that people from all countries have to pay a fee to submit an Expression of Interest in gaining residence under the Skilled Migrant Category. However, the fee is a lot cheaper if you fill out the form online (see below).
Take a look at our Fees Finder
The best way to find out fee for your application is by using our fees finder. The fees differ, depending on where you apply from, and the kind of visa or permit you need.
Skilled Migrant Category fees explained
When you apply for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category, there are three key payments that you'll need to make:
Expression of Interest
There are two different non-refundable application fees for submitting an Expression of Interest. If you apply online it will cost you NZ$400 or if you apply using the hard copy (paper) application, you will pay NZ$500.
Application for Residence
If you are invited to apply for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category, you will need to pay a fee to lodge your application.
Migrant Levy
Please be aware that if you are approved for residence you will have to pay a migrant levy (in addition to the standard visa/permit application fees) before you will receive your residence visa or permit.
The purpose of the migrant levy is to contribute to the funding of programmes intended to assist the successful settlement of migrants. For instance the levy funds help with costs related to the Language Line telephone interpreting service, the Migrant Employment Assistance service and the Citizens Advice Bureau Language Link service. The funds also include a contribution towards English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tuition for adults and children.
The migrant levy is also used to carry out research into settlement issues and the impacts of immigration. For instance, the Longitudinal Immigration Survey: New Zealand (LisNZ) and short-term research on settlement and immigration. The information gained from this research helps Immigration New Zealand develop immigration policies that can best help migrants settle in and contribute to New Zealand.
The levy is NZ$300 for people aged five and over, and NZ$150 for children under five years of age. If there are more than four people included in a single application, the migrant levy is only payable by the four oldest family members.