We are anticipating an increase in visa applications over the coming weeks.

To ensure applications are processed as fast as possible, we are reminding applicants that providing all the required evidence with your applications will save time and money.

What to include

All visas have requirements for evidence that needs to be provided with your application, such as health, character and identity documents.

It is important that applicants understand which visa suits their circumstances and gather all the required evidence to support their application before applying.

Some visas have timeframe requirements to meet before people are eligible, such as living with a partner for 12 months or gaining 2 years work experience in New Zealand. These timeframes cannot be reduced.

Visa process overview

Applying without the required evidence or before meeting the requirements, means an application may be declined. People whose application is declined will need to pay the new charges if they reapply.

On 1 October 2024, the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) also increases to NZD$100. Some visa applicants pay this levy on top of their visa charges.

Fee-waiver arrangements remain

People from countries with fee-waiver agreements do not have to pay fees and the immigration levy for some application types. These fee waivers remain in place from 1 October 2024. The fee waivers do not apply to the IVL.

Table with the new visa costs.
Immigration fee and levy table — rates from 1 October 2024 PDF 322KB

This fees tool will be updated with the new fee and levy information on 1 October 2024.
Fees, decision times and where to apply

News story, 6 September 2024.
Increase to visa charges comes into effect from 1 October