Student Visa Costs Set to Skyrocket in New Zealand This October

By Daniel August 15, 2024
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The New Zealand government has announced that new visa charges will come into effect on 1 October 2024, applying to almost all types of visas. New Zealand’s Immigration Minister, Erica Stanford, stated that these changes will help build a more sustainable immigration system, where taxpayers will no longer bear the cost of administering the system. Instead, this cost will shift to those applying for visas. It is predicted that the increased charges will reduce reliance on government subsidies by more than NZ$563 million over the next four years (approximately US$338 million).

“As things currently stand, our immigration system has been financially subsidised at the taxpayers’ expense. The changes we are implementing will shift the cost to the beneficiaries of the system. We are also ensuring it is self-funded and more efficient,” said the minister. The new charges will reflect the expenses of visa processing, assessment, and handling of higher-risk applications. However, the fees will remain competitive compared to countries like Australia and the United Kingdom, ensuring that New Zealand remains an attractive destination to live, work, study, and visit.

Student Visa Charges to Double

An email sent to stakeholders on 9 August highlighted that student visa fees will double, increasing from NZ$375 to NZ$750, effective from 1 October.

This decision follows Australia’s recent increase in student visa application fees to AUD$1,600 (NZ$1,750), implemented earlier this month. In comparison, visa fees for students studying in other major destinations, such as Canada (CDN$150/NZ$180) and the United States (US$185/NZ$310), remain significantly lower.
While the most relevant price comparison is between Australia and New Zealand, following the October fee changes, a New Zealand student visa application will cost approximately 40% more than an Australian study visa application.

Source: ICEF MONITOR

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