New Zealand visa costs aren’t a single number — Immigration New Zealand (INZ) stacks an application fee, an immigration levy, and often an International Visitor Levy (IVL) together, so the “visa fee” you see quoted is usually a combined total of three separate charges. Here’s what each visa actually costs in 2026 and how the pieces add up.
The three charges that make up an NZ visa fee
- Application fee — paid to INZ to process your application, varies by visa category.
- Immigration levy — a separate government charge added to most visa applications, funding border and immigration services.
- International Visitor Levy (IVL) — NZ$100, charged to most temporary visa applicants (not New Zealand or Australian citizens/residents) on top of the application fee and levy, funding tourism and conservation infrastructure.
Not every visa carries all three — some categories are exempt from the IVL, and levy amounts differ by visa type.
2026 fees by visa type
| Visa | Total cost | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Fee Paying Student Visa | From NZ$850 | ~NZ$485 application + ~NZ$265 immigration levy + NZ$100 IVL |
| Visitor visa (most nationalities, offshore application) | From NZ$441 | ~NZ$300 application + ~NZ$41 immigration levy + NZ$100 IVL |
| Visitor visa, Pacific nationals (temporary reduction, effective 1 June 2026 for 12 months) | NZ$161 | Reduced from the standard NZ$216 rate for this group |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) | NZ$1,540 | Combined application and levy total for the work visa itself |
Fee-paying student and standard visitor totals above are approximate combined figures built from INZ’s published components — always confirm the exact current breakdown for your specific visa category and nationality on Immigration New Zealand’s official fees pages before applying, since levy amounts and IVL exemptions vary by category and change periodically.
What these fees don’t include
The INZ-published fee only covers the visa application itself. On top of it, budget separately for:
- Medical examinations (chest X-ray, general medical) required for most student and work visa applicants staying longer than 12 months — arranged through an INZ-approved panel physician, paid directly to the clinic.
- Police certificates from your home country and any country you’ve lived in for 5+ years (for most work and residence categories).
- English language test fees (IELTS, PTE Academic) if required for your visa category.
- Licensed immigration adviser or lawyer fees, if you choose to use one — entirely optional.
- Tuition deposits and proof-of-funds evidence for student visas, which aren’t a “fee” as such but are a hard financial requirement alongside the visa charge itself.
Why the fee structure is split into three parts
Splitting the charge into application fee, immigration levy, and IVL reflects three different funding purposes: the application fee covers INZ’s processing costs, the immigration levy funds broader border and compliance systems, and the IVL (introduced to spread tourism infrastructure and conservation costs onto visiting travellers rather than New Zealand taxpayers) applies across most temporary visa categories regardless of visa type. Understanding the split matters mainly because some visa categories or nationality-based arrangements exempt applicants from one component (most often the IVL) without changing the other two — so a lower advertised total doesn’t always mean a proportionally cheaper application fee.
Practical budgeting tips
- Check whether the IVL applies to you. New Zealand and Australian citizens and residents are generally exempt; some Pacific nationals currently pay a reduced total under the temporary 2026 reduction. Confirm your category before assuming the full total applies.
- Fees are non-refundable. Whether your application is approved or declined, INZ does not refund the application fee, levy, or IVL — budget only once you’re confident you meet the eligibility requirements.
- Apply online where possible — INZ’s online application channel is typically faster and the fee is the same or lower than paper applications for most categories.
- Don’t forget dependants. Partners and children included on a work or student visa application are usually charged separately, so a family application costs meaningfully more than the single-applicant total shown above.
FAQ
Is the International Visitor Levy a one-time charge? Yes, for most visa categories it’s charged once per visa application, not per year or per entry.
Do NZ visa fees change during the year? Yes — INZ periodically updates fees and levies (as with the 2026 temporary Pacific visitor reduction), so always check the current published rate close to your application date rather than relying on older figures.
Can I pay in a currency other than NZD? Fees are set in NZD, but INZ’s online payment system typically accepts major international cards, which your bank will convert at its own exchange rate — so the amount charged to your card may differ slightly from the NZD total.
This guide is preparation information, not legal or immigration advice — always confirm the exact, current fee and levy amounts for your visa category on Immigration New Zealand’s official website before applying. Join the VisaMet waitlist for AI-assisted help budgeting and preparing your New Zealand visa application.
Sources: Immigration New Zealand — Fee Paying Student Visa, Immigration New Zealand — Visitor visa fees reduced for Pacific nationals, Visa Pilot — NZ Visa Fees 2026