Fees and levies

At a glance

Most visa applicants must pay a visa fee, the Immigration Levy, and the IVL. Fees are payable at the time the application or request is lodged, and the amount depends on the principal applicant's citizenship unless they are in New Zealand at the time of application. [A6.10] However, holders of diplomatic or official passports who are travelling for official government business or in direct support of embassy/consulate operations are exempt from all these charges. Diplomatic and official passport holders who are travelling for tourism, private business, or official business that is not with New Zealand Ministers or central government ministries must pay the fees and levies as normal. [A6.1.1][A6.1.5]

The immigration levy applies to principal applicants for work, student, visitor (excluding group visitor visas), limited, and resident visas (except second or subsequent resident visas), unless an exemption applies. All applicants for a group visitor visa must also pay the levy unless exempt. [A6.11]

Definition

• Visa fee: the prescribed charge for processing a visa application.
• Immigration Levy: a levy imposed on most visa applications to fund immigration services and border systems.
• International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL): a levy collected from most international visitors to support tourism infrastructure and conservation. The IVL is collected by INZ on behalf of the Crown and its purpose is to fund, or contribute to the funding of, conservation, infrastructure used for tourism (including operating costs), and other tourism-related initiatives. [A6.13]

Together these are referred to as "fees and levies". [A6.1.1][A6.1.5]

The Immigration Levy funds settlement programmes, research into immigration issues, immigration system infrastructure, activities to attract migrants, and the Immigration Advisers Authority. [A6.11]

Application in decisions

Fee payment rules

Immigration fees are payable to INZ or its agents when an application or request is made, regardless of whether a prescribed application form is required. All fees are due at the time the application or request is lodged. [A6.10]

The fee payable is based on the citizenship of the principal applicant, and that citizenship-based fee applies regardless of the INZ office at which the application is lodged.

Example: An Indian citizen resident in Bahrain who lodges a residence application with the London office will be required to pay the fee payable by citizens of India. [A6.10]

The only exception is that if a principal applicant is in New Zealand at the time the application or request is made, the fee payable is the fee for applications lodged in New Zealand, regardless of the applicant's citizenship. [A6.10]

If a principal applicant resides in a country other than their country of citizenship, they may lodge their application at the receiving office designated for the country of residence, but the fee is still determined by citizenship. [E4.60]

Cash is not an acceptable form of payment, unless accepted by special direction by an appropriately delegated officer. [E4.60]

For residence class visa applications, the obligation to pay the fee and immigration levy at the time of lodgement is stated in R2.60. The fee may be waived by special direction by an appropriately delegated officer (see A15.5), and applicants may be exempt if their country has a bilateral fee waiver agreement (see A6.5) or if they are exempt from the immigration levy (see A6.11). [R2.60]

When a request is made for an approval in principle to employ foreign workers (see WK3.1.5 and WJ3), only one fee is payable as long as the positions offered are with the same employer, even if the request covers multiple foreign workers. [A6.10]

Immigration Levy (A6.11)

Who must pay [A6.11]

The immigration levy must be paid by all principal applicants applying for the following visas, unless an exemption applies:

• work visas
• student visas
• visitor visas (except group visitor visas)
• limited visas
• resident visas (excluding second or subsequent resident visas under RV4)

All applicants for a group visitor visa must pay the immigration levy, unless exempt. [A6.11]

The levy is payable at the time the visa application is made to INZ or its agents. The amount of the levy depends on the type of visa applied for; current rates are available at www.immigration.govt.nz/fees. [A6.11]

Note: Applicants who made an application under the residence instructions before 7 December 2015 must pay the migrant levy [R5.90], as per R5.1. This note is for historical reference; current applications are governed by the immigration levy rules. [A6.11]

Exemptions from the immigration levy [A6.11]

The following principal applicants are exempt from paying the immigration levy:

1. Holders of a visa waiver to travel to New Zealand (see the visa waiver country list).
2. Diplomatic, consular and official staff and their accompanying partners and dependent children who are exempt under A6.1.1 (see the diplomatic exemption sections below).
3. Applicants covered by a bilateral fee waiver agreement (see Bilateral fee waivers).
4. Citizens of Samoa applying for a residence class visa.
5. Claimants, refugees, and protected persons.
6. Persons applying for a residence class visa based on a relationship with a refugee or protected person.
7. Applicants applying for a visa under the following special instructions:
   • Victims of People Trafficking
   • Victims of Family Violence
   • Skilled Migrant Category job search
   • Migrant Exploitation Protection work visa
   • As the partner or dependent child of a person granted a Migrant Exploitation Protection work visa

The immigration levy can also be waived by special direction by an appropriately delegated officer (see A15.5). [R2.60]

International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) [A6.13]

Who must pay [A6.13]

Every person applying, or who is included in an application, for a temporary entry class visa (outside of an immigration control area) and every person who requests a traveller electronic travel authority (ETA) must pay the IVL, unless an exemption applies. [A6.13]

When payable [A6.13]

The IVL is payable to INZ or its agents at the time the visa application or ETA request is made. [A6.13]

The amount of IVL payable depends on the applicant's country of citizenship. [E4.60]

Exemptions from the IVL [A6.13]

The following people are exempt from paying the IVL:

1. A person applying under the Special Category for Victims of People Trafficking.
2. A diplomatic, consular or official staff or their domestic staff (see A6.1.1 for the full scope of diplomatic exemptions, which also cover IVL).
3. A claimant, refugee, protected person, or a person applying for a visa under the Special Category for Victims of Family Violence immigration instructions.*
4. A person applying as the partner or dependent child of a New Zealand citizen, visa holder or applicant for a visa.
5. A child travelling to New Zealand for the purpose of adoption.
6. A person travelling on a United Nations Laissez passer.
7. A military person or crew member of a military craft travelling in the ordinary course of their duty or employment.
8. A person travelling to New Zealand for medical consultation or treatment.
9. A person escorting someone outlined in (8) above.
10. A person associated with a Contracting Party to the Antarctic Treaty.
11. A person who is positioning crew.
12. A person applying for one of the following visas:
    1. Business visitor visa
    2. Student visa supported by a scholarship from MFAT
    3. China Special Work
    4. China Skilled Worker
    5. Philippines Special Work
    6. Vietnam Special Work
    7. Indonesia Special Work
    8. Interpreter from Japan
    9. Thai Chef
    10. Supplementary Seasonal Employer
    11. Recognised Seasonal Employer
    12. Post-Study work visa
    13. Pathway student visa
    14. Foreign crew of fishing vessels work visa
    15. Accredited Employer work visa
13. A citizen of one of the following countries:
    1. American Samoa
    2. Cook Islands
    3. Fiji
    4. Kiribati
    5. Republic of Marshall Islands
    6. Federated States of Micronesia
    7. Nauru
    8. Niue
    9. Palau
    10. Papua New Guinea
    11. Pitcairn Islands
    12. Samoa
    13. Solomon Islands
    14. Tonga
    15. Tuvalu
    16. Vanuatu
14. Australian citizens and permanent residents.
15. A person applying under the Migrant Exploitation Protection work visa instructions.
16. A person applying for a visa as the partner or dependent child of a person granted a visa under the Migrant Exploitation Protection work visa instructions.

*Note: For the purposes of schedule 5(9) of the Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010, the category is also known as the Special Category for Victims of Family Violence. [A6.13]

Fee, levy and IVL exempt — diplomatic and official passport holders [A6.1.1]

These applicants are exempt from all three charges:

1. Diplomatic, consular and official staff and their accompanying dependants who are immune from jurisdiction under the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunity Act 1968 or the Consular Privileges and Immunity Act 1971, as confirmed by the Protocol Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
2. Officials of government entities travelling to New Zealand to conduct business with New Zealand Ministers of the Crown or New Zealand central Government Ministries or Departments. The applicant must provide evidence of the purpose of the visit.
3. Persons entering or transiting New Zealand en route to, or returning from, a diplomatic posting in a country other than New Zealand. The applicant must provide evidence of the purpose of the visit.
4. Officials of government entities entering or transiting New Zealand en route to, or returning from, a third country where the purpose of the visit is official government-to-government business. The applicant must provide evidence of the purpose of the visit.
5. Individuals entering or transiting New Zealand to assist the operations of their Embassy or Consulate in New Zealand or elsewhere. The applicant must provide evidence of the purpose of the visit. [A6.1.1]

Fees and levies payable — diplomatic and official passport holders [A6.1.5]

These applicants remain liable for the visa fee, Immigration Levy, and IVL:

1. Holders of diplomatic and official passports who are visiting or transiting New Zealand for tourism or private business.
2. Holders of diplomatic and official passports who are visiting New Zealand for official business, but are not conducting business with New Zealand Ministers of the Crown or New Zealand central Government Ministries/Departments. [A6.1.5]

Note: Diplomats and officials from countries with which New Zealand has a visa waiver agreement do not need to apply for a visa to travel for the purposes described above. This does not affect the fee and levy obligation if a visa application is nevertheless required. [A6.1.5]

Other fees and charges [A6.15]

• Courier costs: INZ may charge or recover the cost of courier delivery of documents to applicants. [A6.15]
• Reconsideration fee: Where an applicant wishes to have their temporary class visa application reconsidered, they may submit a new application and pay the reconsideration fee. If INZ finds the initial decision was made in error, the reconsideration fee may be refunded using existing discretionary powers by an immigration officer with the appropriate delegation. [A6.15]
• Section 61 fees: Temporary class visas granted after consideration under Section 61 of the Immigration Act 2009 incur the appropriate Section 61 temporary class visa fee (instead of the visitor, student, or work visa fee). Residence class visas granted under Section 61 incur the appropriate Section 61 residence class visa fee. [A6.15]
• Call-out fee: Where an immigration officer with Schedule 1-3 delegations considers there are compelling reasons for an application to be treated as urgent, and this requires the office to be opened after hours, the call-out fee should be applied. The fee may be partially waived where actual processing costs are lower than the fee specified on the fees schedule. The call-out fee specified in the fee schedule is the maximum that can be charged. [A6.15]
• Offshore fees and immigration levy: The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Corporate Finance function completes a quarterly assessment of the fees and immigration levy in relation to foreign currencies and adjusts them where there are significant currency fluctuations. [A6.15]

Interpreters' fees [A14.10]

If an applicant fails to attend a formal interview for which an interpreter has been obtained, INZ will pay the interpreter fee and arrange a new interview. The applicant will be notified in writing of the date and time of the second interview and that if they fail to attend without notifying INZ, they may be charged the cost of the interpreter. [A14.10]

When arranging an interview, INZ must communicate the rules and choices on interpreters to the applicant in writing. [A14.10]

Interpretation & edge cases

• Evidence of purpose: The applicant must provide supporting documentation to demonstrate they meet one of the exempt categories. Immigration officers have discretion to request additional evidence. If the evidence is insufficient, the fees and levies must be paid.
• Transit passengers: The exemption applies even when New Zealand is only a transit point, provided the traveller's ultimate purpose fits one of the exempt categories.
• Dual-purpose travel: An applicant travelling for both official government business and private tourism is likely to be considered non-exempt for the private component; the officer will assess the primary purpose of the visit.
• Dependants: The exemption extends to accompanying dependants of eligible diplomatic and consular staff, but only where their immunity has been confirmed by the Protocol Division of MFAT. [A6.1.1]
• Group visitor visas: The immigration levy applies to every individual applicant on a group visitor visa; exemptions may still apply to some travellers. [A6.11]
• Samoan citizens: The exemption from the immigration levy for Samoan citizens applies only to residence class visa applications, not to temporary visa applications. [A6.11]
• Refugee-related exemptions: The exemption covers both refugees and protected persons, and persons applying for a residence class visa based on their relationship with a refugee or protected person (such as partners and dependent children). [A6.11]
• IVL and temporary entry only: The IVL applies only to temporary entry class visa applicants and ETA requesters; residents and citizens are not required to pay it. [A6.13]
• Overlap with diplomatic exemptions: A person who is exempt from the IVL under A6.13.15(2) as diplomatic or official staff may also qualify for broader exemptions under A6.1.1; the exemptions operate independently and the broadest applies. [A6.13]
• Visa categories: The list of exempt visa types includes specific work and student visas; applicants for other temporary visas (e.g. standard visitor visas, work visas not listed) generally must pay the IVL unless another exemption (e.g. country-based) applies. [A6.13]
• Country exemptions: Citizens of the Pacific Islands listed in A6.13.15(13) are exempt regardless of the visa type they are applying for, as long as they are liable for the IVL. [A6.13]
• Partner/dependent exemption: The exemption for partners and dependent children of a New Zealand citizen, visa holder or applicant applies even if the principal is not paying the IVL themselves (e.g. due to another exemption), making the partner or child also exempt. [A6.13]
• Reconsideration fee refund: The refund of the reconsideration fee is discretionary and only applies when INZ determines the original decision was made in error. [A6.15]
• Call-out fee discretion: The call-out fee is the maximum amount chargeable; officers may partially waive the fee if actual processing costs are lower. The fee can only be applied when an immigration officer with Schedule 1-3 delegations determines there is a compelling reason for urgency requiring after-hours opening. [A6.15]
• Section 61 fees: Section 61 visas attract a specific fee, which replaces the standard visa fee for that class. [A6.15]

Citations

• A6.1.1 — Fee, immigration levy and IVL exempt
• A6.1.5 — Fee and levies payable
• A6.10 — Fees payable to INZ when making applications and requests
• A6.11 — Immigration levy
• A6.13 — International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy
• A6.15 — Other fee and immigration levy information
• A14.10 — Interpreters' fees
• E4.60 — Payment of the fee and immigration levies
• R2.60 — Payment of the fee and immigration levy
• R5.90 — Migrant Levy