New Zealand Visa Fees 2026: Costs for Every Main Visa
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) sets its visa costs in New Zealand dollars, and the amount you pay can depend on your citizenship. Each visa page on the INZ website shows a "Cost from" figure, and a fee finder on the same page returns the exact cost once you enter your country of citizenship and country of residence. This guide lists what that official finder returned on 14 October 2026 for citizens of India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, each living in their own country.
Quick answer
A Visitor Visa costs NZD $441, which includes the NZD $100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). A Fee Paying Student Visa costs NZD $850, an Accredited Employer Work Visa NZD $1,540 and a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa NZD $6,450. An NZeTA costs NZD $117 through the mobile app or NZD $123 through the online form, IVL included. Citizens of the USA do not pay a fee or immigration levy for several temporary visas.
Visitor and transit costs
These are the costs the INZ fee finder returned for a citizen of India living in India, applying online. It returned the same amounts for citizens of Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and Canada.
| Visa or travel authority | Cost | Processing time shown |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor Visa (1 person) | NZD $441 | 80% within 2 weeks |
| NZeTA, mobile app | NZD $117 | Allow 72 hours |
| NZeTA, online form | NZD $123 | Allow 72 hours |
| Transit Visa | NZD $235 | 80% within 4 days |
| Parent Boost Visitor Visa (1 person) | NZD $3,100 | Expected to be around 4 months |
- The IVL is inside the price. Each visitor must pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy of NZD $100, and it is included in the Visitor Visa, NZeTA and Parent Boost costs above.
- Transit passengers do not pay the IVL. INZ states that the levy is not charged to travellers passing through Auckland International Airport as transit passengers.
- An NZeTA is not open to everyone. It is for citizens of visa waiver countries and a few other groups. The INZ page's summary shows "Cost From NZD $17". The finder's NZD $117 and NZD $123 include the NZD $100 levy.
Student and work visa costs
| Visa | Cost | Processing time shown |
|---|---|---|
| Fee Paying Student Visa | NZD $850 | 80% within 7 weeks |
| Post-Study Work Visa | NZD $1,670 | 80% within 5 weeks |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | NZD $1,540 | 80% within 5 weeks |
| Specific Purpose Work Visa | NZD $1,455 | 80% within 3 weeks |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | NZD $1,630 | 80% within 7 weeks |
| Partner of a Student Work Visa | NZD $1,630 | 80% within 6 weeks |
| Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa | NZD $1,630 | 80% within 6.5 weeks |
| Working Holiday Visa, United Kingdom or Canada | NZD $770 | 80% within 2 weeks |
| Business Investor Work Visa (paper application) | NZD $12,380 | Data not available |
The student visa and Specific Purpose Work Visa costs include the NZD $100 IVL. So do the working holiday visa costs.
Resident visa costs
| Visa | Cost | Processing time shown |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa | NZD $0 for the expression of interest, then NZD $6,450 to apply for residence | 80% within 3.5 months |
| Straight to Residence Visa | NZD $6,450 | 80% within 3 months |
| Work to Residence Visa | NZD $6,450 | Not shown |
| Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa | NZD $5,360 | 80% within 7 months |
| Dependent Child Resident Visa | NZD $3,230 | 80% within 7 months |
| Parent Resident Visa | NZD $450 for the expression of interest, then NZD $5,360 to apply for residence | 80% within 11 months |
| Permanent Resident Visa | NZD $315 | 80% within 2 weeks |
| Active Investor Plus Visa | NZD $27,470 | Approval in principle 80% within 11 weeks |
The resident visa costs were the same for all six nationalities we checked, including citizens of the USA.
What the cost covers
- Processing charge. INZ describes the cost as the charge to process your application, and says it does not refund application costs if it declines the application.
- Immigration levy. For most of the visas above, a non-refundable immigration levy is charged and is included in the cost.
- IVL where it applies. The NZD $100 levy is included in the cost for visitor, student, working holiday and some other temporary visas.
- Payment. Online applications are paid by Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay. The working holiday visa results list Visa or Mastercard.
Fees for Indian and Pakistani applicants
The fee finder returned identical costs for citizens of India and citizens of Pakistan applying from their own country: NZD $441 for a Visitor Visa, NZD $850 for a Fee Paying Student Visa and NZD $1,540 for an Accredited Employer Work Visa.
INZ quotes these costs in New Zealand dollars and takes online payment by card. It publishes no rupee figure, so we have not converted the amounts.
Fees for US citizens
For a citizen of the USA living in the USA, the finder returned lower costs for several temporary visas, with the note that citizens of the USA do not have to pay a fee or immigration levy for the application.
| Visa | Cost for a US citizen | Cost for the other nationalities checked |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor Visa | NZD $100 | NZD $441 |
| Fee Paying Student Visa | NZD $100 | NZD $850 |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | NZD $0 | NZD $1,540 |
| Post-Study Work Visa | NZD $0 | NZD $1,670 |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | NZD $0 | NZD $1,630 |
| Specific Purpose Work Visa | NZD $100 | NZD $1,455 |
| USA Working Holiday Visa | NZD $100 | Not applicable |
Where the US cost is NZD $100, that amount is the IVL. The USA Working Holiday Visa page shows a summary cost of "From NZD $770", while the finder on the same page returns NZD $100 for a US citizen, so use the finder for your own case.
Money you must show, which is not a fee
- Visitors: at least NZD $1,000 a month, or NZD $400 a month if you have already paid for your accommodation, unless you have an acceptable sponsor.
- Students: for tertiary, English language or other non-compulsory study, NZD $20,000 for each year if you study for 1 year or more, or NZD $1,667 for each month if your study is shorter than 1 year.
- USA working holiday applicants: at least NZD $4,200 to pay your living expenses.
INZ may also ask for a chest X-ray, a medical examination or police certificates. Their prices are not on the INZ pages we read.
How to check your exact fee
- Open the visa's page on the INZ website.
- Find the "How to pay and submit" section. INZ says it cannot display process or costs information until you have provided your country details.
- Enter your country of citizenship and country of residence. For some visas the finder also asks how many people are travelling.
- Read the application cost and the processing time it returns for your case.
- Apply online and pay by Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a New Zealand tourist visa?
The Visitor Visa costs NZD $441 for one person, according to INZ's fee finder on 14 October 2026. That includes the NZD $100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. For a citizen of the USA the finder returned NZD $100.
How much is a New Zealand visa for Indian citizens?
For a citizen of India living in India, INZ's finder returned NZD $441 for a Visitor Visa, NZD $850 for a Fee Paying Student Visa and NZD $1,540 for an Accredited Employer Work Visa. INZ quotes the cost in New Zealand dollars.
How much is a New Zealand student visa?
The Fee Paying Student Visa costs NZD $850, including the NZD $100 IVL, with 80% of applications processed within 7 weeks. Students must also show NZD $20,000 for each year of tertiary study.
How much is a New Zealand work visa?
The Accredited Employer Work Visa costs NZD $1,540, with 80% of applications processed within 5 weeks. For a citizen of the USA the finder returned NZD $0.
How much does New Zealand residence cost?
The Skilled Migrant Category, Straight to Residence and Work to Residence visas each cost NZD $6,450. There is no fee to submit a Skilled Migrant expression of interest. A Permanent Resident Visa costs NZD $315.
What is the IVL?
The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy is NZD $100 per person. It is included in the cost of visitor, student and working holiday visas and the NZeTA, and is not charged to transit passengers.
Are New Zealand visa fees refundable?
INZ states that it does not refund application costs if it declines your application, and describes the immigration levy as non-refundable.
Official sources
- Immigration New Zealand — Visitor Visa, including the "How to pay and submit" fee finder
- Immigration New Zealand — New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
- Immigration New Zealand — Fee Paying Student Visa
- Immigration New Zealand — Accredited Employer Work Visa
- Immigration New Zealand — Post-Study Work Visa
- Immigration New Zealand — Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
- Immigration New Zealand — Straight to Residence Visa
- Immigration New Zealand — Permanent Resident Visa
- Immigration New Zealand — USA Working Holiday Visa
- Immigration New Zealand — Parent Resident Visa
All costs and processing times verified against Immigration New Zealand's website and fee finder on 14 October 2026, for applicants living in their country of citizenship. Costs can differ for other combinations, so check the finder for your own case. Information, not legal advice.