Starting 1 October 2024, student visa fees in New Zealand will rise from NZ$375 to NZ$750 for international students coming from non-Pacific countries. Furthermore, the price for post-study work visas shall increase from NZ$700 to $1,670. The country’s Pacific neighbours will continue benefiting from subsidised visa application fees.
The updated visa charges reflect the costs associated with visa processing, assessing and managing more high-risk applications. It also accounts for increased compliance costs as New Zealand deals with higher levels of migrant exploitation, managing more asylum claims and maintaining and upgrading their ICT infrastructure.
For a more sustainable immigration system
The New Zealand government announced visa fee increases across all visa categories. In a statement, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said that the move shall help create a more sustainable immigration system and is a step towards restoring fiscal discipline and rebuilding the local economy.
“Until now, our immigration system has been heavily subsidised by taxpayers. The changes we’re making are shifting the cost to those benefitting from the system. We’re ensuring it is self-funding and more efficient,” explained Stanford.
The government expects that running costs will reduce over time and inefficiencies will improve as soon as further enhancements are made to modernise its immigration systems in the coming years.
New Zealand remains competitive
Despite the doubling of student visa fees, New Zealand remains competitive, especially relative to Australia, which also recently increased its student visa prices. Even with the adjustments, a New Zealand student visa will only cost a little over 40% of the price of an Australian student visa.
“The charges remain competitive in comparison to countries like Australia and the United Kingdom so we are confident New Zealand will continue to be an attractive destination to live, work, study and visit,” Stanford emphasised.
Possible impacts in the sector
New Zealand has been experiencing significant growth in its international education sector since re-opening its borders post-pandemic. In 2023, the country experienced a 43% surge in international student enrolment versus the previous year, with a notable 347% increase in the English Language School sector. In 2024, this jumped to a 20% increase, exceeding levels observed in the pre-COVID peak period of 2022–2023. Immigration officials also revealed that the region has received 124,000 study visa applications since August 2022, with 101,000 visa approvals – marking an 85% approval rate.
The visa fee increases, however, might influence the study plans of prospective enrollees. A recent IDP Pulse survey has shown evidence of price sensitivity in foreign students, especially in markets like the Philippines and Bangladesh. Still, 50% of the survey’s respondents said the cost of the student visa would have little impact on their intentions to study in New Zealand, attesting to the region’s continuing attractiveness in the international education sector.
To stay updated on international student news in New Zealand, keep an eye out on our newsroom or get in touch with our business development experts. For more information on visa updates in Asia-Pacific, check out our guide here.
