The cost of tourist visas will be significantly increased in October
New Zealand will increase the cost of tourist visas by 60% in October. According to the New Zealand Government, it was decided to create a more sustainable immigration system. The cost of a guest visa will increase from NZ$ 211 to NZ$341. “Until now, our immigration system has been heavily subsidized by taxpayers. The changes we make shift the costs onto those who benefit from the system. We guarantee that it will be self—funded and more efficient,” Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said in a statement. The increase will take effect on October 1 and will affect all categories of visas, including residence visas, temporary and student visas, as well as tourist visas. Stanford said the government will continue to subsidize visa applications from other Pacific Rim countries. “Fees remain competitive compared to countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom, so we are confident that New Zealand will continue to be an attractive destination,” Stanford said. It is expected that these changes will allow the government to receive an additional more than NZ$ 563 million from tourists.
