If my visa is declined, do I get the application fee back?

Generally no. The application fee pays for INZ to process your application — it is not a deposit on the visa itself. Once processing is complete, the fee is not refunded whether the outcome is an approval or a decline. Preparing a complete application upfront is far cheaper than taking a gamble.

Does each family member pay a separate application fee?

It depends on the visa category. Resident visas such as SMC and the Green List visas let you include your partner and dependent children in a single application, charged as one fee. But third-party costs like medicals and translations are charged per person. Check the specific visa page for the exact inclusion rules.

When do I pay the application fee?

Online, by credit card, when you submit the application. For SMC that is when you lodge the full application after your invitation; for AEWV it is when you submit. Your application is not accepted until the fee is paid.

Why does the official site say “From” a certain price?

Because the final amount depends on where you apply from (the fee band) and how you lodge it. The same visa costs slightly different amounts when lodged in New Zealand versus overseas. The figures in our table are the starting prices currently listed on each visa page; your exact amount is calculated by INZ's fee finder at submission.

Do visa fees increase often?

Yes, and the increases can be significant. In the October 2024 adjustment, most visa fees rose by several hundred NZ dollars and a new NZ$100 IVL levy was introduced. Always re-check the official page before you lodge, regardless of what any article — including this one — says.

Guides

New Zealand Visa Fees Overview: SMC, AEWV, PRV and More

Updated: 2026-09-10 · Data verified: 2026-09-10

Visa application fees are the first fixed cost in any migration budget. This guide pulls together the official fees for New Zealand’s main visa categories — every figure taken from the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) visa pages at the time of writing — and covers the extra costs you need to budget for beyond the fee itself.

Visa application fees at a glance

Visa	Application fee (NZ$)	Notes
Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)	6,450	6-point system; lodge an EOI first, pay when invited to apply
Straight to Residence (Green List)	6,450	Green List Tier 1; no EOI, apply directly
Work to Residence (Green List)	6,450	Green List Tier 2; apply after 2 years of work in NZ
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)	1,540	Your employer pays separate accreditation and job check fees — that part is not on you
Permanent Resident Visa (PRV)	315	Apply after 2 years on a resident visa, once you meet the presence requirements
Fee Paying Student Visa	850	Plus IVL (see below)
Visitor Visa	441	Plus IVL (see below)
Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa	1,630	Your partner is a NZ citizen or resident

To estimate these in your own currency, use the NZD currency converter for live exchange rates.

All three resident visas cost NZ$6,450 — price is not the deciding factor

SMC, Straight to Residence and Work to Residence charge exactly the same application fee. Which pathway you take depends on whether your occupation is on the Green List and whether you reach 6 points — not on cost. If you are still weighing the routes, read Work to Residence vs Straight to Residence, or run your situation through the pathway finder.

One helpful detail: resident visas are charged per application, not per person. Your partner and dependent children can usually be included in the same application rather than each paying NZ$6,450. Third-party costs, however, are charged per person — more on that below.

What “From” means, and why your final amount may differ

Every visa page on the INZ site lists its price with a “From”. Two factors determine what you actually pay:

Where you apply from (the fee band): the same visa costs different amounts when lodged inside New Zealand versus overseas
How you lodge it: online and paper applications can be priced differently

The figures in our table are the starting prices currently shown on each visa page. Your exact amount comes from INZ’s fee finder when you submit.

Beyond the application fee: budget for these too

The visa fee is only the visible part of the bill. These additional costs are charged per person and easy to underestimate:

IVL (International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy): NZ$100 per person, collected with the application fee for visitor, student, working holiday and other temporary visas. Resident visas and AEWV are exempt
NZQA International Qualifications Assessment (IQA): NZ$445 for a standard application. If you are claiming SMC points or meeting a Green List qualification threshold with an overseas degree, you will likely need this
Medical certificates and police clearances: charged per person; budget a few hundred NZ dollars equivalent per applicant depending on your country
Certified translations: any document not in English needs one, charged per page or per document
English tests: IELTS or PTE exam fees, which multiply quickly if you need more than one attempt

Add these up and a single applicant can easily spend another NZ$1,000–2,000 equivalent on third-party costs before the visa is even lodged. Do not treat the application fee as the whole budget.

Put the fee into your full moving budget

Visa fees are just one line item — flights, shipping, the rental bond and your first weeks of living costs are the bigger numbers. Use the startup cost calculator to total everything up and see how much cash you should have ready before arrival; the cost of moving to New Zealand guide breaks down the living-cost side.

A final reminder: visa fees have been raised several times, with most categories going up by several hundred NZ dollars in October 2024 alone. The figures here are current as of September 2026 — always re-confirm on the official visa page before you lodge.

Frequently asked questions

If my visa is declined, do I get the application fee back?: Generally no. The application fee pays for INZ to process your application — it is not a deposit on the visa itself. Once processing is complete, the fee is not refunded whether the outcome is an approval or a decline. Preparing a complete application upfront is far cheaper than taking a gamble.
Does each family member pay a separate application fee?: It depends on the visa category. Resident visas such as SMC and the Green List visas let you include your partner and dependent children in a single application, charged as one fee. But third-party costs like medicals and translations are charged per person. Check the specific visa page for the exact inclusion rules.
When do I pay the application fee?: Online, by credit card, when you submit the application. For SMC that is when you lodge the full application after your invitation; for AEWV it is when you submit. Your application is not accepted until the fee is paid.
Why does the official site say “From” a certain price?: Because the final amount depends on where you apply from (the fee band) and how you lodge it. The same visa costs slightly different amounts when lodged in New Zealand versus overseas. The figures in our table are the starting prices currently listed on each visa page; your exact amount is calculated by INZ's fee finder at submission.
Do visa fees increase often?: Yes, and the increases can be significant. In the October 2024 adjustment, most visa fees rose by several hundred NZ dollars and a new NZ$100 IVL levy was introduced. Always re-check the official page before you lodge, regardless of what any article — including this one — says.

Keep going with the tools

Startup Cost Estimator Open tool → Currency Converter Open tool → Pathway Finder Open tool →