Visa application fee for New Zealand education set to double

The Immigration New Zealand announced this increase on its official website on Friday, stating that the post-study work visa fee will also increase more than twofold, from NZD700 to NZD1,670. The fee hikes aim to cover costs associated with the application evaluation process, it said.

“It is appropriate that those using and benefiting from the immigration system cover the costs of running it,” the announcement stated.

New Zealand’s Minister of Immigration, Erica Stanford, noted on a government website that the country is striving for a more sustainable immigration system by adjusting the fees for international visas, adding that despite the increase, these fees remain competitive compared to those in other countries, such as Australia and the U.K.

New Zealand is home to eight public universities, all ranked within the global top 500 according to the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) 2025 university ranking. The average tuition fee for international students ranges from NZD20,000 to 25,000, while annual living costs are between NZD13,000 and 16,000, as reported by IDP.

Last year, over 69,000 international students studied in New Zealand, marking a 67% increase from the previous year, according to Education New Zealand. Among them were approximately 1,730 Vietnamese students, reflecting a growth of around 10%.