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Increase in visa fees and levies from October 1, 2024.
With effect from October 1, 2024, the government has also announced a notable rise in levies and fees associated with obtaining a visa. The government wants to reconcile fees with the real expenses of processing visa applications, which will affect nearly all visa categories.
Notwithstanding the increase in prices, New Zealand is still dedicated to helping its neighbors and shall keep charging reduced fees to those applicants from the specified countries.
The reports state that the cost of one student visa would increase for applicants from B and C regions from NZD 300 to NZD 485. Students from outside the Pacific and a few other particular places will be able to use this. New Zealand will keep waiving the cost of student visas for its neighbors in the countries across the Pacific. Conversely, the cost of the post-study work visa will be reduced to NZD 320 from NZD 490.
It should be mentioned that the immigration levy connected to these visas would rise significantly as a result of the adjustments made to the visa charge. The fee for student visas will increase to NZD 265 from NZD 95. While the fee for a post-study visa will increase to NZD 1350 from NZD 210.
The goal of this visa is to ensure that people who are local to New Zealand have a preference for jobs. Additionally, it permits affirms to hire qualified immigrants in areas with actual labor shortages. In addition to fee adjustments, the government has issued modifications for the AEWV programs. Below are some of the important adjustments:
- For the majority of AEWV posts, minimum skill, and work experience are required.
- Establishing an English language proficiency criterion for immigrants seeking entry-level positions.
- Dropping from five to three years, the maximum continuous stay for the majority of level 4 and level 5 positions in the ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations).
Although the new immigration regulations may have long-term advantages, students who want to study abroad are now facing immediate difficulties as a result of them. For students who intend to study abroad in these nations, the short-term impact is especially evident given recent changes to immigration laws. Although it makes sense that the adjustments are being made with the long-term goal of helping students in the end, there are a number of immediate difficulties.
