New Zealand Urges Students to Apply for Visas Before October

New Zealand has issued a recommendation to student visa applicants, urging them to apply before October 2024 to avoid delays. This advisory comes as the country prepares to implement significant changes in visa fees starting from October 1, 2024. The student visa fee will see a steep increase, from NZD 375 to NZD 750, along with fee hikes for other visa categories such as visitor visas and post-study work visas.

The government has justified the fee increases as a necessary step to recover the costs of processing visas and to create a more sustainable immigration system. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford highlighted that the current system is heavily subsidized by taxpayers, and the new changes will shift the financial burden onto those who benefit from it.

However, the fee hikes have faced criticism from political opponents like the Green Party, who argue that these increases will place an unfair financial burden on foreign students and workers. They fear that migrants could become more vulnerable to exploitation due to the higher costs.

Students and other visa applicants are encouraged to submit their applications early to avoid any delays and additional financial strain once the new fees are in place​.