By Webfit News
Auckland | December 2025
People planning to apply for a New Zealand visa from overseas will soon face higher service charges, with Immigration New Zealand confirming that Visa Application Centre (VAC) service fees will increase from January 1, 2026.
The change applies to applicants in India and 25 other countries, covering large parts of Asia, the Pacific, Europe, and North America. Immigration officials say the increase is necessary due to rising operational costs and recent system upgrades.
What is changing and what is not
It is important to understand that this increase does not affect the visa application fee itself.
Instead, the revised charges apply only to the service fee charged by Visa Application Centres, such as VFS Global, which handle administrative tasks like document collection, biometric services, and application processing support.
Applicants will still pay the visa fee directly to Immigration New Zealand, separate from the VAC service fee.
Why are the fees going up
Immigration New Zealand says the fee increase reflects higher operating expenses, inflation, and costs linked to recent system upgrades. Officials noted that maintaining service quality across international locations requires regular investment in staff, technology, and security systems.
Authorities also confirmed that some applicants may currently experience technical issues when accessing online documents or viewing correspondence, following system upgrades. Immigration New Zealand has apologised for any disruption and advised applicants to stay informed through official channels.
Countries affected by the fee increase
The revised VAC service fees will apply to applicants in 26 countries and territories, including:
- India
- Australia
- Bangladesh
- Nepal and Bhutan
- Sri Lanka
- Pakistan
- Japan
- South Korea
- Singapore
- United States
- United Kingdom
- United Arab Emirates
- Vietnam
- Thailand
- Indonesia
- Philippines
- South Africa
- Fiji
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Vanuatu
- Hong Kong
- Taiwan
- Turkey
The full list is available through official Visa Application Centre websites.
What applicants should do now?
Immigration New Zealand is urging people planning to apply for visas in the coming months to:
- Check updated VAC service fees before submitting applications
- Use the official online fee-checking tools provided by Immigration New Zealand
- Visit authorised VAC websites, such as VFS Global, for country-specific charges
- Factor in the revised service fee when budgeting for visa applications
Applicants submitting applications close to January 2026 should be especially careful, as fees will depend on the date the application is lodged.
What this means for New Zealand
While the change affects overseas applicants, it also reflects the growing demand for New Zealand visas and the cost of maintaining global visa processing systems.
For New Zealand, efficient visa processing remains critical for tourism, international education, skilled migration, and business travel. Immigration officials say the updated service fees are designed to ensure VACs can continue operating smoothly and securely across multiple regions.
The bottom line
From January 1, 2026, applying for a New Zealand visa from India and 25 other countries will become slightly more expensive due to higher Visa Application Centre service fees.
The visa fee itself remains unchanged, but applicants are advised to double-check all costs before submitting applications to avoid surprises.
As always, Immigration New Zealand recommends relying only on official channels for accurate and up-to-date information.
