Quick summary
New Zealand’s International Visitor Levy is NZD 100 per person on 16 October 2026, unchanged since it rose from NZD 35 on 1 October 2024. It is charged with your NZeTA or visa application, not at the border, so an NZeTA costs NZD 117 through the official app or NZD 123 through the website.
The levy is not refunded if Immigration New Zealand declines your application. Australian citizens and permanent residents, most Pacific Island travelers and several transit and special categories are exempt; everyone else should confirm their own status before paying.
On 1 October 2024, New Zealand raised its International Visitor Levy from NZD 35 to NZD 100. That rate remains in force on 16 October 2026, and Immigration New Zealand has announced no further increase for the rest of the year. For travelers, the cost comes before the flight. The levy is collected with the application, not at the airport.
Most travelers from the United States and Europe pay it with an NZeTA request. A working-holiday applicant pays it on top of a different visa fee, while a transit passenger may not pay it at all.
Paying the levy does not guarantee approval.
What the IVL is and what it costs in 2026
The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy applies to most visitors who need an NZeTA or a visa. The increase was NZD 65, or 185.7%, according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
The levy is written into the Immigration Act 2009. It was inserted on 1 July 2019 and amended on 1 October 2024. That is why the figure has held through 2026: changing it again takes a regulatory amendment, not an administrative decision.
The charge is per traveler, not per booking or family, and funds conservation and tourism infrastructure rather than visa processing. A group of four pays it four times.
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Who pays the IVL — and when
The levy applies to a defined set of applications. Immigration New Zealand lists most visitor visas, the NZeTA, working-holiday visas, student visas, Work Exchange schemes, and Student, Trainee and Specific Purpose Work visas.
Payment is part of the application transaction. You pay the levy with the fee when you request the NZeTA or lodge the visa application.
Length of stay does not change the charge. A short visit and a long one cost the same NZD 100.
Who is exempt from the NZD 100 IVL
Australian citizens and permanent residents are exempt under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement. Australian permanent residents may still need an NZeTA, but the levy does not apply to them.
Most Pacific Island travelers covered by special arrangements are also exempt, as are New Zealand citizens and residence class visa holders. Transit visa and transit NZeTA holders are treated separately from standard visitors.
The list extends beyond those groups. Certain diplomatic, military, medical and humanitarian visa holders are exempt, along with travelers to Antarctica under the Antarctic Treaty, business visitors and APEC Travel Card holders, and dependants of some work and student visa holders.
The passport and visa type on the application settle the question.
What you pay with an NZeTA: NZD 117 or NZD 123
Immigration New Zealand publishes two NZeTA rates: NZD 17 through the official mobile app and NZD 23 through its website. The levy is added to the fee for whichever channel you choose.
The authorisation is valid for two years, or until your passport expires, and covers multiple entries. The channel and timing decisions go together; how the app channel compares and how much lead time to allow covers that trade-off.
| Channel | NZeTA fee | IVL | Total per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official mobile app | NZD 17 | NZD 100 | NZD 117 |
| Immigration New Zealand website | NZD 23 | NZD 100 | NZD 123 |
| Source: Immigration New Zealand fee schedule | |||
Refunds and non-refundable limits
The levy is not refunded when Immigration New Zealand declines an application. The NZD 100 is committed at submission.
NZeTA refunds are generally not provided when a request is refused, is duplicated, or carries incorrect details. Visa application fees follow a similar rule: Immigration New Zealand states it does not refund the fee even when it declines the application, with refunds available only in special circumstances. Its guidance on paying the levy sets out where the charge sits in the application.
Fee waivers exist for some refugees, refugee claimants and protected people, who pay neither a visa application fee nor an immigration levy. For everyone else, a visitor visa starts from NZD 441, and most applicants add the NZD 100 levy, committing NZD 541 before any other cost. Immigration New Zealand’s breakdown of how much visa applications cost and when to pay shows the starting figures by category.
What to settle before the NZeTA request
Immigration New Zealand’s official fee-lookup tool returns the exact total, including whether the NZD 100 applies. Run your passport and visa type through it before paying anything; Australians and most Pacific Island passport holders already know their answer and can skip the check.
- Channel: file through the official mobile app at NZD 17 rather than the website at NZD 23, saving NZD 6 per traveler.
- Passport match: apply with the document you will travel on, because the NZeTA is tied to that passport number.
- Lead time: submit with a 72-hour buffer, since processing can run that long.
- Watch: any change to the levy would appear in Immigration New Zealand’s published fee schedule first.
These decisions determine whether the authorisation is in place when you reach the counter. Settle them in the days before departure.
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Questions? Answers.
What is the new fee for Australian tourists visiting New Zealand?
Nothing on the levy side. Australian citizens and permanent residents are exempt from the NZD 100 IVL under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement. Australian permanent residents may still need an NZeTA, but the levy itself does not apply to them.
How much does it cost to get an NZeTA?
NZD 117 through the official app or NZD 123 through the website for most travelers, both including the NZD 100 levy. Because the NZeTA covers multiple entries over two years, a second trip inside that window normally does not trigger another levy.
How much does a visitor visa for New Zealand cost?
Fees start from NZD 441, and most applicants who are not exempt add the NZD 100 levy, giving NZD 541 before any other cost. The exact amount depends on your nationality and visa sub-category, and some applicants qualify for fee exemptions.
Is the IVL refundable if my visa is declined?
No. The levy is not returned when Immigration New Zealand declines an application. Refunds of visa application fees are available only in special circumstances, and the levy is not among them.
Why is the NZ IVL so expensive?
It is a funding mechanism rather than a processing fee. The conservation investment plan directs $55 million a year from the levy to conservation and visitor projects, and 2026/27 biodiversity work alone receives $31.96 million, or 58.1% of the plan.
Do US citizens need a tourist visa for New Zealand?
No. US passport holders travel under visa waiver and need an NZeTA instead, valid for two years and multiple trips. The NZD 100 levy is added to that request, so the total is NZD 117 through the app or NZD 123 through the website.
