UGLOBAL . COM 69
HOW WILL NEW ZEALAND ’ S FEE INCREASE IMPACT ITS ACTIVE INVESTOR PLUS VISA ?
BY JAMES HALL
What are the criteria for the Active Investor Plus Visa and how will New Zealand ’ s increased fee structure impact its investment immigration ?
New Zealand recently increased visa fees to make its immigration system more financially sustainable . The goal is for users to cover more costs instead of relying on taxpayer funding .
Rising expenses , driven by higher visa demand , increased staffing needs , and essential technology upgrades , have pressured the system ’ s budget . To address this , the government restructured fees so that applicants and employers pay a fair share , while Crown funding now primarily supports services with broad public benefits , such as refugee assistance .
Using a “ cost-to-serve ” model , fees are based on the actual expenses of processing each visa type , including staffing , Information Technology ( IT ), and operational costs . The government applied a conservative forecast , assuming 90 % of expected visa volumes to account for any dips in application rates . This new model divides costs more accurately between applicants and the government , aligning with the principle that those benefiting from the immigration system should bear more costs .
These adjustments will help New Zealand ’ s immigration system manage its budget better . The long-term goal is to stabilize visa funding accounts by 2028 . The government expects the revised fees to support better visa processing times and improved compliance measures .
This change represents a shift toward user-funded immigration services , designed to strengthen the system while supporting New Zealand ’ s economic goals . Although the fee increases make
the system more self-sustaining , New Zealand believes these immigration costs remain competitive internationally .