NEW Zealand will temporarily reduce visitor visa fees for eligible Pacific nationals in a move aimed at boosting travel and strengthening regional ties.
The reduced fee will take effect on June 1 and run for 12 months.
“This is a practical update to visitor visa settings that reduces cost, supports easier travel and helps strengthen the relationships that matter most,” said New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Peters.
Under the new policy, eligible Pacific applicants will pay a total of $NZD161 for a visitor visa. This fee previously stood at $NZD216.
This reduction applies only to applications made outside of New Zealand.
Pacific nationals already benefit from lower visa fees compared to visitors from other countries, who pay $NZD411 for a visitor visa.
Additionally, Pacific visitors are exempt from the International Visitor and Conservation Levy.
However, the fee reduction will not apply to Parent Boost Visitor Visas or Group Visitor Visas.
“This initiative reflects New Zealand’s commitment to supporting our Pacific neighbours. It will make travel more accessible while ensuring immigration settings remain financially sustainable,” Peters added.
The government will use the 12-month trial period to assess the impact on travel patterns, demand, costs, and immigration operations, helping to inform future policy decisions.
Eligible Pacific nations include American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
The temporary fee reduction is expected to encourage more Pacific nationals to visit New Zealand, further strengthening the bond between New Zealand and its Pacific neighbours.