New Zealand to raise Visa Application Centre fee in India and 25 other countries from January 2026

New Zealand will increase service fees charged by some Visa Application Centres (VACs) from January 1, 2026, due to rising operational costs and inflation. The change applies to visa applicants in several countries, including India and 25 other countries, according to an announcement by Immigration New Zealand.

The revised fee will apply only to the service fee charged by VACs and is separate from the visa application fee paid to Immigration New Zealand. Authorities said the increase is necessary to keep services running amid higher costs following recent system upgrades.

The immigration department has advised applicants to check the correct fee before submitting their applications. Applicants can use the official online fee-checking tool or visit the relevant VAC website, including VFS Global, to confirm updated charges.


Countries and territories where the service fee is increasing include India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and several others across Asia, the Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East.

Countries where New Zealand VAC fees rise from January 2026

Rank	Country / Territory
1	Australia
2	Bangladesh
3	Fiji
4	Hong Kong
5	India
6	Indonesia
7	Iran
8	Japan
9	Nepal & Bhutan
10	Pakistan
11	Papua New Guinea
12	Philippines
13	Samoa
14	Singapore
15	Solomon Islands
16	South Africa
17	South Korea
18	Sri Lanka
19	Taiwan
20	Thailand
21	Turkey
22	United Arab Emirates
23	United Kingdom
24	United States
25	Vanuatu
26	Vietnam

The announcement comes amid a separate notice warning of technical issues affecting online applications. Immigration New Zealand said some applicants may face difficulties viewing letters and documents due to a recent system upgrade and added, “We apologise for any disruption caused by the recent system upgrade.”

Applicants planning to apply for New Zealand visas in the coming weeks have been advised to factor in the revised service fee and check official channels for updates before submitting their applications.