Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced a hike in Visa Application Centre (VAC) service fees for applicants in 26 countries, including Pakistan, starting from January 1, 2026.

This adjustment, driven by inflation and rising operational costs, will only affect service charges rather than the core visa application fee.

According to INZ, the increase will apply only to VAC service charges, which cover services such as document submission, biometric collection, and customer support. The main New Zealand visa application fee, paid directly to Immigration New Zealand, will remain unchanged.

What Is Changing and Why?

Immigration New Zealand said the revision is necessary to maintain efficient VAC operations, particularly after recent system upgrades and service improvements. VACs are run by third-party service providers and operate separately from INZ’s core visa processing system.

Applicants have been advised to check the revised VAC service fee for their country before submitting applications to avoid unexpected costs.

Countries Affected by the VAC Fee Increase

The updated New Zealand VAC service fees will apply across Asia, the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Countries affected include Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Iran, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vietnam, Fiji, Hong Kong, Vanuatu, and several others.

Advisory for New Zealand Visa Applicants

INZ also acknowledged temporary technical issues affecting access to some online documents, adding that teams are working to resolve the problems promptly.

Travelers planning to apply for a New Zealand visa from Pakistan or other affected countries are advised to:

• Review updated VAC service fees on the INZ or VFS Global websites
• Allow extra processing time
• Plan applications well in advance to avoid delays

Officials said staying informed about the revised VAC charges will help ensure a smooth and hassle-free visa application process.

What Applicants Should Know

The fee hike does not reflect a change in immigration policy or visa eligibility. Instead, it is an administrative adjustment linked to service delivery costs. INZ reiterated that transparency remains a priority and urged applicants to rely only on official sources for fee updates.