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Green List residence cost: one fee and levy for the whole family

The Green List Straight to Residence visa costs $6,450 from outside NZ, or $6,450 for someone applying in NZ. That is an INZ fee of $2,880 plus an immigration levy of $3,570. A listed Pacific passport applying from outside NZ brings the total to $5,430. The second route, Residence from Work for people who have done 24 months in a Tier 2 job, costs $6,490 and is made in NZ only.

Fees as at 7 November 2026, checked against INZ.

What INZ charges, by where you apply from

Green List Straight to Residence: INZ fees for one adult
Where you apply fromApplication feeImmigration levyVisitor levy (IVL)INZ total
I'm in NZ $2,880$3,570$0$6,450
Overseas, Pacific passport $1,860$3,570$0$5,430
Overseas, other passport $2,880$3,570$0$6,450

Source: Immigration New Zealand. Checked 7 November 2026. Fees aren't refunded if an application is declined.

INZ's Straight to Residence page says the applicant must be 55 or younger, hold or be offered a Green List Tier 1 job with an accredited employer, and meet the wage for that job. The job must be permanent, fixed-term for at least 12 months, or contracts totalling at least 6 months. INZ's Work to Residence page covers the Tier 2 route, which needs 24 months of qualifying work within the 30 months before applying.

Work out your own total

Partners and dependent children aged 24 or younger can be included, and the calculator treats them as part of one application.

Your INZ fee in 3 steps

Step 1

Step 2 Where are you right now?
Step 3 Who's included?

Add the extras (optional)

Not paid to INZ, but most people need some of these. Tick what applies to you. These are estimates, each with its source.

INZ fee

$6,450

+ extras (estimate)

$0

Tick any extras above to add them.

Real total (estimate)

$6,450

Compare two visas

Green List Straight to Residence vs
Green List Straight to Residence $6,450
Visitor visa $441

Green List Straight to Residence costs $6,009 more.

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Full cost guides

Each guide has worked examples, when you pay what, and legal ways to pay less.

Visitor visa INZ fee from $161Parent Boost visitor visa INZ fee from $2,450Working holiday visa INZ fee from $770NZeTA for a traveller, via INZ website INZ fee from $23Student visa INZ fee from $535Post-study work visa INZ fee from $1,620Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) INZ fee from $1,540Specific purpose work visa (Fees Guide: Work visa - other) INZ fee from $1,310Limited visa, employer (includes the Recognised Seasonal Employer worker visa) INZ fee from $285Partnership work visa INZ fee from $1,630Family Category resident visa (partner and family) INZ fee from $4,810Dependent Child resident visa INZ fee from $2,760Parent Category resident visa INZ fee from $4,810Skilled Residence INZ fee from $5,430Green List Straight to Residence INZ fee from $5,430Active Investor Plus Category INZ fee from $21,590Permanent resident visa INZ fee from $260Second or subsequent resident visa INZ fee from $250Variation of conditions on a temporary visa INZ fee from $240Variation of travel conditions on a resident visa INZ fee from $260Transfer of a visa label to a new passport INZ fee from $170Confirmation of immigration status INZ fee from $170Temporary visa granted under section 61 INZ fee from $640Resident visa granted under section 61 INZ fee from $1,510
Every INZ fee, levy and IVL in one table
Visa or requestIn NZ (band A)Pacific passport, overseas (band B)Other passport, overseas (band C)Immigration levyVisitor levy (IVL)
Visit
Visitor visa $300$120$300 $41 $100 per person
Visitor visa for a partner or dependent child of a New Zealander $300$120$300 $41 No
Parent Boost visitor visa $1,940$1,390$1,940 $1,060 $100 per person
Temporary Retirement Category visitor visa $7,750$4,720$7,750 $41 $100 per person
Group visitor visa (per person) per person $86$63$86 $85 per person $100 per person
Group visitor visa, Approved Destination Status (China), per person per person $55 $85 per person $100 per person
Working holiday visa per person $215$215 $455 $100 per person
Working holidaymaker extension per person $245$245 $455 No
NZeTA for a traveller, via INZ website per person $23$23$23 $0 $100 per person
NZeTA for a traveller, via mobile app per person $17$17$17 $0 $100 per person
Transit NZeTA, via INZ website per person $23$23$23 $0 No
Transit NZeTA, via mobile app per person $17$17$17 $0 No
Crew NZeTA per person $17$17$17 $0 No
Transit visa $235$195$235 $0 No
Study
Student visa per person $485$270$485 $265 $100 per person
Limited visa, student $485$270$485 $265 $100 per person
Post-study work visa $320$270$320 $1,350 No
Work
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) $480$480$480 $1,060 No
Specific purpose work visa (Fees Guide: Work visa - other) $295$250$295 $1,060 $100 per person
Limited visa, employer (includes the Recognised Seasonal Employer worker visa) $325$285$325 $0 No
Limited visa, other $325$195$325 $80 $100 per person
Work to Residence visa per person $570$570$570 $1,060 No
Business Investor work visa per person $11,320$5,190$11,320 $1,060 No
Entrepreneur work visa per person $11,320$5,190$11,320 $1,060 No
Approval in principle to recruit foreign crew of fishing vessels $6,610 $0 No
Request for supplementary seasonal employment approval in principle $335 $0 No
Recognised Seasonal Employer status $1,040 $0 No
Agreement to recruit under Recognised Seasonal Employer instructions $280 $0 No
Entertainment Industry accreditation, first year's registration $2,310 $0 No
Entertainment Industry accreditation, second and later years' registration $650 $0 No
Employer accreditation, standard $775 $0 No
Employer accreditation, upgrade from standard to high volume $505 $0 No
Employer accreditation, high volume $1,280 $0 No
Employer accreditation, triangular employment $4,060 $0 No
Reconsideration of employer accreditation application $250 $0 No
Job Check $735 $0 No
Reconsideration of Job Check $250 $0 No
Partner & family
Partnership work visa $570$570$570 $1,060 No
Family Category resident visa (partner and family) $1,940$1,390$1,940 $3,420 No
Dependent Child resident visa per person $1,830$1,360$1,830 $1,400 No
Parent Category resident visa $1,940$1,390$1,940 $3,420 No
Parent Retirement Category resident visa $9,430$5,140$9,430 $3,420 No
Expression of Interest, Parent Category (online) $450$435$450 $0 No
Expression of Interest, Parent Category (hard copy) $575$555$575 $0 No
Residence
Skilled Residence $2,880$1,860$2,880 $3,570 No
Green List Straight to Residence $2,880$1,860$2,880 $3,570 No
Residence from Work (includes Green List work to residence) $2,920 $3,570 No
Business Investor Category resident visa $11,320$5,610$11,320 $3,570 No
Entrepreneur Residence Category $11,320$5,610$11,320 $3,570 No
Active Investor Plus Category $12,070$6,190$12,070 $15,400 No
Employees of Relocating Business Category $1,940$1,390$1,940 $3,570 No
Pitcairn Islanders resident visa $1,940$1,390$1,940 $0 No
Samoan Quota Scheme $820$800 $0 No
Pacific Access Category $1,300$1,280 $0 No
Pacific Access Category registration, first year $89$86$89 $0 No
Pacific Access Category registration, second and later years $89$49$89 $0 No
Permanent resident visa $315$260$315 $0 No
Second or subsequent resident visa $275$250$275 $0 No
Changes & requests
Variation of conditions on a temporary visa $325$240$325 $0 No
Variation of travel conditions on a resident visa $320$260$320 $0 No
Transfer of a visa label to a new passport $225$170$225 $0 No
Confirmation of immigration status $225$170$225 $0 No
First endorsement indicating New Zealand citizenship $225$185$225 $0 No
Second or later endorsement indicating New Zealand citizenship $225$140$225 $0 No
Reconsideration of a decision to decline a temporary visa $220 $0 No
Special direction $260$255$260 $0 No
Call-out fee for processing outside normal working hours $375$365$375 $0 No
Temporary visa granted under section 61 $640 $0 No
Resident visa granted under section 61 $1,510 $0 No

Three examples

  1. Someone with an offer for a role on the Tier 1 list, already in Tauranga on a work visa: $6,450 plus checks. INZ says to apply for a temporary visa if the current one might expire while the application is decided. The AEWV cost guide covers that stage.
  2. A couple with two children applying from India. See the family total with extras. Medicals, X-rays and English evidence grow with the number of people.
  3. Someone who has finished 24 months in a Tier 2 job, applying in NZ: $6,490. Band B and C are not available for this route.

When you pay each part

INZ says fees are paid online as part of submitting the application, after the documents are uploaded. Medical and X-ray evidence must be less than 3 months old when INZ receives it, and police certificates less than 6 months old when the application is submitted. An English test result must be no more than 2 years old. A person applying from outside NZ must arrive within 12 months of the visa being issued. Travel conditions end 2 years after first arriving as a resident, and a permanent resident visa has its own fee after that.

Legal ways to pay less

  • Straight to Residence is applied for directly. INZ notes that other resident visas need a temporary visa first, so the Tier 1 route skips a work visa fee.
  • Partners and children aged 24 or younger go on the one application rather than applying alone.
  • The Pacific band is lower than the standard overseas band, as the table shows.

Mistakes that cost money

  • Applying at 56 or older. INZ lists 55 or younger when applying as a requirement.
  • A role outside the Tier 1 list or below the wage for it. INZ says newly graduated teachers are not the target of the Tier 1 teacher route.
  • Medical evidence or police certificates that age past INZ's limits before submission, which means paying for them twice.
  • Overlooking English for a partner or child aged 16 or older, who INZ says must show English ability or pay for English classes in NZ.
  • A declined application. The Fees Guide says INZ will not refund the fee and levies.

Extras for this visa

INZ's health requirements have anyone included who is 11 or older needing a chest X-ray and medical examination. INZ's Straight to Residence page asks for police certificates from anyone aged 17 or older, for countries of citizenship and countries lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years. Estimates:

  • Medical examination: $200–$290.
  • Chest X-ray: $130–$205 per adult.
  • Police certificates: $44–$72 each.
  • English test: $410–$505.
  • Certified translations: $62–$95 per document.
  • Passport photos: $25–$35.

Quick answers

How much does Green List residence cost?

$6,450 from outside NZ and $6,450 in NZ, as an INZ fee plus an immigration levy. Source: INZ Fees Guide.

Does a partner or child pay a separate fee?

INZ says a partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger can be included in the application, and the Fees Guide describes one application fee and one levy for everyone included. Source: INZ Straight to Residence page and Fees Guide.

What is the difference between Straight to Residence and Work to Residence?

Straight to Residence is for a Green List Tier 1 job. Work to Residence needs 24 months in a Tier 2 job. Source: INZ Work to Residence page.

Is the fee refunded if the application is declined?

No. The Fees Guide says that if INZ declines an application, it will not refund the fee and levies. Source: INZ Fees Guide.

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