Immigration applications involve significant fees that can create barriers for some applicants. While fee payment is generally required, Immigration New Zealand has provisions for fee waivers in specific circumstances. Understanding these provisions and how to apply can make immigration processes accessible where financial barriers would otherwise prevent applications.
This guide explains who may be eligible for fee waivers, how to apply, and what to expect from the process.
Understanding Fee Waiver Provisions
Why Fee Waivers Exist
Immigration fee waivers recognize that:
Financial Barriers: Application fees can prevent legitimate applications where applicants lack resources.
Humanitarian Considerations: Some circumstances warrant removing financial barriers regardless of ability to pay.
Family Integrity: Keeping families together may outweigh fee collection.
System Efficiency: Some waivers simplify processes where fees would create administrative burden disproportionate to their value.
General Principles
Fee waivers are:
Discretionary: Immigration NZ decides whether to grant waivers. Meeting criteria doesn't guarantee approval.
Evidence-Based: Applications must be supported by evidence demonstrating entitlement.
Limited Application: Waivers apply to specific situations, not general inability to pay.
Not Automatic: You must request waivers—they're not applied automatically even where circumstances might qualify.
Financial Hardship Waivers
What Qualifies as Financial Hardship
Financial hardship waivers consider whether:
Genuine Inability: The applicant genuinely cannot afford fees, not merely finds them inconvenient.
Circumstances Beyond Control: Financial difficulties result from circumstances like job loss, medical issues, or relationship breakdown rather than choices.
Proportionality: The fee amount is significant relative to available resources.
Application Necessity: The immigration application is necessary rather than optional.
Required Evidence
Financial hardship applications typically require:
Income Evidence: Recent payslips, benefit statements, bank statements showing income.
Expense Documentation: Rent/mortgage payments, essential expenses, debt obligations.
Savings Status: Bank statements showing available savings and assets.
Explanation: Statement explaining circumstances creating hardship.
Changed Circumstances: If previously able to pay, explanation of what changed.
How to Apply
To request a financial hardship waiver:
Include with Application: Submit the waiver request with your immigration application.
Separate Request: Use INZ's fee waiver request form or a clearly marked letter requesting waiver.
Complete Evidence: Provide all supporting documentation—incomplete requests are likely to be declined.
Specific Request: Clearly state you are requesting a fee waiver on financial hardship grounds.
Decision Process
Immigration NZ will:
Assess Evidence: Review financial documentation against waiver criteria.
Consider Alternatives: Consider whether reduced fees, instalment payments, or partial waivers might be appropriate.
Decide Promptly: Fee waiver decisions are typically made before substantive application processing.
Communicate Decision: You'll be advised whether the waiver is granted, partially granted, or declined.
Refugee and Protection Waivers
Refugee Family Support
Fee waivers may apply for:
Refugee Family Sponsorship: Applications to bring family members of recognized refugees to New Zealand.
Protection Visa Applications: Initial protection (refugee status) applications.
Subsequent Residence: Some applications by recognized refugees for resident status.
Evidence Requirements
Refugee-related waivers typically require:
Refugee Status Evidence: Documentation confirming recognized refugee status.
Relationship Evidence: Proof of relationship to sponsored family members.
Fee Waiver Request: Specific request for refugee-category fee waiver.
Other Waiver Categories
Humanitarian Circumstances
Beyond standard hardship, waivers may be considered where:
Exceptional Circumstances: Unusual circumstances make fee payment unreasonable.
Compelling Humanitarian Need: Strong humanitarian reasons for immigration, combined with inability to pay.
Natural Disaster Impact: Applicants affected by natural disasters in their home countries.
Specific Visa Categories
Some visa categories have built-in fee provisions:
Victim of People Trafficking: Applications related to trafficking situations.
Domestic Violence Victims: Some applications related to escaping domestic violence.
Stateless Persons: Applications involving stateless individuals.
Administrative Waivers
Fees may be waived where:
Immigration NZ Error: Errors by Immigration NZ caused the need to reapply.
Duplicate Applications: Where duplicate applications resulted from system issues.
Policy Changes: Where policy changes mid-application created need for additional applications.
Partial Waivers and Reductions
When Partial Relief Applies
Instead of full waivers, Immigration NZ might:
Reduce Fees: Apply a percentage reduction to fees.
Waive Some Components: Waive certain fees while requiring others (e.g., waive application fee but require Immigration Levy).
Allow Instalment Payments: Permit payment over time rather than upfront.
Requesting Partial Relief
If you can pay something but not full fees:
State Capacity: Indicate what portion you could pay.
Request Options: Ask whether reduced fees or instalment arrangements are available.
Propose Arrangements: Suggest reasonable payment terms you could meet.
Appealing Waiver Decisions
If Your Waiver Request is Declined
When waivers are declined:
Review Decision: Understand why the waiver was declined.
Additional Evidence: Consider whether additional evidence might address concerns.
Reconsideration: Request reconsideration with new information if available.
Alternative Options: Explore whether community organizations might assist with fees.
When Appeals Succeed
Reconsiderations are more likely to succeed when:
New Information: Significant new evidence is provided.
Changed Circumstances: Financial circumstances have worsened since original request.
Clearer Documentation: Better-organized evidence addresses original concerns.
Error Correction: Original decision was based on misunderstanding of circumstances.
Alternative Sources of Fee Assistance
Community Organizations
Some organizations help with immigration fees:
Refugee Support Services: Organizations supporting refugees may assist with fees.
Community Law Centres: May provide information about fee assistance options.
Ethnic Community Organizations: Some cultural community groups assist members with immigration costs.
Churches and Faith Groups: Some religious organizations support members' immigration costs.
Government Assistance
In limited cases:
Work and Income: WINZ may consider special needs grants covering immigration fees in specific circumstances, though this is rare.
Community Services Card: Some fee reductions apply to Community Services Card holders.
Payment Planning
If waivers aren't available:
Delay and Save: Postpone application while saving required fees (consider visa timing implications).
Family Contribution: Family members may assist with fees.
Prioritize Essential Fees: If multiple fees apply, identify which are most essential.
Impact on Application Processing
Pending Waiver Decisions
While waiver decisions are pending:
Application Holds: Substantive processing typically waits for fee resolution.
Timeframe Impact: Waiver requests may extend overall processing time.
Communication: Immigration NZ may request additional fee waiver evidence.
After Waiver Decisions
Once fees are resolved:
Processing Continues: Standard processing proceeds once fee status is determined.
Remaining Fees: Any fees not waived must be paid before processing continues.
Same Processing: Applications with waivers are processed the same as paid applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are fee waivers commonly granted?
Fee waivers are granted in genuinely qualifying circumstances but are not routine. Well-documented applications with clear circumstances are more successful.
Will requesting a waiver affect my application outcome?
No—waiver requests are assessed separately from immigration applications. Requesting a waiver doesn't prejudice your visa assessment.
Can I apply for a waiver after paying fees?
Generally no—fee waivers must be requested before or at the time of application. Refunds for already-paid fees are rarely granted.
What if I'm declined for waiver and can't pay?
If you cannot pay and the waiver is declined, you may need to withdraw the application, seek community assistance, or save to pay fees later (considering visa timing).
Do fee waivers apply to all immigration fees?
Waivers typically apply to application fees. Immigration levies, health assessment costs, and other third-party fees usually aren't waivable.
How long do waiver decisions take?
Waiver decisions are usually made relatively quickly—days to weeks—to allow processing to proceed.
Need help understanding fee waiver options? Find a licensed immigration adviser who can assess your circumstances and help prepare well-documented waiver applications if appropriate.