The Immigration New Zealand, under residence instructions, requires all successful principal applicants, their partners and dependent members/children outside of an immigration control area to pay a migrant levy. However, applicants can be exempted from paying the migrant levy under following circumstances:

• If a visa is granted to an individual who has already paid the migrant levy
• If a visa is granted to a refugee/protected person or an individual who has connection with a refugee/protected person; OR
• If a visa is granted under the Samoan Quota Scheme/Special Samoan Quota Places Category; or to citizens of Samoa under Family Category; OR
• If a visa is granted under the special instructions for Victims of Domestic Violence;
• If a visa is granted under the Skilled Migrant Category, given the visa holders have already paid the migrant levy as a consequence of a decision made under the work to residence instructions.

NOTE: New Zealand imposes a migrant levy of 310 NZ Dollars on everyone, with minimum age limit of 5 years who have been granted a visa or entry permission under all residence categories. The only exceptions are the ones who have been granted a visa under the Pacific Access Category. For applicants approved under the Pacific Access Category, as well as for children, aged below 5 years in all categories, the migrant levy imposed is 155 NZ Dollars.

The migrant levy imposed on individuals is determined at the date the levy is deposited. The amount must be deposited much before the grant of the relevant visa.

Refunds of migrant levy

• A written request for a refund of the migrant levy may be granted if the amount payable has been deposited, but the principal applicant and his/her partner and dependent children included in the application do not land in the Kiwi country within the validity of their first entry travel conditions.
• A refund request made 6 months after the expiry date of the first entry travel condition is declined. The same ids the case with a request made more than 6 months after the advice from the Immigration New Zealand stating that an individual is eligible to be granted a visa as a consequence of a decision made under the Work to Residence (Skilled Worker Category) instructions.
• To be eligible to grant a refund of the migrant levy, the immigration officers must be convinced of the facts that –
  (a) The principal applicant, and his/her partner and dependent children included in the application have not taken up NZ residence; AND

  (b) The applicants’ resident visas are no longer current.

If you are interested in applying for a residence permit to New Zealand, mail following information ASAP at ajay@abhinav.com for a free of charge assessment by Ajay Sharma, principal consultant, ABHINAV.

• Your updated resume if skilled professional, or if businessmen, then brief on business profile along with information on your current personal net worth.
• If married, provide the resume for your spouse as well.
• If applicable, please provide information on children and their age.
• Information on any blood relatives residing in New Zealand. This is not a compulsory requirement to qualify for immigration to New Zealand, but serves as additional positive assessment and suitability factor.