What You Need to Know About the New Zealand International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) Changes

On September 3rd, the New Zealand Government announced changes to the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) that will commence starting October 1st 2024. The changes see the levy increasing from $35 to $100 NZD, which will impact some international visitors arriving into New Zealand. You might be asking yourself, what is the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy? Do I need an IVL? How do I apply for one? Or most importantly, what does the IVL contribute to, and how does it help the New Zealand locals? We'll dive into the recent changes to the IVL and (hopefully) answer all the questions you might have. If you still have questions, chat with our local travel experts today to see how we can help!

What is the IVL?

First things first, what is the IVL? If you haven't visited New Zealand yet, the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy is essentially a "visitor tax" aimed at providing support for local infrastructure, businesses, and conservation activities throughout New Zealand. The levy was introduced in 2019 as a way of ensuring international visitors were contributing directly to the costs of maintaining and safeguarding New Zealand, as a vast majority of the load was being paid for by local New Zealand taxpayers. The levy ensures that New Zealand remains a beautiful destination for international visitors to visit, and helps fund the conservation efforts that maintain popular tourism hotspots such as Milford Sound, Mt Cook Aoraki National Park, and Queenstown and its surrounds. 

Why the Levy Increase is a Good Thing

Since the levy's inception, the funds raised go towards maintaining New Zealand as a beautiful destination to visit. New Zealand is full of some of the most jaw-dropping natural environments in the world, and in order to keep the country beautiful, New Zealand's Department of Conservation works tirelessly to protect and nurture our environment. With tourism being one of the largest sectors in New Zealand, the levy was introduced to help reduce the environmental impact brought upon by international tourists. Whenever you see your local national park rangers out and about setting up fences, traps, fixing footpaths and roads, that's the kind of work that this levy helps fund. In a post-pandemic world, tourism is exploding in New Zealand, with international visitors reaching pre-covid levels in 2023. This means that there are more tourists, which requires more work to ensure our gorgeous landscapes remain so. 

Image above: A path in Mt Cook/Aoraki National Park maintained by the Department of Conservation.

The levy also helps locals and businesses deal with the increased impact on local infrastructure and maintenance costs for roads, public transport, parking and business establishments. What this means is that the levy helps make your visit to New Zealand less disruptive, higher quality, and easier to get around. 

What Does the IVL Contribute to?

As mentioned above, the IVL contributes to a great deal of New Zealand's infrastructure and conservation efforts across the country. It's a necessary investment into the country so that we can remain a popular tourist destination for years to come! With so many beautiful mountains, glaciers, hikes, and beaches - the levy aims to support the conservation efforts for these natural locations and ensure that when you visit us again in the future, we look just as spectacular as the day you left!

Do I Need to Pay an IVL? 

The most common question we get when talking to potential New Zealand travellers is "do I need to pay an IVL?". The New Zealand government has a guide here. However, if you're more of a visual learner, we've got you covered below!

Please note, there are still some niche cases where you may need to pay the IVL upon entering New Zealand, even if you meet the criteria below. We recommend doing your own research for your specific situation and circumstances.

How Do I Apply for an IVL?

If you're planning on visiting New Zealand in the future, you can apply for the IVL through the New Zealand Immigration site here: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas. If you need to pay the IVL, you pay it when you:

• Request an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority), or
• Apply for your visa.

If you need assistance with applying for the IVL, or still have questions about what you may need to enter New Zealand from your country of origin, our New Zealand Travel Experts are always happy to help! Chat with our team and we can assist you from planning your itinerary, to ensuring you have all the right information. We'll also be with you every step of your journey in New Zealand. 

How to get an IVL Cheaper

The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) will be raised from $35 to $100 NZD starting October 1st 2024, and as stated earlier, your IVL is valid for up to 2 years. What this means is that if you're planning on travelling to New Zealand in the next 2 years, it's worth securing your IVL now before the price increases on October 1st 2024. Even if you're still on the fence about travelling to New Zealand, 'future you' might be glad you secured your IVL now while it's cheaper!

Overall, in order for New Zealand to remain a beautiful, world-class travel destination, the IVL is a necessary expense to safeguard our beautiful country. If you're planning on visiting New Zealand in the coming years, make sure to grab yours now to avoid the higher fee in the coming weeks. Even if you're not ready to get one right now, it always helps to plan ahead and organise all the necessary travel requirements before finalising your holiday booking.

It's for reasons like this that we love helping people book their travel to New Zealand. There's nothing worse than booking your holiday, spending weeks dreaming of the amazing adventure you're about to have, and then you arrive and realise you forgot to organise a Visa, book a hire car, or get that airport transfer. To make sure your next holiday is memorable for the good times, speak with our New Zealand Travel Experts today and let us handle all the nitty-gritty details to ensure you have the best time touring New Zealand!