Immigration New Zealand has announced a service fee hike for Visa Application Centres (VACs), effective January 1, 2026, impacting India and 25 other countries. This fee adjustment comes as a response to increased operational costs and inflation, making it essential to ensure the continuous operation and enhancement of services.

Fee Structure Changes Explained

The fee increase will only affect the VAC service fees—which cover the processing of applications, biometric data collection, and submission of documents—and does not impact the visa application fee directly paid to Immigration New Zealand. This distinction is important for applicants, as the actual visa processing costs will remain unchanged.

Immigration authorities have clarified that the hike is necessary to support improved services following the system upgrades designed to streamline application processes. The change is also reflective of the broader challenges of rising service costs due to inflation and operational needs.

Countries Affected by VAC Fee Increase

The revised service fees will apply in a range of countries across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America, reflecting New Zealand’s global reach. The countries where the increase will be applicable include:

• Australia
• Bangladesh
• Fiji
• Hong Kong
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Japan
• Nepal & Bhutan
• Pakistan
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Samoa
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Sri Lanka
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Vanuatu
• Vietnam

What Applicants Need to Do

With the upcoming fee changes, applicants are encouraged to verify the updated charges before applying. Immigration New Zealand suggests using its official fee-checking tool online or visiting the relevant VAC website (including VFS Global) to confirm the exact fees before submission.

This serves as an important reminder for prospective travelers to stay updated with any changes that may affect visa-related costs, particularly when planning international trips to New Zealand.

Technical Glitch Amid System Upgrade

In addition to the fee increase, Immigration New Zealand also issued a notice regarding technical difficulties impacting the online application system. Applicants may encounter issues when accessing application documents or confirmation letters due to the recent system upgrade. Authorities have apologized for any inconvenience caused, urging applicants to be patient as they work to resolve the issue.

Prepare for the Changes

As the revised service fees take effect in January 2026, applicants are strongly encouraged to factor in the updated costs when planning their visa applications. Ensuring that all charges are confirmed ahead of time will help streamline the process and avoid any surprises.

This change underscores the growing cost of international travel and visa processing, as global inflation continues to impact the travel and immigration sectors. With New Zealand remaining a popular destination for international travelers, understanding these adjustments will be key for anyone looking to visit in the coming years.

Air travel across Italy was disrupted on Friday after a technical fault affected the country’s air traffic control systems, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.

Air traffic control provider ENAV said it had introduced temporary restrictions on air traffic capacity after detecting overnight anomalies in the data transmission network supporting air traffic services nationwide.

Authorities said the disruption was not caused by sabotage and confirmed that the technical issue had been resolved later in the day.

Data from aviation analytics company Cirium showed that 192 flights had been cancelled by around 1000 GMT. At the same time, only about 31% of departures from Italian airports were leaving on schedule.

The situation was particularly challenging at the country’s major airports. On-time departures stood at approximately 25% at Milan Malpensa Airport and 28% at Rome Fiumicino Airport.

ENAV announced at around 1325 GMT that it had restored full operational capacity, bringing the technical disruption to an end.

Source: Reuters

Saudi telecom operator STC Group is offering free, unlimited calls to and from Saudi Arabia for customers roaming overseas, helping travellers maintain contact with their families amid continuing flight disruptions.

Announced on X, the initiative runs from October 12 to October 19. STC said the offer was intended to support customers facing difficulties staying connected with loved ones during an uncertain period.

“We understand how difficult it can be to be away from family, particularly during times like these,” the company told Arab News.

STC added that free, unlimited calling would make it easier for customers outside the Kingdom to communicate with relatives and provide reassurance during the disruption.

The initiative comes as flights to and from Riyadh face interruptions following a recent attack on King Khalid International Airport.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation announced on X that the airport’s operational suspension had been extended to allow safety inspections of its facilities to be completed. The authority did not provide a timeline for the resumption of flights.

Traveller Welcomes Initiative but Calls for Free Internet

Hisham Al-Ghasim, a Saudi citizen whose return journey from Bangkok to Riyadh was disrupted, welcomed STC’s offer but said free internet access would have been more practical.

His existing mobile package already covered calls, while internet connectivity was important for arranging alternative travel, making bookings and accessing essential applications.

He told Arab News that providing unrestricted internet access instead of free calls would have been more useful because many everyday communications and travel arrangements depend on online services.

Al-Ghasim had completed a business trip to Bangkok and was waiting for a taxi when he received a notification that his return flight had been delayed.

He said he was informed that his departure had been postponed by three days. Although he had been following developments, he had not expected his flight booking to be cancelled.

His original itinerary involved an Emirates flight via Dubai to Riyadh. He subsequently arranged to end his journey in the United Arab Emirates instead.

After reaching Dubai, Al-Ghasim contacted the Saudi Consulate General, which offered assistance with returning to the Kingdom by road through organised group transport.

Saudi Missions Assist Stranded Citizens

Saudi embassies and consulates have also been helping citizens affected by flight cancellations associated with regional security developments.

Their support includes arranging emergency accommodation and helping travellers identify alternative routes to return home as aviation disruptions continue.

Source: Arab News

flydubai has cancelled all flights to Riyadh until October 14, the airline confirmed in a statement.

A spokesperson said the carrier is monitoring the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities and will notify passengers of any changes to flight schedules through its official communication channels.

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to visit the Manage Booking section on the airline’s website, flydubai.com, to review available refund or rebooking options.

Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents should contact their agents directly for assistance.

The airline apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the disruption and said it would continue to provide updates through its official channels.

Source: Emirates247

Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended services to Riyadh and Dammam, issuing a travel alert for passengers travelling to the two Saudi Arabian destinations.

The Qatari airline said it was monitoring developments in Saudi Arabia in coordination with the relevant authorities. In response to the evolving situation, the carrier halted flights to both cities until further notice.

Passengers have been urged to verify their flight status through the airline’s official website or mobile application before travelling.

Qatar Airways said the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority. The airline added that customers affected by the suspensions would be contacted directly, with additional updates published on its website as more information becomes available.

Source: QNA

Several UAE airlines have cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia, disrupting services to Riyadh and Dammam between October 10 and October 14, according to airline announcements and published flight schedules.

Flydubai confirmed that its flights between Dubai and Riyadh would remain cancelled through October 14. The airline said it was monitoring developments in coordination with the relevant authorities and would communicate further schedule changes through its official channels.

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to visit the Manage Booking section on flydubai’s website to review available refund and rebooking options. Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents should contact their respective agents for assistance. The airline also apologised for the inconvenience caused by the changes.

Etihad Airways has cancelled selected flights between Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh for the period from October 10 to October 12.

Emirates has also recorded cancellations on several services between Dubai and Riyadh on October 11 and 12. Disruptions extended to flights connecting Dubai with Dammam on October 11.

For October 12, Emirates' published schedules listed flights EK823 and EK821 between Dubai and Dammam as cancelled, while flight EK827 remained scheduled to operate.

The cancellations reflect schedule adjustments by multiple UAE carriers serving Saudi Arabia during the affected period.

Airlines have advised passengers to monitor official communication channels for the latest flight information and to contact their carriers or travel agents to discuss available options if their journeys have been affected.

Source: Emirates247