Background

A migrant levy has been paid in some form by migrants since 1995. The levy is paid by most migrants in the Skilled/Business and Family Sponsored Streams, and some in the International/Humanitarian Stream. It is not paid by Samoan citizens, refugees and family members of refugees.

The levy for this year was $300 per person (up to a maximum of $1,200 per application) for skilled, business and family migrants and $150 per person (up to a maximum of $600 per application) for Pacific Access Category migrants.

The levy helps pay for services necessary because of immigration but difficult to charge for directly. These include contribution to the tuition of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in the compulsory schools sector and for adult learners. The levy also funds the Department's immigration research programme and provides funding for our settlement services, and it contributes towards the Department of Internal Affairs' Office of Ethnic Affairs' telephone interpreter services (Language Line).

Allocation of funds is agreed before the start of each financial year based on estimated numbers and revenue. The allocation of funds for the 2007/08 year, 2006/07 year and the three previous years are outlined below.