Changes to New Zealand Immigration Health Requirements
From 4 April 2005, we’re introducing a number of changes to the health requirements for people coming to New Zealand.
What will change?
From 4 April 2005 there will be a new acceptable standard of health
The way we define an acceptable standard of health will change for both people intending to come to New Zealand as residents and for those coming on a temporary basis.
Residence applications
For residence applications, you will be considered to have an acceptable standard of health if you are:
- unlikely to be a danger to public health, and
- unlikely to impose significant costs or demands on New Zealand’s health services and/or education services, and
- able to undertake the functions for which you were granted entry.
Temporary entry applications
For temporary entry applications, you will be considered to have an acceptable standard of health if you are:
- unlikely to be a danger to public health; and
- unlikely to require hospitalisation or residential care during your period of stay in New Zealand
- unlikely to require ORRS funding through the education system
If you’re making a temporary entry application you may still be allowed into New Zealand if you have a condition that would be expensive to treat or you have a chronic illness, as long as you’re unlikely to require hospital treatment while here. For example, we may allow a tourist with HIV/AIDS to come to New Zealand as long as they bring sufficient medication with them.
Work to Residence, Long Term Business Visa applicants and workers intending to be in New Zealand for more than two years will be assessed against the acceptable standard of health for residence, because they are eligible for publicly funded health services.
There will be different medical forms to fill in depending on when you lodge your application
There is one medical certificate form to fill in for applications lodged before 4 April 2005 and a different one for applications lodged on or after 4 April 2005. Because your medical certificate must be less than three months old when you lodge your application it is important you use the right form.
You will need to supply medical certificates for family members that aren’t coming with you to New Zealand
If you are applying for residence, you must supply medical certificates for your partner and all your dependent children. You still need to supply these medical certificates if you or your partner don’t have custody of the children.
If you intend to be in New Zealand for more than a year, you will have to provide a medical certificate
In the past, we required a medical certificate for temporary entrants who intended to stay in New Zealand for more than two years. This time limit has now decreased to one year and it includes time in New Zealand as a result of the renewal of a permit.
For example, if you are in New Zealand on a nine-month permit and you apply for another six-month permit, you will be required to provide a medical certificate when you lodge your application for the six-month permit.
The age requirement for X-ray testing will be lowered
Chest X-rays will be required for everyone 11 years of age and over. Pregnant women don’t need to undergo this test.
If you’re a temporary entrant, you may have to submit medical certificates when you apply for further permits or visas
If your medical certificates are more than two years old when you apply for another temporary visa or permit, you will have to submit new ones.
We’re only allowing medical waivers for certain application types
If you don’t have an acceptable standard of health, your application will be declined unless we grant you a medical waiver. We will only consider a medical waiver if all other requirements for approval of your application have been met, and your application is under one of the following categories:
Family Sponsored Categories for Residence – Partnership Policy; Parent Policy; Sibling/Adult Child Policy; Dependent Child Policy, Family Quota, and Refugee Family Quota
- Residence Policy for Victims of Domestic Violence
- Temporary Entry – Seconded Business Personnel
- Partners of New Zealand citizens and residents – temporary entrants
Medical waivers are considered on a case-by-case basis.
A decision on your application may be deferred in some cases so you can get medical treatment.
Medical conditions for which a waiver can’t be granted for residence
You won’t be given a waiver if you have any of these medical conditions:
- severe haemophilia
- medical conditions requiring renal dialysis
- active tuberculosis (TB) – however, a decision on your application may be deferred until treatment is received.
Medical conditions which will not meet the acceptable standard of health criteria for residence
If you have any of these medical conditions, you will be considered NOT to have an acceptable standard of health for residence and will not meet our health requirements. This means that entry will not be approved unless you are eligible to be considered for, and are granted, a medical waiver.
There are other medical conditions not listed which may mean you won’t be able to meet our health requirements, and these will be considered on a case by case basis.
