Comprehensive Medical Assessments for Your New Zealand Visa Application
If you’re applying for an New Zealand visa from the UK, one of the key requirements is to undergo a medical examination. This is a standard part of the visa process and is used to ensure that applicants meet the health requirements set by the New Zealand government. Whether you’re applying for a visitor visa, work visa, student visa, or permanent residency, our comprehensive visa medical services can guide you through the process smoothly. Our experienced accredited panel doctors are here to help you meet the New Zealand health requirements quickly and efficiently.
Why Do You Need a Medical for New Zealand Visa?
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) occasionally requires medical assessments as part of the visa application process to assess long-term medical care need, to determine fitness for work/study/residency and to ensure applicants:
- Do not have any medical conditions that could pose a significant risk to public health or safety in New Zealand.
- Are not likely to require significant medical treatment or care, which could become a financial burden to New Zealand’s health system.
- Meet the health standards for living and working in New Zealand.
The medical examination also helps assess whether you have any contagious diseases, such as tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), evidence of HIV or hepatitis B, Yellow fever, Polio or a condition that might prevent you from working or living in New Zealand.
Who Needs to Undergo a Visa Medical?
Not all visa applicants need a medical. Applicants for work, study, or residence visas staying over 6 months and certain categories of applicants are required to undergo one.
New Zealand’s immigration medical examination process
The applicant must inform the Panel Physician which medical process they have used based on the visa they are applying for.
There are two processes for applicants to provide their required medical examinations to Immigration New Zealand (INZ). The first is the application-first process, and the second is the up-front medical process.
- Application-first medical process: The application-first medical process is where an applicant applies for a visa first, INZ advises the applicant on their required medical examination and creates the IME in eMedical.
If you are going through the Application-first medical process, please send your eMedical reference number (NZER) or Immigration New Zealand (INZ) health case reference number (NZHR) to us by filling the Visa Medicals – Pre Appointment Checklist or send an email to nz@yourexcellenthealth.org prior to your appointment. - Up-front medical process: The up-front medical process means applicants may choose to complete their IMEs before applying for a visa to accommodate personal circumstances such as shared travel and accommodation costs with family members.This means there may not be a record of the applicant in eMedical.
Our Panel Physician will create a new IME for you and an NZER number will be generated. The applicant will require their NZER number as proof that their IME has been initiated. An information sheet with the applicant’s IME summary and the NZER number will be provided to the applicant.
If a recent IME exists, the applicant will need to confirm if the new IME is still required.
Types of Visa Medicals:
General Medical Certificate
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Medical examination
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Urinalysis
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Blood Tests
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Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)
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HIV test
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Hepatitis B test
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Hepatitis C test
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Syphilis
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HbA1C
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Full Blood Count
Limited Medical Certificate
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Medical examination
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Urinalysis
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Blood Tests
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Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)
- Full Blood Count
Chest Xray Certificate
- Chest Xray
Advise on Visa or Immigration Medical Examination (IME) Required
Panel Physicians will not advise applicants on what visa or IME they require. Applicants are responsible for knowing which visa they are applying for.
If unsure, please call the Immigration Contact Centre:
NZ Freephone: 0508 55 88 55
Auckland: 09 914 4100
International: +64 9 914 4100
You may find these links useful:
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/process-to-apply/applying-for-a-visa/providing-evidence-and-documents-to-support-your-visa-application/health-requirements/finding-your-emedical-and-inz-health-case-reference-numbers/
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/formshelp/medical-certificates-for-online-applications
If an Immigration Medical Examination (IME) is created with incorrect visa information, it will be amended once the applicant submits their visa application.
The Medical Examination Process
The medical examination for an New Zealand visa generally includes the following steps:
- Book an Appointment: Contact an approved panel doctor or medical center in your area. These are healthcare professionals authorized by the New Zealand Government to conduct the visa medicals. It’s important to schedule your appointment with one of these doctors to ensure the results are valid for your visa application.
- Complete the Health Questionnaire: Before your appointment, you may be required to complete a health questionnaire to provide information about your medical history and lifestyle
- Attend the Medical Examination: The panel doctor will conduct a physical examination, take any necessary tests (like blood or chest X-rays), and may request additional consultations depending on your medical history.
- Chest X-ray: Required for applicants over the age of 11 to check for tuberculosis.
- Blood Tests: Required for applicants over the age of 15 These tests help identify infectious diseases and other health issues.
- Urine Tests: Required for applicants over the age of 5 to check for infectious diseases and other health issues.
- Additional Tests: In some cases, additional tests may be required depending on your medical history and specific circumstances.
- Receive Your Results: Once your examination is complete, the results are sent directly to the New Zealand Department of Home Affairs. You will not be provided with the results yourself, as they are confidential.
- Wait for the Outcome: If the examination results are clear and there are no concerns, your visa application will proceed as usual. If there are medical issues, further investigations or treatments may be required before a decision is made.
Common Medical Concerns
While most applicants pass their visa medicals without issue, certain medical conditions may require additional assessment or may delay your visa processing. These include:
- Tuberculosis (TB) or a history of TB
- Hepatitis B or C
- HIV/AIDS
- Serious physical disabilities
- Severe mental health conditions
In such cases, further documentation, treatment plans, or specialist evaluations may be necessary.
Costs
The cost of the medical examination varies depending on the specific tests required.
Click on the options below to see what is included in the medical.
- Adult (Aged 15 and over)Includes Medical examination and UrinalysisIncludes Blood Tests – Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), HIV test, Hepatitis B test, Hepatitis C test, Syphilis, HbA1C, Full Blood Count)Includes Chest Xray
Additional Costs:
- Courier Service: £17 for document delivery.
- MMR Vaccine: £90 x 2 doses (Total of £180) (pre-order required as it is not stocked routinely).
- MMR Antibody Test: £205
- Stool Test: £60
- Varicella Immunity (IgG): £105
- Liver Function Test (LFT): £55
- Liver Ultrasound Scan: £400
- HIV Screening Test (HIV 1&2 Abs): £70
- Blood Group: £65
- Full Blood Count: £70
- Sputum for TB Culture (AFB): £110 (sample over 3 consecutive weekdays)
- Chest X-ray – 1 View – £150
- Chest X-ray – 2 Views – £180
- Chest Ultrasound Scan: £400
- CT – 1 View (without contrast) – £800
- CT – 1 View (with contrast) – £950
- ECHO – £450
- Stress ECHO – £750
Processing Time:
Processing times for medical results can take several weeks, so it’s essential to complete the medical early in your visa application process to avoid delays.
What to Expect:
- A full physical examination will be conducted, requiring applicants to undress to their underwear.
- Please note you may request a female doctor but this is subject to availability and we are unable to make any arrangements other than our routine doctor bookings.
- You may request a chaperone to be present at your physical examination.
- We will be providing a private changing room or a curtained-off area. Gowns or sheets will be provided to clients on request.
- Female applicants are advised not to attend during their periods, if possible, as it can affect urine test results.
- The examination typically takes between 15 to 30 minutes, although it may take longer for elderly or frail applicants.
Other points to note:
Please do not conceal any medical conditions; deliberate attempts to hide them will be reported to Immigration New Zealand. For female applicants, please do not conceal your pregnancy; being pregnant will have no impact on your immigration prospects. For female applicants, please postpone or re-schedule your appointment if you are menstruating, as it may affect the urine test result.
There is no need to fast prior to your appointment.
- Minors: Applicants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who can provide consent and make decisions on their behalf. Please postpone or re-schedule your appointment if you or your child are ill with a fever or have a rash.
- Pregnancy: If you are pregnant and undergoing a migration health assessment, you may choose to either get the chest X-ray with a double leaded shielding to protect you and your unborn baby or wait to proceed with the migration health assessment until after giving birth. If you choose to proceed with the chest X-ray, you will be requested to sign an additional consent form.
What to Bring:
Applicants must bring the following:
- Your Referral Letter – this will contain your eMedical reference number (NZER) or Immigration New Zealand (INZ) health case reference number (NZHR).
- A valid original passport
- Any medical reports on past or current medical conditions.
- Vaccination records(optional).
- Child Health and Development Record for children, if available
- Eyeglasses or lenses, if you wear them
- Address in country of origin printed.
- If you pre-paid for your migration health assessment, please bring a hard copy of the proof of payment.