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A4.60 Medical waivers (applicants for residence class visas)

  1. Applicants for residence class visas in New Zealand who are assessed as not having an acceptable standard of health and whose applications meet all other requirements for approval under the relevant Government residence instructions may be considered for the grant of a medical waiver unless they:
    1. require dialysis treatment, or an Immigration New Zealand medical assessor has indicated that they will require such treatment within a period of five years from the date of the medical assessment; or
    2. have severe haemophilia; or
    3. have a physical, intellectual, cognitive and/or sensory incapacity that requires full time care, including care in the community; or
    4. currently have tuberculosis (TB) (any form including pulmonary and non-pulmonary TB, Multidrug-Resistant (MDR)-TB and Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR)-TB) and have not completed full treatment for TB as outlined in the New Zealand Guidelines for TB Treatment; or
    5. have had a history, diagnostic findings or treatment for MDR-TB or XDR-TB, unless they have been cleared by a New Zealand Respiratory or Infectious Diseases specialist upon review of their file or review of the applicant as outlined in the New Zealand Guidelines for TB.
  2. Medical waivers will also not be granted to people who:
    1. are applying for residence under one of the Family Categories; and
    2. were eligible to be included in an earlier application for a residence class visa (or a residence visa or residence permit issued or granted under the Immigration Act 1987) as the partner of a principal applicant or the dependent child of a principal applicant or their partner; and
    3. were not declared in that earlier application; or
    4. were not included in that earlier application; or
    5. were withdrawn from that earlier application.
  3. Applicants (and dependants included in their application) who have been recognised as having refugee or protection status (except those invited to apply under the Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship category (see S4.25)) will be granted medical waivers, unless (a) above applies.
  4. An applicant who is the partner or dependent child of a New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder, who would otherwise meet the criteria for residence under Partnership (see F2.5(a)) or Dependent Child (see F5.1(a)) instructions, will be granted a medical waiver unless (a) or (b) above apply.
  5. Applicants for residence class visas under the Christchurch Response (2019) Category (S4.30) who otherwise meet the criteria for residence under those instructions will be granted a medical waiver unless (a) above applies.
  6. Despite A4.60 (a) above, applicants for residence class visas under the Christchurch Response (2019) Category who otherwise meet the criteria for residence will be granted a medical waiver if they have a condition described in A4.60(a) above which was caused by injuries or trauma suffered in the attacks on the Masjid Al Noor or Linwood mosques in Christchurch on 15 March 2019.
  7. Applicants for residence class visas under the Afghan Emergency Resettlement Category (S4.35) who otherwise meet the criteria for residence will be granted a medical waiver unless (a)(iv) or (v) above applies.
  8. Applicants for residence class visas under the 2021 Resident Visa Category (S6) who otherwise meet the criteria for residence under those instructions will be granted a medical waiver unless (a) above applies.
  9. Applicants for residence class visas under the Ukraine Resident Visa category (S4.40) who otherwise meet the criteria for residence under those instructions will be granted a medical waiver unless (a) above applies.

Note: These instructions do not apply to people applying for a permanent resident visa who currently hold resident visas.

Effective 16/03/2024

IN THIS SECTION

A4.1 Objective

A4.5 Overview of health instructions

A4.10 Acceptable standard of health (applicants for residence)

A4.15 Acceptable standard of health (applicants for temporary entry class visas)

A4.20 Medical and Chest X-ray Certificates: residence class visa applications

A4.25 Medical and Chest X-ray Certificates: temporary entry class visa applications

A4.30 Completion of medical certificates

A4.40 Seeking comment concerning health assessments

A4.45 Second opinion assessments by Immigration New Zealand medical assessors (residence applications)

A4.50 Second opinion assessments by Ministry of Education (residence class visa applications)

A4.55 Deferral of decisions on residence applications pending treatment for medical conditions

A4.65 Medical waivers (applicants for temporary entry class visas)

A4.70 Determination of whether a medical waiver should be granted (residence and temporary entry)

A4.74 Health requirements for mandated refugees and Refugee Quota Family Reunification Category applicants

A4.75 Exception to health requirements instructions for people entering New Zealand for medical treatment

PREVIOUS IMMIGRATION INSTRUCTIONS

A4.60 Medical waivers (applicants for residence class visas) (01/12/2021)

A4.60 Medical waivers (applicants for residence class visas) (05/10/2021)

A4.60 Medical waivers (applicants for residence class visas) (24/04/2019)

A4.60 Medical waivers (applicants for residence class visas) (15/12/2017)

A4.60 Medical waivers (applicants for residence class visas)(26/11/2012)

A4.60 Medical waivers (applicants for residence class visas) (30/07/2012)

A4.60 Medical waivers (applicants for residence class visas) (21/11/2011)

A4.60 Medical waivers (applicants for residence class visas) (29/11/2010)

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