The threshold for determining if a condition will create a significant cost to the health system has increased from $41,000 to $81,000 over a five-year period, or over the predicted course of an applicant’s medical condition. This change came into effect on 4 September 2022.

This increase reflect changes to health service costs, and will support people seeking residence as they may now be considered to be of an acceptable standard of health under the new threshold.

An Immigration New Zealand and Ministry of Health working group is currently working through a review of aspects of immigration instructions relating to health requirements for residency, such as the list of medical conditions included in the threshold. This work aims to ensure these settings remain fit-for-purpose and proportionate to the risks they are designed to mitigate.

In October 2021, the working group removed HIV/AIDS from the list of medical conditions due to HIV now being considered a manageable chronic illness, with treatment costs no longer considered to be significant.