Access to public services while in New Zealand
Some visas give you access to public services like state-funded health care and education, and social support payments. The services you can access will depend on your visa.
- publicly funded health and disability services
- primary, secondary and tertiary education
- student allowances and student loans
- jobseeker support payments
- Working for Families payments
- New Zealand superannuation
- KiwiSaver
- personal injury cover under ACC.
- visitor visa
- student visa
- working holiday visa.
If you have a resident visa, you will likely have access to the following public services:
You will also have the right to vote in parliamentary and local elections, and may be able to buy property in New Zealand to live in.
To find out what public services you can access on your visa, check your visa conditions and the relevant government websites.
If you have a work visa that is for 2 years or longer, you may be eligible for publicly funded health care and have access to primary and secondary education for any dependent children, where the necessary requirements are met.
To find out what public services you may be able to access on your visa, check your visa conditions and the relevant government websites.
Generally, you, and your family, are not eligible for state-funded public services if you are in New Zealand on a:
To find out what public services you may be able to access on your visa, check your visa conditions and the relevant government websites.
Government websites for public services
To qualify for some public services, you will need to have lived in New Zealand for a minimum period.
To find out what you may be eligible for, check the relevant government websites. Links to websites dealing with some of the most common public services are listed below:
- Student allowance — Studylink
- Jobseeker support — Work and Income
- Working for Families — Inland Revenue
- New Zealand superannuation — Work and Income
- KiwiSaver — Inland Revenue
- Eligibility to enrol and vote — Vote NZ
- Buying residential property to live in — Land Information New Zealand
Note
Some government agencies describe their services as being available to permanent residents only. This means holding a resident visa and living in New Zealand permanently — it does not necessarily mean you need to hold a Permanent Resident Visa.
Health care eligibility
Find out if you are eligible for public health care services.
Guide to eligibility for public health services — Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora
Publicly funded health and disability services — Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora
If you are injured in an accident in New Zealand, you will not have to pay for health care services in most cases. The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), a government agency, provides personal injury cover for all New Zealand residents and visitors to New Zealand.
Note
New Zealand has reciprocal health agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom.
Reciprocal health agreements — Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora
Education eligibility
For more information about who is eligible to study in New Zealand, check the Ministry of Education website and Appendix A of the 2020/08 Education Circular.
Definition of a domestic student in New Zealand — Ministry of Education