Paying for maternity care

If you are pregnant and apply for a temporary visa to visit, study or work in NZ you must tell us how you will pay for your maternity care while you are here.

Covering the cost of your maternity care

Depending on the visa you are applying for and your nationality:

• you may be eligible for publicly funded health care during and after your pregnancy, or
• you must cover the costs of your own maternity care — when you apply for your visa, you need to provide evidence of how you will pay.

Maternity care includes looking after you:

• before your baby is born
• during labour and birth, and
• after your baby is born.

Who can get publicly funded maternity care

Some women can get maternity care no matter what visa they have for New Zealand. You are eligible if you:

• have a partner who is eligible for publicly funded health care
• are claiming refugee or protection status
• are a victim of people trafficking
• hold an Interim Visa and you were eligible for publicly funded health care immediately before we issued your Interim Visa
• are a citizen of the United Kingdom — although the range of health services New Zealand offers is limited.

Publicly funded health services — pregnancy services | Ministry of Health

Getting public health care in New Zealand

If you have a Limited Visa, you cannot get publicly funded maternity care.

Paying for your maternity care

If you are not eligible for public health care and have a temporary visa to visit, study or work in New Zealand, you need to show us you have a minimum of NZD $9000 to pay for your maternity care. You can:

• pay these costs yourself
• come to New Zealand under the care of a sponsor who can guarantee to cover the costs, or
• if you have a student visa, get a guarantee from a relative, friend or organisation that they will pay.

Evidence that you can pay for your care

With your visa application, you must include evidence that you have:

• a minimum of NZD $9000 to cover your health and medical costs, and
• additional funds for your accommodation, living costs and travel out of New Zealand.

Documents you can use as evidence of how you will pay include:

• bank statements in your name
• bank drafts
• recognised credit cards with enough credit available, or
• travellers’ cheques.

If you have a sponsor or guarantor

Your sponsor or guarantor must be able to show that they are an acceptable sponsor and can pay a minimum of NZD $9000 for your care.

Who can sponsor a visa applicant

Your sponsor or guarantor must complete a form to send in with your visa and provide evidence of how they will meet the cost of your maternity care.

Sponsorship form for temporary entry (INZ 1025)

Financial undertaking for a student (INZ 1014)