V3.40 Entry to New Zealand for the purpose of medical treatment or consultation

Immigration Regulations 1999 Schedule 1 Part 1 B (b)

1. Visitors who can show they have been accepted for and are able to pay for medical treatment or consultation in New Zealand may be issued with a visitor's visa authorising a permit for a maximum stay of six months.
2. Visitors coming to New Zealand for medical treatment or consultation must apply for a visitor's visa before travelling to New Zealand, whether or not they are from a visa-waiver country.
3. Citizens of South Pacific countries may be sponsored for specialised medical treatment in New Zealand if such treatment is not available in their home country and is funded by either:
   1. the home government, or
   2. New Zealand's Official Development Assistance (ODA) Programme, administered by NZAID.
4. An applicant from any country seeking obstetric treatment (including giving birth) or renal dialysis in New Zealand will not be issued with a visa unless sponsored as under paragraph (c).

V3.40.1 Evidence for visitors coming to New Zealand for medical treatment or consultation

Visa officers must be satisfied that an applicant coming to New Zealand for medical treatment or consultation has provided:

1. a completed Details of Intended Medical Treatment form; and
2. written evidence of acceptance for treatment (such as a letter from the appropriate medical authorities to the health authority in the applicant's home country); and
3. details of the expected costs of medical treatment; and
4. evidence that the applicant will be able to and actually will pay for all medical costs, unless the treatment is to be funded under special sponsorship arrangements (see V3.40(c) above).

V3.40.5 Visitors requiring permits to stay for further medical treatment

Visitors who require medical treatment for a period beyond the currency of their initial permit may be granted a visitor's permit for their intended further treatment if:

1. they were issued visas to come to New Zealand for medical treatment and need further time here to continue treatment; or
2. 1. they have become ill or have had an accident during their visit and still require treatment (ie, cannot travel), and
   2. will be able to and will actually pay for all ongoing medical costs, unless the treatment is to be funded under special sponsorship arrangements (see V3.40(c) above) or is covered by a Reciprocal Health Agreement.

      Note: Such applicants are not subject to the normal maximum stay requirement (see V2.5 (a) (ii)).

V3.40.10 Evidence for visitors requiring permits to stay for further medical treatment

1. Immigration officers must be satisfied that an applicant for a visitor's permit to stay in New Zealand for further medical treatment has:
   1. completed a Details of Intended Medical Treatment form, and
   2. provided a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner stating:
      • the nature of the applicant's illness or disability, and
      • details of their treatment, and
      • their expected recovery time, and
   3. provided evidence of how the costs of the treatment will be met.
2. Applications may be forwarded to an Immigration New Zealand medical assessor for assessment unless the applicant is requesting a further permit for a period not exceeding one month and the immigration officer intends to approve the application.
3. If the assessment is unfavourable, the applicant must be given the opportunity to comment on prejudicial information before a final decision is made.
4. If the initial permit is due to expire while the applicant is awaiting the Immigration New Zealand medical assessor's assessment, an interim temporary permit may be granted.

V3.40.15 Escorts of patients coming to New Zealand for medical treatment or consultation

1. Escorts of patients visiting New Zealand for medical treatment or consultation may be issued with a visitor's visa authorising a permit for the length of the patient's stay.
2. Escorts must be:
   1. a medical professional, and/or
   2. a family member or friend, and
   3. required because of the nature of the condition.

V3.40.20 Escorts of patients requiring permits to stay for further medical treatment

Escorts of patients who require further medical treatment may be granted a visitor's permit to stay in New Zealand during the patient's further treatment, if they:

1. meet the policy requirements for a visitor's permit (see V2.1); and
2. have been issued with a visa as escort of the patient; and
3. the patient they are escorting needs more time for treatment and has been granted a further permit.

V3.40.25 Emergency medical treatment

1. In emergency situations:
   1. patients may be issued or granted a visa or permit as an exception to policy to obtain medical treatment in New Zealand, and
   2. escorts of patients may be issued or granted a visa or permit as an exception to policy to escort patients obtaining medical treatment in New Zealand.
2. In emergency situations, an officer with Schedule 1 delegations may waive the mandatory requirements and conditions for a visitor's visa to be issued to a patient and escort.
3. An emergency includes but is not limited to a situation where:
   1. local health authorities judge that it is vital to the patient's survival to transfer them immediately to New Zealand, or
   2. a passenger or crew member on a ship or aircraft meets with an accident or sudden illness.

Effective 27/07/2009