A4.25 Medical certificates: temporary entry class visa applications (25/07/2011)

1. Applications for temporary entry class visas from applicants intending a stay in New Zealand of more than 12 months must include a fully completed Medical and Chest X-Ray Certificate (INZ 1007) that is less than 3 months old, for every person included in the application unless the applicant has provided a Medical and Chest X-Ray Certificate with an earlier application for temporary entry; and
   1. that Medical and Chest X-Ray Certificate was issued less than 24 months prior to the current application; or
   2. that Medical and Chest X-Ray Certificate was issued less than 36 months prior to the current application, and the current application is for a student visa as a
      • fee-paying foreign student (U4.10); or
      • student enrolled in a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme in any New Zealand University (see U3.35.20); or
   3. that Medical and Chest X-Ray Certificate was issued less than 36 months prior to the current application, and the current application is for any temporary entry class visa as a partner or dependant of a student enrolled in a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme.

      Note:
      - Pregnant women and children under 11 years of age are not required to have an X-ray examination,
      - The issue date of a Medical and Chest X-Ray Certificate is the date of the declaration by the examining physician concerning the overall findings of the medical examination.

2. Despite (a) above, an immigration officer may require Medical and Chest X-Ray Certificates if they consider this is necessary to establish whether the applicant has an acceptable standard of health.
3. Applicants who intend to stay in New Zealand for a total of more than 12 months include:
   1. those already in New Zealand for up to 12 months seeking a further visa to be in New Zealand for longer than 12 months; and
   2. those applying for visas who indicate their intention is to remain in New Zealand for longer than 12 months; and
   3. those applying for student visas for a course or courses of study that are longer in total than 12 months.
4. Despite (a) above, applicants applying for a visa under the Working Holidaymaker Extension instructions (see WH2) do not need to provide a Medical and Chest X-Ray Certificate.

A4.25.1 Requirement to undergo screening for pulmonary tuberculosis for people with risk factors

1. Applicants for temporary entry class visas who intend to be in New Zealand for more than six months, and not more than 12 months, and are considered to have risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis must undergo a TB screening X-ray unless:
   1. they are pregnant; or
   2. they are under 11 years of age.
2. All Recognised Seasonal Employer limited visa applicants (regardless of the length of time they intend to stay in New Zealand) who are considered to have risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis must undergo a TB screening X-ray unless they are pregnant.
3. Applicants required to undergo a TB screening X-ray must provide:
   1. a fully completed Immigration New Zealand X-ray Certificate for Temporary Entry (NZIS 1096); and
   2. any associated medical or laboratory reports required for the X-ray certificate.
4. Temporary Entry Chest X-ray Certificates and associated reports must be less than three months old at the time the application is made unless the applicant has provided a Temporary Entry Chest X-Ray Certificate with an earlier application for temporary entry; and
   1. that Certificate was issued less than 24 months prior to the current application; or
   2. that Certificate was issued less than 36 months prior to the current application, and the current application is for a student visa as a fee-paying foreign student (U4.10).

      Note: The issue date of a Temporary Entry Chest X-ray Certificate is the date of the declaration by the examining radiologist concerning the findings of the TB screening X-ray.

5. Despite (a) and (d) above, an immigration officer may require Temporary Entry Chest X-ray Certificates if they consider this is necessary to establish whether the applicant has an acceptable standard of health.
6. Applicants who intend to stay in New Zealand for a total of more than six months include:
   1. those already in New Zealand for up to six months seeking a further visa to be in New Zealand for longer than six months; and
   2. those applying for visas who indicate their intention is to remain in New Zealand for longer than six months; and
   3. those applying for student visas for a course or courses of study that are longer in total than six months.
7. Where an applicant for a further temporary entry class visa is assessed as having active pulmonary tuberculosis, and their application for a further visa is declined on the basis that they do not have an acceptable standard of health, a limited visa should be granted for an initial period of one month for the express purpose of undergoing immediate medical treatment to render the disease non-infectious and to travel out of New Zealand. The limited visa should be granted using the delegated power to grant a visa of a different type from that for which an application is made (see A15.5).

Note: A limited visa may be granted to a refugee or protection status claimant or a refugee or protected person only if that person is at the time a holder of a current limited visa.

A4.25.5 Definition of person with risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis

1. A person is considered to have risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis if:
   1. they hold a passport issued by a country not listed in A4.25.10; or
   2. in the five years prior to application they have spent a combined total of three or more months in any one or more countries not listed in A4.25.10.
2. Despite (a)(i) above, if an applicant provides evidence that satisfies an Immigration officer they have never lived or spent time in the country that issued their passport, and (a)(ii) does not apply, they will not be considered to have risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis and the requirement to undergo a TB screening X-ray and provide the associated Temporary Entry X-ray Certificate form will not apply.

A4.25.10 Low TB Incidence Countries, Areas and Territories

The following countries are deemed for the purpose of Government immigration policy to be countries with a low incidence of tuberculosis.

Effective 25/07/2011