A4.30 Completion of medical certificates

1. The Medical Certificate and Chest X-ray Certificate must be completed:
   1. by an Immigration New Zealand-appointed panel physician and radiologist if required (see A4.30.5 below); or
   2. a registered medical practitioner and radiologist if there is no New Zealand-appointed panel in that country and in English, if possible.
2. If it is not possible to complete the Medical Certificate and Chest X-ray Certificate in English, they must be submitted with a certified translation, as must any accompanying laboratory or specialist reports.

A4.30.1 Cost of undergoing medical and X-ray examinations

The New Zealand Government pays for the medical examinations of some approved refugee and protection applicants and of some applicants for the Christchurch Response (2019) Category visa but is not responsible for meeting the costs of other applicants' medical and X-ray examinations or any associated specialist or laboratory tests or reports. The New Zealand Government pays for the Chest X-Ray Certificates of some refugee and protection claimants who are applying for a temporary entry visa, and their partners and dependent children; and for applicants for the Afghan Emergency Resettlement Category, who are applying for a permanent resident visa.

A4.30.5 Panel physicians and radiologists

1. In most countries Immigration New Zealand selects and requires the use of a panel of reputable registered physicians and radiologists.
2. All applicants within such countries must have their Medical Certificate and Chest X-ray Certificate completed by a panel physician or radiologist.
3. A list of countries for which there are panel physicians and radiologists is contained in Appendix 1. Applicants who are resident in one of these countries should consult the Immigration New Zealand website, or the nearest branch of Immigration New Zealand for details of panel physicians and radiologists in their area.

A4.30.10 Role of Immigration New Zealand medical assessors and Ministry of Education

1. Immigration New Zealand medical assessors are appointed to examine medical and chest X-ray certificates that are referred to them by Immigration New Zealand.
2. The Immigration New Zealand medical assessor assesses an applicant's health on the basis of their Immigration New Zealand Medical Certificate and Chest X-ray Certificate and associated specialist tests and reports (having regard to Government health requirements and the Immigration New Zealand Guidelines for Medical Assessors), and may refer to any source of relevant guidelines or advice, including the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education (MoE).
3. In addition, Immigration New Zealand medical assessors provide advice concerning any medical factors that may pertain to the grant of a medical waiver.
4. The MoE assesses whether an applicant would be eligible for Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS) funding in cases where an immigration officer or Immigration New Zealand medical assessor requests advice on this matter. MoE assesses whether an applicant would be eligible for ORS funding on the basis of the applicant's Immigration New Zealand Medical Certificate and Chest X-ray Certificate and associated reports.

Effective 05/10/2021