H5.25 Definitions (to 17/06/2020)

Note: The instructions in this section cease to be effective from 18/06/2020

H5.25.1 Essential health workers

1. An essential health worker is a person who will work in New Zealand in a job or occupation described on the Immigration New Zealand website as an essential health worker.
2. The jobs and occupations considered as essential health workers are agreed to by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
3. Any partners or dependent children (see E4.1) of essential health workers who have been granted a visa or a variation of conditions on the basis of this critical purpose, may be granted a visa to travel to New Zealand together with, or separately from, the essential health worker.

H5.25.5 Essential workers

1. Essential workers are those workers who the Minister of Economic Development and the relevant portfolio Minister agree are essential workers.
2. The partner or dependent child (see E4.1) of an essential worker (as set out in (a) above), who are not ordinarily resident in New Zealand and who wish to travel to New Zealand as an exception to border restrictions also require agreement from the Minister of Economic Development and the relevant portfolio Minister.

H5.25.10 Humanitarian reasons

1. Humanitarian reasons are exceptional circumstances of a humanitarian nature that make it strongly desirable for the applicant to travel and enter New Zealand.
2. When considering whether a person has humanitarian reasons for travelling to New Zealand, immigration officers must consider the purpose of these instructions and the strong public interest in protecting the health of New Zealanders and supporting Government agencies response to the risks posed by the COVID-19 situation.
3. Relevant factors when considering if humanitarian reasons justify the grant of a visa under these instructions include:
   1. the applicant’s connection to New Zealand
   2. the applicant’s connection to the place they are currently located
   3. whether New Zealand is their primary place of residence, and their period of absence from New Zealand
   4. whether the applicant has any alternative options
   5. the impact of not granting a visa and entry permission to the applicant.

Note: Where a person is applying under the critical purpose of humanitarian reasons and are likely to require medical treatment in New Zealand, that person must have the support of the Ministry of Health or a District Health Board.

Effective 02/06/2020