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Update

Issued: Wednesday 14 May 2025, 10:55 pm NZST

Welcome to the new Immigration New Zealand website. 

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  5. Good character requirements and police certificates

Good character requirements and police certificates

To get a visa, you must meet good character requirements. This includes providing us with correct and complete information. To prove your good character you may need to provide us with police certificates.

  • Character requirements for New Zealand visas

    To be given a New Zealand visa, you must be of good character. If you have a criminal history, have provided false or misleading information, or could be a risk to New Zealand, we can decline your application.

  • Police certificates

    When you apply for a visa, you may need to provide us with a police certificate to show that you are of good character.

  • How to get a police certificate

    You may need to supply us with a police certificate as evidence of your good character. This tool shows you how to get a police certificate from a specific country.

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