Medical waivers for visa applications

If you have a you might not need to meet the health criteria (requirements) for your visa application to be approved.

You cannot apply for a medical waiver. We decide whether to give you one when we process your visa application.

Why you need to provide evidence of your good health

Before we consider a medical waiver assessment for your visa application, we first check to see:

• if you meet the rest of the visa application requirements
• what support you would need from New Zealand’s health and education services
• your potential benefit to New Zealand
• what family you have in New Zealand
• your parent's contribution to New Zealand (if you are the dependent child of a work, student or military visa holder)
• how long you are staying.

We use different requirements when issuing medical waivers for resident and temporary visa applications.

Temporary visa applications

We will consider a medical waiver assessment for a temporary visa application if you:

• are applying for a work visa as a seconded business person
• are a refugee or protection status claimant
• have refugee or protection status in New Zealand
• are the partner or dependent child of a New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder. The purpose of your stay is to visit your New Zealand partner or parent, and you meet the application criteria for either Partnership or Dependent Child resident visas
• are applying for a visa as the dependent of a work, student or military visa holder and have a severe developmental or cognitive condition that will need significant support.

Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa

Dependent Child Resident Visa

Child of a Worker Visitor Visa

Child of Military Visitor Visa

Child of a Student Visitor Visa

Dependent Child Student Visa

Resident visa applications

A medical waiver will usually be granted for a resident visa application if you are:

• a New Zealand citizen or resident’s partner or dependent child, and 
• you meet all of your visa application’s requirements. 

However, we must decline your application if you:

• need dialysis, or are likely to need it within 5 years of the date of your medical assessment
• have severe haemophilia
• need full time care, including care in the community
• have tuberculosis (TB) — in this situation we can put your application on hold for up to 6 months while you complete your treatment
• are applying for a family category visa, and you:
  
  • were eligible to be included in an earlier resident visa application as a partner or a dependent child, but
  • were not included or declared in the resident application, or you were withdrawn from the application.