Samoan Quota Resident Visa
If you are a Samoan citizen, you can register for this ballot to come to New Zealand. If we select your registration, we may invite you to apply for residence.
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Length of stay
Live, work and study
indefinitely
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Cost
From
NZD $820
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Age range
18 to 45 years
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Visas available
For the 2025 ballot
1,650
To apply you must:
- be a citizen of Samoa aged 18 to 45
- have a job offer, or have a partner with a job offer
- earn enough money from the job to support you and your family in New Zealand
- be able to read, write and speak English
- meet the other requirements of this visa.
This visa lets you:
- Live, work and study in New Zealand.
- Include your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger, in your residence application — if you included them in your ballot registration.
You must register for the ballot and if selected, you will be invited to apply for the visa.
There will be 1,650 places for the 2025 and 2026 ballots.
Registrations for the 2025 Samoan Quota ballot are closed.
How long you can stay
A Samoan Quota Resident Visa lets you stay in New Zealand indefinitely.
After you have had this visa for 2 years in a row, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa that lets you travel in and out of New Zealand indefinitely.
Check the 'While you are in New Zealand' section for more information.
Who can apply
To apply for this visa, you must:
- be a citizen of Samoa aged 18 to 45
- have been born in Samoa or have a parent who was
- have a job offer, or your partner must have a job offer, for
work for at least 12 months - earn enough money between you and your partner
- be in good health
- be of good character
- have a genuine relationship with your partner and dependent children, if including them
- must speak and understand English
- register for the Samoan Quota Scheme ballot and receive an invitation to apply.
Age
You must be aged 18 to 45 when the registration for the ballot closes.
We check your birth certificate to confirm your age.
Citizenship
You must be a citizen of Samoa.
If you are invited to apply for residence, you will need to provide a valid passport from Samoa.
Country of birth
You must have been born in Samoa or have a parent who was.
You must provide your
If you were born outside of Samoa, we may ask for the following documents for your parent:
- their
- their passport or
showing they share your country of citizenship.
Location when you apply
You must apply for residence while in Samoa or while in New Zealand on a valid temporary visa.
Evidence to prove where you are living include:
- letters sent to your home address
- references from your employer.
Current job offer
You or your partner must have a job offer.
If you are invited to apply for residence, you must provide evidence of a current offer of
Evidence must include
- job offer
- job description
- employment agreement
- registration, if you need to be registered to do the job.
We cannot give you a visa if your employer is on the list of non-compliant employers maintained by the Labour Inspectorate.
Employers on stand-down — Employment New Zealand
Employee rights and responsibilities — Employment New Zealand
Earn enough money
If you are including dependent children, you will need to earn at least NZD $53,515.28 each year.
If you and your partner each have job offers, you can combine the money from both jobs if both jobs meet the job offer requirements — except only 1 job needs to be for full-time work.
If you are invited to apply for residence, you will need to provide evidence, such as employment agreements.
Note
Each year we review the 'minimum income', which is how much money you will need to earn to apply.
Health
You must be in good health.
You must have a chest X-ray and a medical examination as proof of your good health.
Note You can check the situations where you need an X-ray or medical examination, and the different types of examinations. Who needs an X-ray or medical examination If you need a medical examination, you normally get a 'general medical examination' unless you need a limited medical examination. A general medical examination is sometimes called a 'full medical examination'. For some visas, you must have a chest X-ray, a medical examination or both before you apply. For an Accredited Employer Work Visa or a Visitor Visa, we will let you know after you submit your application if you need a chest X-ray or medical examination. If you need a chest X-ray or medical examination, you must visit a doctor or radiologist from our list of 'panel physicians' — unless there are no panel physicians in your country. Panel physicians are doctors and radiologists approved to complete chest X-rays and medical examinations for New Zealand visa applications. Check if there is a panel physician in your country. Doctors who can do examinations You must visit a panel physician. You can use any registered doctor. You must visit a panel medical clinic who will refer you to a panel radiology clinic. Note If there are other people on your application, they will each need an appointment. If you are menstruating (having a period), you need to wait until your period finishes before having your medical examination. You cannot have your medical examination during your period because the blood can affect your urine test. For an Accredited Employer Work Visa or Visitor Visa, if we need you to have a chest X-ray or medical examination, we give you an Immigration New Zealand health case reference number (NZHR). Give the NZHR to the clinic when you make your appointment. Finding your eMedical and INZ health case reference numbers You can bring a family member, support person or interpreter to your appointment. Let the clinic know when you make your appointment if you are bringing someone with you. If you are having a physical examination, you can ask the clinic for a chaperone. The clinic must have chaperones available. Have the following ready to bring to your appointment: Identity documents for X-rays and medical examinations Note If you are 17 years or under, you need your parent or legal guardian to come with you. If you are visiting any registered doctor because there are no panel physicians in your country, you need to also bring: Get the medical certificate form you need:
You need to also bring a completed 'Immigration Adviser Details' form to give to the clinic.
At your medical appointment, you must sign a form to allow the doctor to send your medical information to us. If you are 17 or younger, your parent or guardian must sign the form for you. If your doctor is using eMedical, they will give you an eMedical client consent and declaration form to sign. You can read the form before your appointment:
There are 3 parts to the medical examination: The doctor checks your height, weight, mental state, hearing and vision, listens to your heart and lungs, feels your abdomen and checks your reflexes and other parts of your nervous system. A nurse or health care assistant may complete parts of the examination. You will need to: You must pay any costs related to your X-ray and medical examinations. Note Ask the clinic about the costs when you make your appointment. In your visa application, you need to provide evidence of your X-ray or examination results. To show you had an examination you can either: To get a copy of your results you can ask the doctor when you have your examination, or any time afterwards. You can ask for email notifications. If you do, you will receive an email when your physician sends us your results. You cannot reply to this email. If you have any questions about your results, discuss these with your doctor. You can ask the clinic for a copy of your medical examination results. Once we receive your results you can also contact us if you want a copy of them. If you have an immigration adviser, and would like them to be able to see and ask questions about your medical information, you need to:
The panel physicians who use eMedical must agree to protect your personal information to meet New Zealand privacy laws. Your information is sent to us using a secure online channel and is available only to us and the clinic where you were examined. If you have any privacy concerns, you can contact us.
How to get an X-ray or medical examination
If you need a chest X-ray or medical examination for your visa application, you will need to make a doctor's appointment and take any relevant documents with you. You will need to provide evidence of your medical results in your application.
Process overview
Your chest X-ray and medical examination results must be no more than 3 months old when we get your application.
1. Check if you need a chest X-ray or medical examination
2. Make an appointment
If there is a panel physician in your country
If there is no panel physician in your country
If you are in New Zealand and only need a chest X-ray
Bringing someone with you to the appointment
3. Get what you need for your appointment
If you are visiting a doctor that is not a panel physician
If you are using a licensed immigration adviser
4. Go to your appointment
Authority to collect medical information
What happens at the medical examination
Paying for your medical examination
5. Provide evidence of your results in your application
6. How to get your results
If you need a copy of your results
Sharing your medical information with an immigration adviser
Your privacy
You do not need to have an X-ray or medical examination until you are invited to apply for residence.
Note
Children younger than 11 and pregnant women do not need to have a chest X-ray unless a special report is needed.
Character
You must be of good character.
You must provide police certificates that are less than 6 months old when you apply, if you are aged 17 or older.
If you have a criminal conviction, or are a security risk to New Zealand, we might not give you a visa.
Anyone applying for a New Zealand visa must meet the character requirements. When you apply, you must tell us about any issues or activities, both current and in your past, that could affect our decision, including whether you have been: If there is an issue, we may: You can request a character waiver or special direction when you apply. If your request is approved, we can give you a visa if your application meets all other requirements. Visas are given by special direction only in rare circumstances. You may need to provide us with police certificates to show your good character. Whether you need to give these certificates depends on how long you plan to stay in New Zealand and the visa you are applying for.
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.
Being of good character
Providing police certificates
You must get police certificates from:
- countries you are a citizen of, and
- countries where you have spent 12 months or more in over the last 10 years — even if those 12 months were not all in one stay.
Police certificates must show any criminal records you have had at any time in any of these countries — not only in the last 10 years.
You do not need to provide any police certificates until you are invited to apply for residence.
If we ask for a new police certificate when processing your application, you will need to send us a new one.
Depending on the visa you want, and how long you plan to stay in New Zealand, you may need to provide a police certificate as evidence of your good character. Police certificates are documents issued by the police or a government agency. They: If we ask you to provide a police certificate, you must: Providing English translations supporting documents You must provide police certificates if your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer across all visits. This includes any time you have spent in New Zealand in the past on other visas, even if you have been out of the country since then. Provide police certificates from any country you: If you are aged 16 or younger, you do not need to provide police certificates. If you have a criminal record, we may still be able to grant you a visa. You can provide an explanation of your criminal record when you apply, and we will decide if you meet our good character requirements. You must provide police certificates if you are aged 17 or older. Provide police certificates from: Police certificates must show any criminal records you have had at any time in any of these countries — not only in the last 10 years. If you have a criminal record, we may still be able to give you a visa. You can provide an explanation of your criminal record when you apply, and we will decide if you meet our good character requirements. If you apply for a visa as the partner of a New Zealander or a New Zealand visa holder, your partner is known as the 'supporting partner'. Your supporting partner must be able to show us they are of good character. They may need to provide police certificates for proof. If your supporting partner is a New Zealand citizen or has a resident visa, they: If your partner needs to provide police certificates, the police certificates must be from countries where they have spent 12 months or more over the last 10 years, since they turned 17 — even if the 12 months were not all in one stay. Police certificates must show any criminal records they have had at any time in any of these countries — not only in the last 10 years. Note Your partner does not need to provide a New Zealand police certificate, as we will get one directly from the authorities. If your supporting partner has a work or study visa, we may ask your partner to provide police certificates, if you are applying for a temporary visa. Your partner will not meet our character requirements if they have any convictions for
If your supporting partner cannot prove they are of good character, we may give them a
If your partner has any convictions for domestic violence or sexual offences, they cannot support your application. For all types of visa applications, we still may request police certificates from your partner to make sure they meet our character requirements. You may not need to provide police certificates if you have provided them in a previous visa application. Check the character requirements of the visa you are applying for. Some of the authorities that issue police certificates (the police and other government agencies) may require a set of fingerprints when you request a police certificate. If you do need a set of fingerprints to get a police certificate, check in your region for a fingerprinting service. There are many private businesses who offer fingerprinting services. If you cannot find a fingerprinting service in your region, you can contact the New Zealand Police to see if they can help. They only offer this service in some regions and on specific days. Contact them to check availability before going to a police station.
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.
About police certificates
Find out how to get a police certificate
If your supporting partner has a temporary visa to work or study
If your partner cannot prove good character
If you have provided police certificates before
Fingerprinting for police certificates
English language
You must speak, read and understand English.
If invited to apply for residence, we will test your English by talking to you about yourself, your family and your background.
You will need to be able to read and answer questions in English to pass the test.
Partner and dependent children
If you include your
If invited to apply for residence, you must provide evidence:.
- of your relationship with your partner and dependent children
- of their identity
- that they meet the health and character requirements for this visa.
We define partnership as 2 people, who live together in a
You must be able to show us that you and your partner are living together in a
Living together means sharing the same home as your partner. This does not include: Evidence showing you are living together can include: For some partnership applications – such as a Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa – evidence of living together must cover a period of 12 months prior to the application being submitted. Make sure you check the category you are applying under to see if we need this from you. You can provide us with items showing your shared address, dated every few months, to cover the full duration. These items can be addressed to you both jointly — or individually — as long as we can see that you have both been at the same address for the same period of time. Evidence of having a genuine and stable relationship needs to show that: Evidence can include: The way we want to receive this evidence depends on how you are applying. If you apply by paper for a residence visa, we must receive originals or certified copies. You can send electronically issued documents as we regard those as originals. If you apply online, we accept scanned images — so you do not need to send us originals or certified copies. You and your supporting partner must: When you apply for a visa based on your partnership with a New Zealand visa holder or New Zealand citizen, we call that person your supporting partner. Character requirements for New Zealand visas See also the requirements for supporting partners in the 'Eligible NZ supporting partner' and 'Your partner's' sections for these visas: When we assess your visa application, we consider things like: We will also look at your living and financial arrangements, including: If you and your partner have spent time living apart, you should provide information about your separation, including: We will use the information you provide to assess whether you and your partner have genuine and compelling reasons to have stayed apart. Note If you and your partner are coming together through a culturally arranged marriage, the rules are different.
Partnership and how to prove it
If you are applying for a visa based on your partnership, find out how we define partnership and what evidence you can provide to show your relationship is genuine.
How we define partnership
Providing evidence of your partnership
Living together
Having a genuine and stable relationship
How to supply this evidence
Applying by paper
Applying online
Minimum requirements
Supporting partners
How we assess partnership
If you have not always lived together
There are 2 ways that dependent children can apply for a visa. Note The definition of dependent children depends on age and whether they are applying for a resident visa or a temporary visa. Your child is dependent if they are: If they are 18 or over they must not have children of their own. If they are aged 21 to 24 they must also rely on you or another adult for financial support (depending on which visa they have applied for). Your child is dependent if they: If they are 18 or 19 they must not have children of their own. If your children are 20 or older: If they want to join you in New Zealand they need to apply for their own visa. If your children are aged 20 to 24 they may still be dependent if: Your children must have applied for, or have been included in your application for one of the following residence visas:
Bringing children
How to apply for visas for dependent children.
How your children apply for a visa
Dependent children are not eligible for work visas.
How we define dependent children
Resident visas for dependent children
Temporary visas for dependent children
Primary or secondary student visas and visitor visas
Child of a New Zealander or Worker visitor visas
Eligible residence visas
Documents you need
When you register for the ballot
When you register for the ballot, you will need to provide:
- a copy of your
- copies of the birth certificates for your partner and dependent children, if including them.
When you apply for your residence visa
If you are invited to apply for residence, you will need to provide:
- a copy of your passport or
- 1 acceptable photo
- evidence of a chest X-ray
- evidence of a medical examination
- police certificates
- proof that you are in Samoa or New Zealand when you apply
- evidence you have a job offer, or your partner has a job offer
- evidence you and your partner earn enough money
- documents to show your relationship with your partner and dependent children, proof of their identity and acceptable photos, if you are including them
- translated versions of all your documents if they are not in English.
Sending your passport for an online visa application
If your photo does not meet all of our requirements we will ask you for a new photo. If you are applying for a visa, we will stop processing your application until we receive an acceptable photo. If you are requesting an NZeTA, your request may be delayed or refused. Use the photo examples on this page to check your photo is correct and meets our requirements. Alert Do not use the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs website or other online tools to check your photo as those tools are for passport photos only. Your photo is more likely to be accepted if you use a professional photographer or business that takes passport photos. Give the photographer our instructions to make sure you get a photo that meets our requirements.
The photo you submit with a paper application must be 35 mm wide and 45 mm high. Further instructions are on the paper application forms. Note You can only apply for an NZeTA online. The photo you submit with an online application must be: Alert We are unlikely to accept your photo if it is not the right size. If you request an NZeTA using the web app, you can either upload an existing photo or take one using your device's camera. If you use the mobile app, you can only take a photo using your device's camera. Your photo must be: If you take a photo with your device, the camera must have a minimum resolution of 540 x 720 pixels. Large photos will be automatically formatted. If there is an issue with your photo you will receive an error message when you submit your visa or NZeTA photo online. To help you, we have provided a list of online errors and how to fix them. Your photo must: It may be easier to remove them.
Visa and NZeTA photos
Your photo must be less than 6 months old and clearly identify you. It must also meet all of our technical requirements.
Meeting our photo requirements
Visa and NZeTA photos are not passport photos
Using a professional photographer
Paper applications for visas
Online applications for visas
Online requests for NZeTAs
Online photo error messages
Taking your visa photo
Be in portrait, not landscape
Be of you, not a photo of a photo or your travel document
Have even lighting with minimal shadowing
Be in colour, showing natural skin tones
Be in focus, not blurry
Not contain red-eye
Be an original photo, not changed by photo-editing software
Not be a selfie
Be taken 1.5 metres from the face
Be taken against a plain, light-coloured — but not white — background with no patterns or objects
Only contain plain clothing patterns
Be of one person
We need to clearly see your face
Face the camera and keep your head straight
Keep your eyes open and mouth closed
Do not smile or frown
Show your face clearly and that long hair is tucked behind your ears
Position yourself in the middle of the photo
Remove sunglasses and hats
If you wear prescription glasses
Make sure your eyes show clearly through the lenses, with no reflected light
If you wear a head covering for religious or medical reasons
Make sure that your face and hairline can be seen in the photo
After you apply
After you apply, we may contact you and ask for:
- your original passport or
- more evidence of your ability to speak and understand English
- your parent's full birth certificate, if you were born outside of Samoa.
How to apply
Follow these steps to register for the ballot and complete your application online, if you are invited to apply.
Note
An application containing all the documents we need will prevent delays with processing.
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Step 1: Register for the ballot
Complete your registration for the ballot online. If you have a partner or dependent children, you must include them in your registration.
You can use our guides to help you.
There are no fees to register for the ballot.
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Step 2: Wait for the ballot results
After you register, we will send you a text or email with your ballot number.
After the ballot has closed and we have the results, we will put them on our website.
Samoan Quota Resident Visa ballot results
If you are selected from the ballot and you meet the requirements, we will email you an invitation to apply (ITA) with further information.
You have 8 months to complete your application for a Samoan Quota Resident Visa from the date of your invitation.
Note
If you are not selected, or you do not apply within 8 months of your ITA, you can register for the ballot again next year, as long as you still meet the requirements.
While you are waiting for the ballot results, find out about how life in New Zealand is different from life in the Pacific Islands.
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Step 3: Gather your documents, if you are invited to apply
The section 'Who can apply' explains the requirements for this visa and what you will need as proof.
Get documents translated
For your application you must provide:
- certified English translations of any documents that are not in English
- copies of the original documents.
Documents must be translated by someone who meets our requirements for providing English translations.
Providing English translations of supporting documents
File formats for uploading documents and photos
All documents uploaded must be PDFs and all images must be JPEG or JPG.Documents must be in PDF format
All documents you upload must be in a PDF format and as a single file. For example, if your bank statement is 4 pages, it must be uploaded as a single file and not 4 separate files. Try to avoid uploading multiple copies of the same document.
To merge pages, you can paste documents into a Microsoft Word document and save it as a PDF or use an online PDF merging tool.
Alert
Password protected or compressed files will be rejected by Immigration Online.
Creating PDF documents — wikihow.com
Reducing PDF document file size — wikihow.com
Merging PDF documents — wikihow.com
Passports and travel documents
If you are uploading a copy of your passport or travel document, it should clearly show your information page. This is the page with your photo, name, date of birth and document details such as your passport number and issuing location.
If you are applying for a Permanent Resident Visa, Second or Subsequent Resident Visa, Transit Visa or a variation of travel conditions for a resident visa
Each person included in your application will be asked to upload a scan of the information page of their passport or travel document at the beginning of the application.
The scan should only include the passport information page. You can upload a separate scan of any other required passport pages in the 'Supporting documents' section of the application.
Make sure the scan of the passport information page:
- is high-quality
- can be easily read including all your personal details
- includes the MRZ code - the string of characters on the bottom of the information page of your passport
- does not have any glare or discolouration.
Document size
Check the document file size requirements in the form you are completing. Make sure the documents you upload are not larger than what is allowed.
Photographs must be in JPG or JPEG format
You need to upload a photo of yourself showing a full-front view of your face as part of your application. Visa photos have specific requirements such as no smiling and no hair covering your face.
Face image
You are required to upload a photo showing a full-front view of your face as part of the application.
If you need to convert your photo to the JPG or JPEG format before you upload it, read the instructions on the wikiHow website.
Organise proof of identity, citizenship and age
If you, or your family if they are included, need a new passport, allow enough time to get it.
When you apply, make sure you enter your identity details exactly as they appear on your passport or certificate of identity.
Warning
If there are any mistakes in your identity details, your application will be delayed. We may also decline your application or refuse you entry to New Zealand.
Make sure your photos are acceptable for a New Zealand visa.
Visa and NZeTA photos
Your photo must be less than 6 months old and clearly identify you. It must also meet all of our technical requirements.Meeting our photo requirements
If your photo does not meet all of our requirements we will ask you for a new photo.
If you are applying for a visa, we will stop processing your application until we receive an acceptable photo. If you are requesting an NZeTA, your request may be delayed or refused.
Visa and NZeTA photos are not passport photos
Use the photo examples on this page to check your photo is correct and meets our requirements.
Alert
Do not use the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs website or other online tools to check your photo as those tools are for passport photos only.
Using a professional photographer
Your photo is more likely to be accepted if you use a professional photographer or business that takes passport photos. Give the photographer our instructions to make sure you get a photo that meets our requirements.
Paper applications for visas
The photo you submit with a paper application must be 35 mm wide and 45 mm high. Further instructions are on the paper application forms.
Note
You can only apply for an NZeTA online.
Online applications for visas
The photo you submit with an online application must be:
- between 500 KB and 3 MB
- between 900 x 1,200 pixels and 2,250 x 3,000 pixels, and
- a JPG or JPEG file.
Alert
We are unlikely to accept your photo if it is not the right size.
Online requests for NZeTAs
If you request an NZeTA using the web app, you can either upload an existing photo or take one using your device's camera.
If you use the mobile app, you can only take a photo using your device's camera.
Your photo must be:
- less than 10 MB, and
- a JPG or JPEG file.
If you take a photo with your device, the camera must have a minimum resolution of 540 x 720 pixels. Large photos will be automatically formatted.
Online photo error messages
If there is an issue with your photo you will receive an error message when you submit your visa or NZeTA photo online. To help you, we have provided a list of online errors and how to fix them.
Taking your visa photo
Your photo must:
Be in portrait, not landscape
Be of you, not a photo of a photo or your travel document
Have even lighting with minimal shadowing
Be in colour, showing natural skin tones
Be in focus, not blurry
Not contain red-eye
Be an original photo, not changed by photo-editing software
Not be a selfie
Be taken 1.5 metres from the face
Be taken against a plain, light-coloured — but not white — background with no patterns or objects
Only contain plain clothing patterns
Be of one person
We need to clearly see your face
Face the camera and keep your head straight
Keep your eyes open and mouth closed
Do not smile or frown
Show your face clearly and that long hair is tucked behind your ears
Position yourself in the middle of the photo
Remove sunglasses and hats
If you wear prescription glasses
Make sure your eyes show clearly through the lenses, with no reflected light
It may be easier to remove them.
If you wear a head covering for religious or medical reasons
Make sure that your face and hairline can be seen in the photo
Organise proof for your partner and dependent children, if required
If you are including your partner and dependent children in your application, get documents that show your relationship with them and proof of their identity.
Book medical appointments, if required
If you have determined you, and your family if included, need chest X-rays or medical examinations, you will need to book appointments.
How to get an X-ray or medical examination
If you need a chest X-ray or medical examination for your visa application, you will need to make a doctor's appointment and take any relevant documents with you. You will need to provide evidence of your medical results in your application.Process overview
- Prepare your visa application as much as you can — check if you need an X-ray or medical examination and when.
- If you need an X-ray or examination, make an appointment.
- Get all the things you need for your appointment ready.
- Go to your appointment. The doctor may need you to take other tests — that can take more time.
- Provide evidence of your X-ray or medical examination results in your application.
- Get your results. You can share them with your immigration advisor.
Note
Your chest X-ray and medical examination results must be no more than 3 months old when we get your application.1. Check if you need a chest X-ray or medical examination
You can check the situations where you need an X-ray or medical examination, and the different types of examinations.
Who needs an X-ray or medical examination
If you need a medical examination, you normally get a 'general medical examination' unless you need a limited medical examination. A general medical examination is sometimes called a 'full medical examination'.
For some visas, you must have a chest X-ray, a medical examination or both before you apply.
For an Accredited Employer Work Visa or a Visitor Visa, we will let you know after you submit your application if you need a chest X-ray or medical examination.
2. Make an appointment
If you need a chest X-ray or medical examination, you must visit a doctor or radiologist from our list of 'panel physicians' — unless there are no panel physicians in your country.
Panel physicians are doctors and radiologists approved to complete chest X-rays and medical examinations for New Zealand visa applications.
Check if there is a panel physician in your country.
Doctors who can do examinations
If there is a panel physician in your country
You must visit a panel physician.
- Contact a panel physician to make an appointment for your chest X-ray or medical examination.
- Tell them it is for an Immigration New Zealand application and what visa you are applying for.
- Tell them the type of medical examination you need.
- You can ask the clinic about the costs when you make your appointment.
If there is no panel physician in your country
You can use any registered doctor.
- Contact your doctor to make an appointment for your X-ray or medical examination.
- Tell them it is for an Immigration New Zealand application.
- Tell them the type of medical examination you need.
- You can ask them about the costs when you make your appointment.
- Make sure you have a printed medical certificate form for the examination you need, and 3 passport sized photos.
If you are in New Zealand and only need a chest X-ray
You must visit a panel medical clinic who will refer you to a panel radiology clinic.
- Find a panel medical clinic from the list of approved panel physicians.
- Tell the clinic what type of visa you are applying for, and that you need a chest X-ray only.
- You will normally need to visit the clinic. Bring an identity document.
- The clinic will create a case for you and refer you to a panel radiology clinic.
Note
If there are other people on your application, they will each need an appointment.
If you are menstruating (having a period), you need to wait until your period finishes before having your medical examination. You cannot have your medical examination during your period because the blood can affect your urine test.
For an Accredited Employer Work Visa or Visitor Visa, if we need you to have a chest X-ray or medical examination, we give you an Immigration New Zealand health case reference number (NZHR). Give the NZHR to the clinic when you make your appointment.
Finding your eMedical and INZ health case reference numbers
Bringing someone with you to the appointment
You can bring a family member, support person or interpreter to your appointment.
Let the clinic know when you make your appointment if you are bringing someone with you.
If you are having a physical examination, you can ask the clinic for a chaperone. The clinic must have chaperones available.
3. Get what you need for your appointment
Have the following ready to bring to your appointment:
- an identity document
- your glasses or contact lenses if you use them
- a list of any medication you are taking, including dosage
- any relevant medical reports or X-rays
- other documents you need if you are not visiting a panel physician, or if you are using an immigration adviser.
Identity documents for X-rays and medical examinations
Note
If you are 17 years or under, you need your parent or legal guardian to come with you.
If you are visiting a doctor that is not a panel physician
If you are visiting any registered doctor because there are no panel physicians in your country, you need to also bring:
- 3 recent passport-sized photos less than 6 months old — you only need 1 photo if you are having a chest X-ray and not a medical examination, and
- a printed copy of the required medical certificate form for your doctor to complete and send to us.
Get the medical certificate form you need:
If you are using a licensed immigration adviser
You need to also bring a completed 'Immigration Adviser Details' form to give to the clinic.
4. Go to your appointment
Authority to collect medical information
At your medical appointment, you must sign a form to allow the doctor to send your medical information to us.
If you are 17 or younger, your parent or guardian must sign the form for you.
If your doctor is using eMedical, they will give you an eMedical client consent and declaration form to sign. You can read the form before your appointment:
What happens at the medical examination
There are 3 parts to the medical examination:
- medical history and physical examination
- urine and blood tests
- chest X-ray, if required.
The doctor checks your height, weight, mental state, hearing and vision, listens to your heart and lungs, feels your abdomen and checks your reflexes and other parts of your nervous system.
A nurse or health care assistant may complete parts of the examination.
You will need to:
- remove some items of clothing for the physical examination
- provide a urine sample during the medical examination
- get blood tests, and possibly a chest X-ray or other tests if needed — the clinic will tell you if you need these, and you may need to go to different places to get some tests done.
Paying for your medical examination
You must pay any costs related to your X-ray and medical examinations.
Note
Ask the clinic about the costs when you make your appointment.
5. Provide evidence of your results in your application
In your visa application, you need to provide evidence of your X-ray or examination results.
To show you had an examination you can either:
- tell us the eMedical reference code from your panel physician — we will get your results electronically (this is the quickest way)
- tell us the name of the clinic where you had the medical examination, or
- give us a copy of the completed medical certificate, if you did not visit a panel physician — the doctor will normally send your medical certificate to us, but you can ask them for a copy.
6. How to get your results
To get a copy of your results you can ask the doctor when you have your examination, or any time afterwards.
You can ask for email notifications. If you do, you will receive an email when your physician sends us your results. You cannot reply to this email.
If you have any questions about your results, discuss these with your doctor.
If you need a copy of your results
You can ask the clinic for a copy of your medical examination results.
Once we receive your results you can also contact us if you want a copy of them.
Sharing your medical information with an immigration adviser
If you have an immigration adviser, and would like them to be able to see and ask questions about your medical information, you need to:
- complete an ‘Immigration Adviser Details’ form and take it with you to your medical examination
- ask for copies of your results at your examination and give these to your immigration adviser when you receive them.
Your privacy
The panel physicians who use eMedical must agree to protect your personal information to meet New Zealand privacy laws.
Your information is sent to us using a secure online channel and is available only to us and the clinic where you were examined.
If you have any privacy concerns, you can contact us.
To complete your application, you will need to provide the:
-
reference code from the clinic submitting your health information - name of the clinic submitting your health information, if there is no eMedical reference code, or
- medical certificate, chest X-ray certificate, or both if the clinic gave these to you.
Note
Evidence of a chest X-ray or medical examination must be less than 3 months old when we receive it. Allow yourself enough time to get these.
Apply for police certificates, if required
Check what you will need to include for a resident visa.
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.Being of good character
Anyone applying for a New Zealand visa must meet the character requirements.
When you apply, you must tell us about any issues or activities, both current and in your past, that could affect our decision, including whether you have been:
- involved in criminal or human rights abuse activities, or
- removed or deported from another country.
If there is an issue, we may:
- decline your application, or
- give you a
or a which waive (remove) the requirements.
You can request a character waiver or special direction when you apply. If your request is approved, we can give you a visa if your application meets all other requirements.
Visas are given by special direction only in rare circumstances.
Providing police certificates
You may need to provide us with police certificates to show your good character. Whether you need to give these certificates depends on how long you plan to stay in New Zealand and the visa you are applying for.
If you have determined you need police certificates, you will need to provide them with your application.
Use the tool to find out how to get police certificates from different countries.
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.About police certificates
Depending on the visa you want, and how long you plan to stay in New Zealand, you may need to provide a police certificate as evidence of your good character.
Police certificates are documents issued by the police or a government agency. They:
- provide information about any criminal record you have
- are based on official records and checks
- are also sometimes called criminal checks, police clearance certificates or penal records.
If we ask you to provide a police certificate, you must:
- make sure the police certificate is less than 6 months old when you submit your visa application
- provide us with a translation, if it is not in English.
Providing English translations supporting documents
Find out how to get a police certificate
- are a citizen of, and
- have lived in for more than 5 years since you turned 17.
- any country you are a citizen of
- any other country where you spent 12 months or more over the last 10 years — even if those 12 months were not all in one stay.
- must provide police certificates, if you are applying for a resident visa
- may be asked to provide police certificates, if you are applying for a temporary visa to work or visit.
Applying for a visitor, student or work visa You must provide police certificates if your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer across all visits. This includes any time you have spent in New Zealand in the past on other visas, even if you have been out of the country since then.
Provide police certificates from any country you:
If you are aged 16 or younger, you do not need to provide police certificates.
If you have a criminal record, we may still be able to grant you a visa. You can provide an explanation of your criminal record when you apply, and we will decide if you meet our good character requirements.
Applying for a resident visa You must provide police certificates if you are aged 17 or older.
Provide police certificates from:
Police certificates must show any criminal records you have had at any time in any of these countries — not only in the last 10 years.
If you have a criminal record, we may still be able to give you a visa. You can provide an explanation of your criminal record when you apply, and we will decide if you meet our good character requirements.
Partners supporting your application If you apply for a visa as the partner of a New Zealander or a New Zealand visa holder, your partner is known as the 'supporting partner'.
Your supporting partner must be able to show us they are of good character. They may need to provide police certificates for proof.
If your supporting partner is a New Zealand citizen or has a resident visa, they:
If your partner needs to provide police certificates, the police certificates must be from countries where they have spent 12 months or more over the last 10 years, since they turned 17 — even if the 12 months were not all in one stay.
Police certificates must show any criminal records they have had at any time in any of these countries — not only in the last 10 years.
Note
Your partner does not need to provide a New Zealand police certificate, as we will get one directly from the authorities.
If your supporting partner has a temporary visa to work or study
If your supporting partner has a work or study visa, we may ask your partner to provide police certificates, if you are applying for a temporary visa.
Your partner will not meet our character requirements if they have any convictions for
or sexual offences in the last 7 years, whether in New Zealand or in other countries. If your partner cannot prove good character
If your supporting partner cannot prove they are of good character, we may give them a
. This would mean your partner would still be able to support your visa application. If your partner has any convictions for domestic violence or sexual offences, they cannot support your application.
For all types of visa applications, we still may request police certificates from your partner to make sure they meet our character requirements.
If you have provided police certificates before
You may not need to provide police certificates if you have provided them in a previous visa application. Check the character requirements of the visa you are applying for.
Fingerprinting for police certificates
Some of the authorities that issue police certificates (the police and other government agencies) may require a set of fingerprints when you request a police certificate.
If you do need a set of fingerprints to get a police certificate, check in your region for a fingerprinting service. There are many private businesses who offer fingerprinting services.
If you cannot find a fingerprinting service in your region, you can contact the New Zealand Police to see if they can help. They only offer this service in some regions and on specific days. Contact them to check availability before going to a police station.
Note
Your police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you submit your application. Allow yourself enough time to get these certificates.
Organise proof of location
Get documents that show where you are living, such as letters sent to your home address and references from your employer.
Organise evidence of your job offer
Get documents from your employer that show your job offer is full-time for 12 months or more, and that you have registration for the job if required.
Organise proof you will earn enough money
Get employment agreements or other documents to show that you and your partner will earn at least NZD $53,515.28 between you each year.
Note
We review minimum incomes each year.
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Step 4: Submit your application and pay the fee
To apply online, log in to your account or set up an account if you do not have one already.
You can then fill in your application, upload your documents and pay the applicable fees.
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for fees.
Note
You must submit your application and pay the fee within 8 months of receiving your invitation to apply.
You can fill out the application yourself or ask someone to help you. Because there are rules about giving immigration advice, it is important that the person you ask is allowed to help you.
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Step 5: Wait for our decision
We will let you know if we need more information to process your application.
We will email you when we make a decision.
Check your application progress
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for timeframes.
If we approve your application, we will give you an eVisa and email you a copy.
Note
If you are already in New Zealand, you must have a valid visa. If you think your current visa may expire while you are waiting for our decision on your resident visa application, you should also apply for a new temporary visa to work, study or visit.
When you apply for a temporary visa, we may give you an Interim Visa if your current visa expires while your application is being processed. This will let you stay in New Zealand lawfully.
Check the 'While you are in New Zealand' section to find out what you can and cannot do when you come to New Zealand.
How to pay and submit
We cannot display any process or costs information until you have provided your country details.
Enter your details so we can show information that is relevant to you.
When you get your visa
You must come to New Zealand within 3 months of when we give you your visa. Your partner and children must come to New Zealand within 12 months.
Your visa is valid from:
- the date you enter New Zealand, if you are outside New Zealand when we approve your application, or
- the date you get your visa, if you are already in New Zealand.
When you arrive
Entry permission
You must apply for permission to enter New Zealand. You do this by completing a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) form.
You can start your digital declaration any time, but the earliest you can submit it is 24 hours before starting your travel to New Zealand.
A paper declaration form is available for travellers who cannot complete it online.
New Zealand Traveller Declaration
New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that you meet their entry requirements.
Alert
You can be refused entry permission if you:
- do not meet our character requirements
- have had a change in circumstances since we issued your visa
- refuse to let us take your photo, fingerprints or an iris scan.
If you have been refused entry to New Zealand and you still want to travel to here, contact the Customer Service Centre for advice. You may need to apply for a visa before you travel here again. Together with your airline or other carrier, we can stop you from travelling to New Zealand if you do not meet our entry requirements — for example, if you cannot provide evidence that you can meet the conditions of your visa. When you arrive we check your identity and other information again before we give you
Alert Having a visa does not guarantee that you will be allowed to enter New Zealand. Your airline or other carrier can be fined if they let you board an aircraft or ship after we have let them know that you cannot travel. We can stop you from travelling to New Zealand if: We can stop you travelling to New Zealand or entering the country if you: We can also refuse to let you travel to or enter New Zealand if you cannot show us evidence to support the conditions of your visa. For example, you cannot show us evidence that you: Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in NZ If your circumstances have changed and you can no longer meet the conditions of your visa we can also refuse to let you enter New Zealand. For example, if your work visa is based on a job offer that has since been withdrawn you will not be allowed to travel to New Zealand on that visa. You cannot come to New Zealand if you do not meet our health and character requirements. For example, you can be refused entry if: You could be refused entry to New Zealand if you:
What might stop you from being allowed to enter New Zealand
Together with your airline or other carrier, we can stop you from travelling to New Zealand if you do not meet our entry requirements. For example, if you cannot provide evidence that you can meet the conditions of your visa.
Why we stop you travelling to or entering New Zealand
Your identity and travel documents
Information you provide to us
Meeting the conditions of your visa
Your character and health
Arriving in New Zealand
While you are in New Zealand
Your visa conditions are recorded in your eVisa.
Your resident visa allows you to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely.
Travel
You can travel in and out of New Zealand as many times as you like until your travel conditions expire.
Your travel conditions expire 2 years from:
- the date you first arrive in New Zealand as a resident, or
- the date your visa is given, if you are already in New Zealand.
To travel after that, you need to:
- get a Permanent Resident Visa, or
- extend your travel conditions, which would let you return to New Zealand at a later date.
Check or change your resident visa conditions
With a Permanent Resident Visa, you can travel in and out of New Zealand indefinitely, as long as you keep your visa in a valid passport.
If your passport expires, you must apply to transfer your visa to a new passport before you can travel.
Transferring your visa to a new passport
Alert
If you are outside of New Zealand when your travel conditions expire, your visa will expire as well.
Work
You can work in any job for any employer in New Zealand.
Study
You can study anywhere in New Zealand for any length of time.
Staying longer
Getting a Permanent Resident Visa
After you have had a Samoan Quota Resident Visa for 2 years in a row, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.
With a Permanent Resident Visa, you can travel in and out of New Zealand indefinitely, as long as you keep your visa in a valid passport.
Becoming a permanent resident of New Zealand
Getting citizenship
For most people, after 5 years of living in New Zealand as a resident, you may be able to get New Zealand citizenship. You do not need a Permanent Resident Visa first.
Children and citizens of Samoa may not have to meet all the requirements.