Understand New Zealand health and character checks

What it means and why it matters

New Zealand immigration rules usually require applicants to meet an **acceptable standard of health** and be of **good character**. In practice, this may mean completing an immigration medical exam, a chest x-ray, and providing police certificates from countries where you have lived for a certain period.

Health checks look at whether you are likely to create a significant cost or demand on New Zealand health or special education services, or whether there is a public health concern. Character checks look at criminal history, deportation history, risk to New Zealand, and whether the information you provide is truthful and complete.

These requirements matter because a strong visa application is not only about your job, study plan, relationship or family pathway. If health or character issues are not handled properly, INZ may ask for more information, delay the application, or in some cases decline it. If you already know there may be an issue, it is wise to understand the process before you apply.

How it works step by step

The exact steps depend on your visa type, your age, how long you intend to stay, where you have lived, and whether INZ already holds recent medical or police information for you. As general guidance, the process often looks like this:

1. **Check what your visa category requires.** Temporary visas and residence visas can have different health and character thresholds. 2. **Complete medicals with an approved panel physician if required.** Many applicants must use an INZ-approved clinic. You can learn more in our guide to the [immigration medical exam in New Zealand](/immigration-medical-exam-nz/). 3. **Provide a chest x-ray if required.** This is commonly connected to tuberculosis screening, but requirements vary. 4. **Collect police certificates.** INZ may ask for certificates from your country of citizenship and countries where you have lived for a specified period. If you need a China police certificate, see our guide to [police certificates from China](/police-certificate-from-china/). 5. **Respond to any INZ requests.** If INZ has concerns, it may request specialist reports, further evidence, explanations, or updated documents.

Rules and document validity periods can change, so always confirm the current INZ instructions or speak with a licensed adviser before you spend money on tests or certificates.

What to prepare

Good preparation can save time. Before you apply, gather your identity documents, passport details, address history, travel history, previous visa history, and information about any medical conditions or past convictions.

For health checks, prepare:

- Your passport or approved identity document for the clinic - Any glasses, contact lenses, medication lists, or specialist reports you already have - Details of previous surgeries, hospital treatment, long-term conditions or disability support needs - Pregnancy information, if relevant, as this may affect chest x-ray timing

For character checks, prepare:

- Police certificates required by INZ for relevant countries - Accurate dates of residence and travel - Court documents, sentencing records or discharge documents if there has been any conviction - A written explanation if there is a past issue that needs context

Do not guess or hide information. A minor issue disclosed clearly is often easier to manage than inconsistent information discovered later. If you are unsure whether something needs to be declared, get advice from a licensed immigration adviser or immigration lawyer.

Common mistakes to avoid

A common mistake is leaving health and character documents until the last minute. Medical appointment availability, police certificate processing, translation, certification and INZ follow-up requests can all add time.

Other mistakes include:

- **Using the wrong medical provider.** INZ normally requires approved panel physicians for immigration medicals. - **Submitting expired or invalid police certificates.** Validity rules vary and can change. - **Providing uncertified or poor translations.** Non-English documents usually need proper translation. - **Assuming a past conviction is irrelevant.** Even old or minor matters may need to be declared depending on the question asked. - **Not responding fully to INZ.** If INZ asks for more information, incomplete responses can create further delays.

If there is a serious medical condition or a character concern, do not rely on online forums or informal advice. Some applicants may need a health waiver or character waiver assessment, but waivers are not automatic and depend on the visa category and the facts. For a plain-English overview, see [character waivers explained](/character-waiver-explained/).

How it connects to your pathway

Health and character requirements sit underneath almost every New Zealand immigration pathway. Whether you are applying for a work visa, studying in New Zealand, joining a partner, bringing dependent children, sponsoring parents, or applying for residence, INZ will usually check that you meet the relevant standard.

The level of scrutiny can differ. Residence applications often involve a deeper assessment because you are asking to live in New Zealand long term. Temporary visas may have different requirements depending on length of stay and risk factors. Some partnership, family and child applications can also require careful document planning, especially where several family members are included.

Your pathway also affects what happens if an issue is found. For example, the availability of a waiver can depend on the visa type, the strength of the application, and whether New Zealand has a compelling reason to approve the visa despite the issue. This is one reason an eligibility check should look beyond job title or relationship status and include health, character and document readiness.

Where to go next

If you are at an early planning stage, start by understanding which visa pathway may fit your situation. Then check what health and character documents are likely to be needed, how long they may take, and whether any issue should be reviewed before you apply.

Yimin’s [free eligibility checker](/eligibility-checker/) is designed as indicative orientation only. It can help you organise the basics — your nationality, current location, work, study, family situation, and possible concerns — before you speak with a professional.

If your case is straightforward, preparation may be mostly about timing and correct documents. If your case includes a medical condition, past conviction, previous visa refusal, deportation issue, or inconsistent records, it is better to get guidance early rather than trying to fix the problem after INZ raises concerns.

Talk to a licensed adviser

Yimin is a free, independent information and matching service. We are not a licensed immigration adviser and we do not give personalised immigration advice. What we can do is help you understand the general process, complete an initial eligibility check, and connect you with an IAA-licensed immigration adviser or immigration lawyer for advice tailored to your situation.

If you are unsure what medicals, x-rays or police certificates you need — or if you already know there may be a health or character issue — you can [book a free intro call](/contact/). A licensed adviser can confirm current INZ requirements, help you assess risk, and guide you on the right next step before you submit an application.

Health and character checks can feel stressful, but they are manageable when you prepare early and provide clear, accurate information.