---
title: "Publicly-funded healthcare eligibility in New Zealand: residence, work-visa, and reciprocal routes"
country: "new-zealand"
service: "publicly-funded-healthcare-eligibility"
category: healthcare
difficulty: moderate
estimated_time: Eligibility is determined at first contact with a healthcare provider — typically minutes during the consultation; no separate application process
cost_range: NZ$0 at point of use for eligible persons in public hospital care; subsidised primary care fees apply at General Practice clinics
last_verified: 2026-05-21
canonical: https://publicservices.guide/new-zealand/publicly-funded-healthcare-eligibility-residence-and-work-visa-routes/
status: current
confidence: low
tags:
  - healthcare
  - eligibility
  - "new-arrival"
  - "residence-visa"
  - "work-visa"
  - "reciprocal-agreement"
  - refugee
  - nhi
sources:
  - https://www.govt.nz/browse/health/public-health-services/getting-publicly-funded-health-services/
  - https://www.govt.nz/browse/health/public-health-services/healthcare-on-a-work-visa/
  - https://www.immigration.govt.nz/process-to-apply/applying-for-a-visa/providing-evidence-and-documents-to-support-your-visa-application/health-requirements/who-can-get-public-health-care/
  - https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2011-go2492
  - https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/corporate-information/our-health-system/eligibility-for-publicly-funded-health-services/reciprocal-health-agreements
  - https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/corporate-information/news-and-updates/health-new-zealand-te-whatu-ora-announces-new-national-health-index-nhi-format-effective-1-july-2026
  - https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/hospitals-services/eligibility-subsidies/publicly-funded-healthcare
  - https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/our-health-system/eligibility-for-publicly-funded-health-services/national-health-index-entitlements/
---

# Publicly-funded healthcare eligibility in New Zealand: residence, work-visa, and reciprocal routes

**Country:** 🇳🇿 New Zealand  
**Last verified:** 2026-05-21  
**Estimated time:** Eligibility is determined at first contact with a healthcare provider — typically minutes during the consultation; no separate application process  
**Cost:** NZ$0 at point of use for eligible persons in public hospital care; subsidised primary care fees apply at General Practice clinics

## Required documents

- **Passport with current visa endorsement**
  - Required: Original, current, with the relevant Immigration New Zealand visa endorsement (residence-class, work visa with two-year-or-more validity, or partner visa where applicable)
  - Where to obtain: Issued by the passport authority of your country of citizenship; visa endorsement issued by Immigration New Zealand
  - Cost: Passport fee varies by country; visa fees set by Immigration New Zealand by visa class
  - _Note:_ Healthcare providers apply the Health New Zealand · *Te Whatu Ora* eligibility checklist against this document; the visa class and stated validity period determine eligibility
- **eVisa confirmation** *(eVisa)*
  - Required: Printed or digital copy of the visa-grant confirmation from your Immigration New Zealand online account at my.immigration.govt.nz
  - Where to obtain: Immigration New Zealand online account (Te Ratonga Manene)
  - Cost: Free for the digital confirmation itself; visa-application fees are separate and set by Immigration New Zealand by visa class
  - _Note:_ Required for visas issued electronically by Immigration New Zealand · *Te Ratonga Manene*; the digital confirmation is treated as equivalent to a visa label by Health New Zealand providers
- **Evidence of Australian citizenship or permanent residence (reciprocal-agreement route)**
  - Required: Current Australian passport showing Australian citizenship, or evidence of Australian permanent residence
  - Where to obtain: Australian passport authority or Department of Home Affairs
  - Cost: Set by the Australian issuing authority
  - _Note:_ Required only for the reciprocal-agreement route; not required for residence-class or work-visa routes
- **Evidence of United Kingdom citizenship and ordinary residence (reciprocal-agreement route)**
  - Required: Current United Kingdom passport showing United Kingdom citizenship; the reciprocal agreement applies only to United Kingdom citizens ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom at the time of travel
  - Where to obtain: His Majesty's Passport Office
  - Cost: Set by His Majesty's Passport Office
  - _Note:_ United Kingdom permanent residents who are not United Kingdom citizens are excluded from the reciprocal-agreement route
- **National Health Index number** *(NHI)*
  - Required: Where one has been previously assigned; if no NHI exists, one is assigned at first contact with a healthcare provider
  - Where to obtain: Assigned automatically by Health New Zealand · Te Whatu Ora the first time you use a health or disability service
  - Cost: Free
  - _Note:_ The NHI is an identifier; eligibility is determined separately and recorded against the NHI record

## Costs

- **Public hospital and Emergency Department care, eligible person:** 0 NZD — Free at point of use for any eligible person under the statutory direction. Funded through general taxation.
- **General Practice visit, enrolled adult, Primary Health Organisation subsidised rate:** 19.5–60 NZD — Subsidised rate band for an adult enrolled with a Primary Health Organisation. The rate is not nationally fixed; each Primary Health Organisation and clinic sets its own fee within the per-visit subsidy bands set by Health New Zealand. Verify the actual fee with your General Practice clinic before booking.
- **General Practice visit, child under fourteen, Zero Fees scheme:** 0 NZD — Free at participating practices under the Zero Fees for Under 14s scheme. Most New Zealand General Practice clinics participate; verify with the clinic at enrolment.
- **General Practice visit, casual rate or non-eligible:** 80–120 NZD — Casual or non-eligible rate band — applied to non-enrolled patients and to patients who are not eligible for publicly-funded healthcare. The rate is set by each practice and is not nationally fixed.
- **Prescription item under the PHARMAC schedule, eligible person:** 5 NZD — Co-payment per prescribed item for an eligible person, capped at twenty items per family per calendar year. Specific exemptions apply for community services card holders and certain demographic groups.
- **Hospital treatment, non-accident, non-eligible person:** 0 NZD — Charged at unsubsidised rates — typically several thousand dollars per inpatient day for complex care. Personally liable when not eligible. Accident-related treatment is separately covered by the Accident Compensation Corporation scheme regardless of visa class.

## Steps

### 1. Confirm which of the four eligibility routes applies to you

- Residence-class visa holder, including Resident Visa, Permanent Resident Visa, and pathways feeding into them (Skilled Migrant Category, Parent Resident, Partner of a New Zealander Resident, Pacific Access Category)
- Work-visa holder with a visa stated to be valid for two years or more from your first day in New Zealand
- Citizen or qualifying resident of Australia or the United Kingdom, on a temporary visit, under the New Zealand reciprocal healthcare agreement with that country
- Recognised refugee, protected person, or person in the process of applying for or appealing a refugee or protection determination under the Immigration Act 2009

> **Tip:** The 2-year-or-more rule on a work visa is strict. A new arrival on an Accredited Employer Work Visa stated to be valid for three years qualifies on day one; a new arrival on a six-month work visa does not qualify even at month five.

> **If this fails:** If none of the four routes applies — for example, a visitor-visa holder, a student-visa holder outside the listed scheme categories, or a work-visa holder whose visa is stated to be valid for less than two years — you are personally liable for the full unsubsidised cost of any non-accident treatment in New Zealand. The corollary is set out on the Immigration New Zealand who-can-get-public-health-care page: "In general, people who have temporary visas to visit, study and work in New Zealand cannot get publicly funded health care in New Zealand. Check the conditions of the visa you are applying for to see if you are eligible."

### 2. Assemble your evidence-of-eligibility documents

- Passport with the current Immigration New Zealand visa endorsement, or the eVisa confirmation from your my.immigration.govt.nz online account for electronically-issued visas
- For the Australian reciprocal-agreement route: a current Australian passport showing Australian citizenship, or evidence of Australian permanent residence
- For the United Kingdom reciprocal-agreement route: a current United Kingdom passport showing United Kingdom citizenship; United Kingdom permanent residents who are not citizens do not qualify
- For refugees and protected persons: documentation from Immigration New Zealand or the Refugee Status Branch
- For New Zealand citizens: New Zealand passport, citizenship certificate, or New Zealand birth certificate

> **Tip:** No separate application form for eligibility is required. The healthcare provider applies the Health New Zealand · Te Whatu Ora eligibility checklist against your documents at the first contact.

### 3. Obtain or recover your National Health Index number at first health-service contact *(NHI)*

- If you have never used a New Zealand health or disability service, an NHI is assigned automatically the first time you do; no separate application or fee is required
- If you have used a New Zealand health service before — including a previous visit on a different visa — recover your existing NHI by presenting your passport and any previous health-service record
- The NHI is assigned at the consultation, typically within minutes; eligibility is recorded as a separate field against your NHI record

> **Tip:** Holding an NHI is not the same as being eligible. The NHI is an identifier; your current visa or residence status determines whether publicly-funded healthcare is available.

### 4. Enrol with a General Practice and a Primary Health Organisation *(Primary Health Organisation)*

- Choose a General Practice clinic accepting enrolments and complete its Primary Health Organisation enrolment form
- Present your evidence-of-eligibility documents at enrolment; the clinic verifies you against the Te Whatu Ora eligibility checklist
- Enrolment is voluntary but strongly recommended for eligible persons — the subsidised General Practice rate applies from the enrolment date, and PHARMAC prescription co-payments become available
- Children under fourteen are eligible for the Zero Fees for Under 14s scheme at participating practices; verify scheme participation at the chosen clinic

> **If this fails:** If the practice declines enrolment because eligibility documents are inadequate or because your visa is stated to be valid for less than two years, you can still access care at the casual rate as a non-enrolled patient. Casual-rate General Practice fees are typically in the NZ$80 to NZ$120 band per visit; verify the actual fee with the practice. Where eligibility is in dispute, the Ministry of Health · *Manatū Hauora* is the disputes determining authority under the statutory direction.

### 5. Present evidence at each new provider

- Eligibility evidence may be requested again at each new provider — hospital, specialist, pharmacy
- Once your eligibility is recorded against your NHI, providers connected to the National Enrolment Service can verify status without re-presenting documents
- Carry your passport with current visa endorsement and your NHI number when you attend a new clinic, hospital, or pharmacy

> **Tip:** Providers apply the eligibility checklist at registration. Resolving an eligibility question at the counter is faster than disputing a charge after treatment.

### 6. Access publicly-funded hospital and specialist services

- Non-emergency hospital and specialist care is accessed via General Practice referral
- Emergency care is accessed directly via a public hospital Emergency Department; Emergency Department care is free at point of use for eligible persons
- Primary Health Organisation enrolment is not required for hospital access — public hospital and Emergency Department care is free for all eligible persons whether enrolled or not

> **Tip:** Hospital care is free at point of use for eligible persons regardless of Primary Health Organisation enrolment; enrolment status only affects primary-care subsidies.

## FAQ

### I am here on a six-month work visa. Am I eligible for publicly-funded healthcare?

No. The work-visa route requires the visa to be valid for two years or more from your first day in New Zealand. A six-month work visa does not qualify, even at month five. You are personally liable for the full General Practice fee — typically in the NZ$80 to NZ$120 casual-rate band — and for any hospital treatment that is not accident-related. Accident-related care is separately covered by the Accident Compensation Corporation scheme regardless of visa class.

### Does holding a National Health Index number make me eligible?

No. The NHI is an identifier, not an eligibility token. Eligibility is determined separately under the statutory direction and recorded against the NHI as a separate field. If you used New Zealand healthcare on a previous three-year work visa and have now returned on a six-month visitor visa, you have an NHI but are not currently eligible.

### I am a United Kingdom citizen visiting friends in New Zealand. Does the reciprocal agreement cover my regular medication?

Almost certainly not. The United Kingdom reciprocal agreement covers only treatment for a condition that arose after arrival, or became, or without treatment would have become, acutely exacerbated after arrival. Routine continuation of a pre-existing chronic medication regime is generally outside the agreement's scope. Bring your own supply or arrange private cover for the duration of the visit.

### I am an Australian permanent resident with a New Zealand Resident Visa. Which route applies?

Once you hold a New Zealand Resident Visa, you are on the residence-class route and qualify without any duration qualifier. The reciprocal-agreement path applies to Australians on a temporary visit; once you are resident, you no longer rely on the reciprocal agreement.

### My visa is endorsed for two years but I might leave after six months — am I still eligible during my actual stay?

Yes. Eligibility under the work-visa route is tied to the visa's stated validity period of two years or more, not your subjective intent or actual duration of stay. As long as the visa's stated validity is two years or more, you remain eligible while it is current.

### Is the new NHI format from 1 July 2026 going to affect my existing NHI number?

No. From 1 July 2026 the format of newly-issued NHI numbers becomes AAA11A# (three letters, two digits, one letter, one check letter) rather than the current AAA111# format. The change expands capacity from approximately ten million to thirty-three million identifiers. Existing NHI numbers remain valid and unchanged — most patients will not notice a difference. Only new arrivals registering for an NHI on or after 1 July 2026, and new babies, receive the new format.

### I read in news coverage about a ManageMyHealth data breach. Does this affect my eligibility?

No. The ManageMyHealth incident was a security event affecting a third-party patient-portal vendor; it had no effect on the statutory eligibility direction or the integrity of the NHI system itself, and it is not relevant to a new arrival's eligibility determination today.

### I am a New Zealand Resident Visa holder. Do I need to enrol with a General Practice to get free hospital care?

No. Public hospital and Emergency Department care is free at point of use for all eligible persons whether enrolled with a Primary Health Organisation or not. Primary Health Organisation enrolment matters for primary-care subsidies — cheaper General Practice visits and subsidised PHARMAC prescriptions — but does not gate hospital care.

### I am from a country that is not Australia or the United Kingdom. Is there a European Health Insurance Card equivalent for New Zealand?

No. New Zealand is not in the European Union and is outside European social-security coordination instruments such as the European Health Insurance Card. Reciprocal healthcare agreements are in force only with Australia and the United Kingdom; no equivalent multi-country coverage scheme exists for arrivals from other countries. Eligibility depends on which of the four statutory routes you fall within: residence-class visa, work visa valid for two years or more, the reciprocal agreement route, or refugee or protected-person status.

## Local tips

- An NHI number is an identifier, not an eligibility token. Eligibility is recorded against the NHI as a separate field; holding an NHI from a previous visit does not mean you are currently eligible.
- Hospital and Emergency Department care is free at point of use for all eligible persons — Primary Health Organisation enrolment is not required for hospital access. Enrolment matters for subsidised General Practice visits and PHARMAC prescription co-payments.
- Australian permanent residents (not just citizens) are explicitly covered under the New Zealand-Australia reciprocal agreement on a temporary visit. The United Kingdom arm excludes United Kingdom permanent residents — only United Kingdom citizens qualify.
- If you are on an interim visa pending decision on a Resident Visa, you carry forward the eligibility status you held immediately before the interim visa was granted.
- Eligibility is tied to the work visa's stated validity period, not the time you have actually been in New Zealand. A new arrival on a three-year Accredited Employer Work Visa qualifies on day one.

## Sources

- [New Zealand Government — govt.nz citizen aggregator](https://www.govt.nz/browse/health/public-health-services/getting-publicly-funded-health-services/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — The eligible-categories list on the govt.nz aggregator page enumerates the four practical routes for new arrivals: New Zealand citizen or permanent resident; Australian citizen or permanent resident who has lived or plans to live in New Zealand for at least two years; work visa holder eligible to be in New Zealand for two years or more; refugee, protected person, or person in the process of applying for or appealing a refugee or protection determination. Additional categories include children under seventeen with an eligible parent or guardian, interim-visa holders carrying forward prior eligibility, New Zealand Aid Programme students, Commonwealth Scholarship students, foreign language teaching assistants, and victims or suspected victims of people trafficking.
- [New Zealand Government — govt.nz work-visa healthcare page](https://www.govt.nz/browse/health/public-health-services/healthcare-on-a-work-visa/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — The work-visa route requires the visa to be valid for two years or more, with validity counted from the holder's first day in New Zealand. Work-visa holders whose visa is valid for less than two years are personally liable for the full cost of any non-accident medical treatment received in New Zealand. Accident-related treatment is separately covered through the Accident Compensation Corporation scheme regardless of visa class.
- [Immigration New Zealand · Te Ratonga Manene](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/process-to-apply/applying-for-a-visa/providing-evidence-and-documents-to-support-your-visa-application/health-requirements/who-can-get-public-health-care/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — Most people who have resident visas and live in New Zealand can access publicly funded healthcare. In general, people who have temporary visas to visit, study, or work in New Zealand cannot access publicly funded health care and should check the conditions of the visa being applied for to determine eligibility. The Immigration New Zealand page cross-references the detailed Health New Zealand · Te Whatu Ora eligibility guidance.
- [New Zealand Gazette — Notice 2011-go2492](https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2011-go2492) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — The Health and Disability Services Eligibility Direction was issued by the Minister of Health under section 32 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000. It came into force on 14 April 2011, the day after Gazette publication. The Direction sets out the categories of eligible persons binding on every former District Health Board, and now binding on Health New Zealand · Te Whatu Ora as successor under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022. The Ministry of Health is responsible for determining any dispute concerning whether a person is eligible to receive services funded under the Act; the Ministry has no discretion to amend the criteria or make individual exceptions.
- [Health New Zealand · Te Whatu Ora — reciprocal-health-agreements](https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/corporate-information/our-health-system/eligibility-for-publicly-funded-health-services/reciprocal-health-agreements) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — Reciprocal healthcare agreements are in force only with Australia and the United Kingdom. Australian citizens and permanent residents on a temporary visit to New Zealand (up to two years) are covered for immediately necessary medical treatment. Australian citizens or permanent residents who have been in New Zealand for two consecutive years or more, or who can demonstrate reasonable intention to remain for that period, become eligible for all publicly funded services. The United Kingdom arm covers United Kingdom citizens ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on a temporary stay, for a condition that arose after arrival, or became, or without treatment would have become, acutely exacerbated after arrival. The United Kingdom arm is restricted to United Kingdom citizens and does not cover United Kingdom permanent residents.
- [Health New Zealand · Te Whatu Ora — news-and-updates](https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/corporate-information/news-and-updates/health-new-zealand-te-whatu-ora-announces-new-national-health-index-nhi-format-effective-1-july-2026) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — A new National Health Index number format will be issued from 1 July 2026. The current format AAA111# (three letters, three digits, and a single check digit) accommodates approximately ten million unique identifiers; the new format AAA11A# (three letters, two digits, another letter, and one check letter) expands capacity to thirty-three million unique identifiers. Existing NHI numbers remain valid and unchanged. The new format will be issued to new babies and people using the health system for the first time; both formats will coexist to minimise disruption to existing systems. The transition was initially set for 1 October 2025 and has been extended to 1 July 2026 to provide additional time for health information technology suppliers and organisations to adapt.
- [Health New Zealand (healthnz.govt.nz consolidated domain)](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/hospitals-services/eligibility-subsidies/publicly-funded-healthcare) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — The consolidated canonical destination for publicly-funded healthcare eligibility guidance on the Health New Zealand website following the 20 May 2026 domain consolidation. Content covers the eligible-person categories under the statutory direction, the National Health Index identifier role, evidence-of-eligibility requirements applied at first provider contact, and the Ministry of Health Manatū Hauora role as disputes determining authority.
- [Health New Zealand · Te Whatu Ora — NHI entitlements](https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/our-health-system/eligibility-for-publicly-funded-health-services/national-health-index-entitlements/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — The National Health Index number is an identifier and not an eligibility token. Holding an NHI does not establish eligibility for publicly-funded healthcare; eligibility is recorded against the NHI as a separate field. An NHI is assigned automatically at first contact with a healthcare provider for new arrivals who have not previously used New Zealand health or disability services; no separate application or fee is required.

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Verification pending — see the canonical page for the latest trust state.
Canonical: https://publicservices.guide/new-zealand/publicly-funded-healthcare-eligibility-residence-and-work-visa-routes/