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Publicly-funded healthcare eligibility in New Zealand: residence, work-visa, and reciprocal routes
Document Checklist
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
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
eVisa confirmation
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
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
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
United Kingdom permanent residents who are not United Kingdom citizens are excluded from the reciprocal-agreement route
NHI
National Health Index number
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
The NHI is an identifier; eligibility is determined separately and recorded against the NHI record
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