New Zealand eases resident visa health rules; Hepatitis B, C no longer automatic hurdle

New Zealand has eased its health assessment rules for resident visa applicants by removing hepatitis B and hepatitis C from its list of high-cost health conditions, a move that could benefit many prospective migrants, including Indians seeking permanent residence in the country, according to Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

The change applies to resident visa applications submitted on or after August 3, 2026. Under the revised policy, applicants with hepatitis B or hepatitis C will no longer be automatically assessed as failing New Zealand's acceptable standard of health requirement.

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The decision follows a review by Immigration New Zealand (INZ), which found that the cost of treating both conditions has fallen significantly. The expected treatment cost is now well below the country's significant cost threshold of NZD 81,000, prompting the removal of both conditions from the high-cost health conditions list.

For Indian nationals planning to settle in New Zealand, the change means that a diagnosis of hepatitis B or C will no longer automatically count against a resident visa application. Instead, INZ medical assessors will evaluate each applicant based on their individual medical circumstances.

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Applicants must still meet New Zealand's overall health requirements. However, those with hepatitis B or hepatitis C will now receive an individual assessment rather than being presumed to place significant costs or demands on the country's health or education services.

Alongside this change, INZ has updated the wording for several other conditions on the high-cost health conditions list to improve clarity for applicants and medical assessors.

Under the revised guidance:

• Major psychiatric illness and/or addiction will be included only where significant support is required.
• The description of severe autoimmune diseases has been updated to reflect a wider range of lower-cost treatment options.
• The wording for renal and hepatic disorders has been clarified to better define the conditions covered by the list.

INZ said the revisions are intended to keep the high-cost health conditions list focused on medical conditions that are likely to impose significant costs or demands on New Zealand's public health services.

The immigration agency said it worked closely with the country's Ministry of Health on the changes, while Pharmac, New Zealand's pharmaceutical management agency, also supported removing hepatitis B and hepatitis C from the high-cost health conditions list.