In plain English
For resident visa applications made on or after 3 August 2026, hepatitis B or C no longer means an automatic finding that you don’t meet the health standard.
Key points
- Medical assessors now consider each applicant’s circumstances.
- The significant cost threshold is NZD $81,000.
- Wording for several other conditions was clarified.
Who’s affected
Resident visa applicants with hepatitis B or C.
What you should do
If a past application was affected, ask us whether a new application makes sense.
Immigration New Zealand, “Hepatitis B and C removed from the high-cost health list”, published 5 August 2026. Read the full announcement. Summary by Destination NZI; INZ content © Crown, licensed under CC BY 3.0 NZ.
Related visas
Submit an expression of interest with a job or job offer from an accredited employer and meet one of the SMC pathways.
- Stay
- Live, work and study indefinitely
- INZ visa fee
- From NZD $6,450
- Processing
- EOI first
+ our service fee, quoted upfront
For a job or job offer with an accredited employer in a Green List Tier 1 role.
- Stay
- Live, work and study indefinitely
- INZ visa fee
- From NZD $6,450
- Processing
- 80% within 3 months
+ our service fee, quoted upfront
After 24 months in a Green List Tier 2 job with an accredited employer.
- Stay
- Live, work and study indefinitely
- INZ visa fee
- From NZD $6,450
- Processing
- See INZ page
+ our service fee, quoted upfront
