A refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution or a natural disaster. There are support services in New Zealand which can provide support in such a difficult situation. To find out about these, talk to your immigration lawyer/consultant/advocate or contact your local HIV/AIDS service organisation.

Refugees and all people applying to live in New Zealand must complete an Immigration Medical Exam (IME) which includes an HIV test. Refugee applicants living with HIV have the same rights as all other people in New Zealand. Your HIV status will not affect your application negatively. Tell a lawyer/consultant/advocate about your HIV status as soon as you can – they are required by law to keep everything you tell them confidential.

Quota refugees are New Zealand residents on arrival and have the same entitlements as all New Zealanders to publicly provided health and disability services, and to subsidised primary health care (Minister of Health Health 2003)

Many refugees get short-term health insurance called Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA). It is available for up to eight months.

Immigration rules frequently change so always check with INZ, a registered immigration consultant, lawyer or advisor for the latest requirements. Contact Immigration NZ (INZ) at 0508 558 855 or immigration.govt.nz to get detailed information about applying.

An international student is a person who comes to New Zealand with a student visa for education. A student visa is subject to conditions for renewal. If you want to extend your study, check the expiry date on your visa and make sure you apply before that date. Full fee paying students don’t usually need to provide a medical certificate, however you may need a chest x-ray if from a country where tuberculosis is present.

NZ immigration law includes rules that may directly impact you if your health care costs are higher than the average New Zealander. You can find detailed information about these rules and how they affect people living with HIV on the NZ Immigration website or through a registered immigration lawyer, consultant or advocate.

Most international students will need to purchase health insurance in New Zealand as they are not covered under the national healthcare system. All HIV medication and related healthcare is free to anyone legally in NZ. PHD students do not need health insurance as they have access to the National Health System.

Immigration rules frequently change so always check with INZ, a registered immigration consultant, lawyer or advisor for the latest requirements. Contact Immigration NZ (INZ) at 0508 558 855 or immigration.govt.nz to get detailed information about applying.

A temporary worker is a person who is hired to fill temporary labour and skill shortages.

You can visit New Zealand as a tourist without any restrictions, and obtaining a work visa is possible if the duration of the work visa is not more than 12 months.

Work Visa applications with a duration longer than 12 months will require an immigration medical, and part of this medical check does include a test for HIV. Prior to 2021 a positive result meant that the visa application would be automatically declined, however in October 2021 HIV was removed from the list of medical conditions deemed “likely to impose significant costs or demands” on the health services. This means that each visa applicant with HIV will now be assessed on a “case by case” basis.

If the person living with HIV is in a ‘long term stable relationship’ with a New Zealand citizen, they are granted an automatic medical waiver for their HIV status so that it is no longer a factor in their visa or residency application.

You may be eligible for health coverage through the government. However, if you do not qualify, your health coverage can be paid for either through your employer or private insurance that you purchase. If you do not have either of these, you may have to pay for health care and medication yourself.

Everybody in New Zealand, regardless if you are a citizen/resident, on a temporary work/study visa or even a tourist visa, receives the same care and treatment for HIV, free of charge.

When travelling to New Zealand, we recommend you bring as much of your current HIV medication with you as you can. Once this runs out you will be able to obtain further medication for the duration of your stay free of charge via the public health system (please note that NZ lags behind other countries with access to some newer HIV medications, so there is a chance that you may need to switch to a different combination of drugs when here, if the combination you currently take isn't available - List of HIV Medications Funded in New Zealand)

Your HIV status may affect your application to work in NZ. NZ immigration law includes rules that may directly impact you if your health care costs are higher than the average New Zealander. You can find detailed information about these rules and how they affect people living with HIV on the NZ Immigration website or through a registered immigration lawyer, consultant or advocate.

Immigration rules frequently change so always check with INZ, a registered immigration consultant, lawyer or advisor for the latest requirements. Contact Immigration NZ (INZ) at 0508 558 855 or immigration.govt.nz to get detailed information about applying.

A visitor is a person who comes from outside of New Zealand to visit as a tourist or for business. This is for a pre-determined period of time. As a visitor to NZ, you may not be entitled to public health care coverage. If you are living with HIV and need advice about accessing medical care, please contact us.

You can visit New Zealand as a tourist without any restrictions, and obtaining a work visa is possible if the duration of the work visa is not more than 12 months.

Work Visa applications with a duration longer than 12 months will require an immigration medical, and part of this medical check does include a test for HIV. Prior to 2021 a positive result meant the visa application would be automatically declined, however in October 2021 HIV was removed from the list of medical conditions deemed “likely to impose significant costs or demands” on the health services. This means that each visa applicant with HIV will now be assessed on a “case by case” basis.

If the person living with HIV is in a ‘long term stable relationship’ with a New Zealand citizen, they are granted an automatic medical waiver for their HIV status so that it is no longer a factor in their visa or residency application.

Everybody in New Zealand, regardless if you are a citizen/resident, on a temporary work/study visa or even a tourist visa, receives the same care and treatment for HIV, free of charge.

When travelling to New Zealand, we recommend you bring as much of your current HIV medication with you as you can. Once this runs out you will be able to obtain further medication for the duration of your stay free of charge via the public health system (please note that NZ lags behind other countries with access to some newer HIV medications, so there is a chance that you may need to switch to a different combination of drugs when here, if the combination you currently take isn't available - List of HIV Medications Funded in New Zealand)

Whether or not you are living with HIV, you can go to a hospital emergency room if you need urgent medical care. Hospitals are required to admit you if your life is in danger. If you do not have the appropriate visa, you will be billed for hospital services provided

You can also contact the Body Positive to speak to someone, be referred to a registered immigration advisor or find an AIDS service organisation (ASO) near you. For information 0800 448 5463 in English.

Immigration rules frequently change so always check with INZ, a registered immigration consultant, lawyer or advisor for the latest requirements. Contact Immigration NZ (INZ) at 0508 558 855 or immigration.govt.nz to get detailed information about applying.

A person with no status is someone who’s visa has expired or comes from outside of New Zealand without confirmed immigration, refugee, student, worker or other status. This is sometimes also referred to as undocumented immigrant, uninsured person or person without status.

You are breaking the law if you stay after your visa expires. You cannot work or study, and will have to pay for your health care:

• You may not be able to come back to New Zealand again if you are here without a visa for 42 days or longer
• You risk being detained or deported.

Your actions can also affect other people. For example, if family members or other people help you to stay in New Zealand:

• They commit an offence under the Immigration Act, and
• They may put their own immigration status at risk.

If you are in NZ illegally you may:

• leave the country immediately, or
• make a request for a special temporary or resident visa under Section 61 of the Immigration Act, but only if you believe you have a special case.

If you do not have valid or full legal status in NZ, you may not be entitled to public health care coverage or access to social services in New Zealand. If you need urgent medical care, please go to a hospital emergency room. Hospitals are required to admit you, if your life is endangered. If you do not have status, you will be billed for emergency care at a hospital.

If you cannot pay the bill, speak with your worker at your local AIDS service organisation (ASO) or a lawyer. Do not let the prospect of a bill prevent you from going to a hospital emergency room if you are in need of urgent medical care.

Everybody in New Zealand, regardless if you are a citizen/resident, on a temporary work/study visa or even a tourist visa, receives the same care and treatment for HIV, free of charge.

When travelling to New Zealand, we recommend you bring as much of your current HIV medication with you as you can. Once this runs out you will be able to obtain further medication for the duration of your stay free of charge via the public health system (please note that NZ lags behind other countries with access to some newer HIV medications, so there is a chance that you may need to switch to a different combination of drugs when here, if the combination you currently take isn't available - List of HIV Medications Funded in New Zealand)

Whether or not you are living with HIV, you can go to a hospital emergency room if you need urgent medical care. Hospitals are required to admit you if your life is in danger. If you do not have the appropriate visa, you will be billed for hospital services provided

You can also contact the Body Positive to speak to someone, be referred to a registered immigration advisor or find an AIDS service organisation (ASO) near you. For information 0800 448 5463 in English.

Immigration rules frequently change so always check with INZ, a registered immigration consultant, lawyer or advisor for the latest requirements. Contact Immigration NZ (INZ) at 0508 558 855 or immigration.govt.nz to get detailed information about applying.

On this visa you can come to New Zealand for a short time to work in our horticulture and viticulture industries. You must have a job offer before you apply. You must be at least 18 years of age.

Maximum stay limits vary depending on date of arrival in NZ. Citizens of Tuvalu and Kiribati who also live there, may stay an additional two months.

This visa allows one to work for a recognized seasonal employer in our horticulture and viticulture industries, as well as planting, maintaining, harvesting or packing crops.

You cannot apply for any other visas, you must leave NZ upon visa expiring without the ability to appeal. You cannot include your partner or dependent children.

HIV status is a factor which may prevent you coming to NZ. NZ immigration law includes rules that may directly impact you if your health care costs are higher than the average New Zealander.

Immigration rules frequently change so always check with INZ, a registered immigration consultant, lawyer or advisor for the latest requirements. Contact Immigration NZ (INZ) at 0508 558 855 or immigration.govt.nz to get detailed information about applying.