Having a medical condition does not automatically disqualify you. All applicants must meet INZ's Acceptable Standard of Health (ASH). Health waivers, second medical opinions, and what a medical PPI letter actually means.
Having a medical condition does not automatically disqualify you from a New Zealand visa. Health waivers may be available with the right documentation.
Health is a critical factor in INZ’s assessment of both temporary and resident visa applications. All applicants must meet the Acceptable Standard of Health (ASH) to ensure they will not place undue burden on NZ’s public healthcare or special education systems.
Exception: If you are travelling to NZ specifically for medical treatment, you are exempt from ASH requirements.
If you receive a PPI letter regarding medical issues, INZ believes your health condition creates a “relatively high probability” (more than 50% likelihood) of placing significant demand on:
A PPI letter does NOT mean automatic refusal. You can still qualify by obtaining a health waiver.
You may qualify if there is NOT a “relatively high probability” you will require:
INZ considers a wider set of factors:
You can request a second medical opinion. If a practitioner disputes the original INZ assessment, a different assessor is appointed.
Important: The second assessor’s recommendations are final and cannot be challenged further.
If you have a known medical condition, address it proactively — get specialist documentation that explains prognosis, treatment cost (high-cost pharmaceutical eligibility is the most common ASH issue), and your circumstances. The 50% threshold leaves room for compelling waiver applications when the condition is well-managed.
Source: immigration.govt.nz — verified as of 2026-04-13.
Last reviewed . Information may have changed since this article was reviewed. For your specific case, talk to a licensed immigration adviser.