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Eligibility for Publicly Funded Health and Disability Services

Frequently Asked Questions

I have a two-year work visa. Can I access public health and disability services?
My spouse has a three-year work permit, but my children and I have visitors’ permits. Can we get health services under my spouse's permit?
I have a student permit, and I arrived after 2003. Am I eligible for health and disability services?
I am here on a visitor's permit. Am I eligible for health services?
My partner is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and I am pregnant. I have a student's/visitor's permit/work permit for less than two years. Am I eligible for maternity services?
I'm a UK citizen, here on holiday from the UK. What health cover do I have?
I'm from Australia, and I'm here on holiday, and I think I want to live here permanently. Do I get to access publicly funded health and disability services?
I'm a New Zealander going to Australia on holiday. Should I get travel insurance?
I'm a New Zealand permanent resident going to the UK on holiday. Does the Reciprocal Agreement cover me for emergency care?
I've been granted New Zealand permanent residence status, outside New Zealand. Am I covered for publicly funded health and disability services when I arrive in New Zealand?
I don't think I'm eligible for health services, but will I still be treated if I become very unwell (eg, burst appendix, heart attack)?

I have a two-year work visa. Can I access public health and disability services?
Because New Zealand has visa-waiver agreements with some countries, it is your work permit that's used to determine if you are eligible to publicly funded health and disability services. To be eligible, your permit must be valid for a minimum of two years. If your permit is valid for less than two years then you can expect to be charged for any health services you receive. (A permit is given to you when you enter New Zealand).

My spouse has a three-year work permit, but my children and I have visitors’ permits. Can we get health services under my spouse's permit?
Each person has to prove eligibility in their own right. The spouse on the visitor's permit is not eligible. However, where a child on a visitor’s permit is under 19 years old, and is in the care and control of an eligible parent, then the child is eligible for publicly funded health and disability services.

I have a student permit, and I arrived after 2003. Am I eligible for health and disability services?
No. You are not eligible for publicly funded health and disability services.

I am here on a visitor's permit. Am I eligible for health services?
No. You are not eligible for publicly funded health and disability services.

My partner is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and I am pregnant. I have a student's/visitor's permit/work permit for less than two years. Am I eligible for maternity services?
Yes. As the partner of a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, you are eligible for publicly funded maternity services only.

I'm a UK citizen, here on holiday from the UK. What health cover do I have?
Under the Reciprocal Agreement New Zealand has with the UK, UK citizens are covered for emergency/acute treatment at a public hospital. You will have to prove that you are a UK citizen, and that your home is normally in the UK. The Agreement does not cover you for GP care. Being a UK permanent resident does not give you cover under the Agreement.

It is recommended you have comprehensive travel insurance.

I'm from Australia, and I'm here on holiday, and I think I want to live here permanently. Do I get to access publicly funded health and disability services?
Yes. New Zealand has a Reciprocal Agreement with Australia that covers Australian permanent residents and Australian citizens for emergency/acute care at a public hospital. It does not cover GP-level care.

I'm a New Zealander going to Australia on holiday. Should I get travel insurance?
Yes. The Reciprocal Agreement with Australia covers you for emergency/acute care in a public hospital while you're on holiday. However, it does not cover you for ambulances, GP-level care or GP prescribed medicines. Costs for those things can be very high so it is recommended you have comprehensive travel insurance.

I'm a New Zealand permanent resident going to the UK on holiday. Does the Reciprocal Agreement cover me for emergency care?
No. You have to be a New Zealand citizen to be covered by the Reciprocal Agreement. If you are going to Australia, you can be either a New Zealand citizen or a New Zealand permanent resident. It is recommended you have comprehensive travel insurance.

More information on Reciprocal Agreements.

I've been granted New Zealand permanent residence status, outside New Zealand. Am I covered for publicly funded health and disability services when I arrive in New Zealand?
As a new permanent resident, you will either have to have lived in New Zealand for two years, or have a Returning Resident's visa to be eligible for publicly funded health services.

I don't think I'm eligible for health services, but will I still be treated if I become very unwell (eg, burst appendix, heart attack).
Yes, you will be treated. However, be aware that you may be charged for the services you receive.

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Page last updated: July 2007