New Zealand ends automatic Resident Visa bans for hepatitis B and C on Aug. 3

Foreign nationals applying for permanent status in New Zealand no longer face an automatic health rejection for hepatitis B or C, following an Aug. 3 policy change by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

Individual case reviews replace blanket rejections

Under the previous rules, applicants who tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen or hepatitis C RNA automatically failed the acceptable standard of health requirement unless granted an exceptional medical waiver. The immigration department classified both conditions as high-cost medical burdens that posed significant demands on state health resources.

Assessors now evaluate each applicant's specific medical circumstances rather than issuing automatic declines. The policy aligns hepatitis B and C with HIV, which moved to case-by-case reviews in late 2021. Applicants must still prove that their anticipated health care costs won't exceed the statutory threshold of NZD $81,000 (about $49,000) over five years. State drug-funding agency Pharmac supported the change after newer antiviral therapies pushed the average cost of managing both conditions well below that spending cap, the agency confirmed.

Impact on long-term residency pathways

The updated standard applies strictly to resident visa applications lodged on or after Aug. 3, including files under the Skilled Migrant Category, Work to Residence and employer-assisted pathways. Any application submitted prior to that date remains assessed under the previous, stricter criteria.

Short-term visitors and remote workers on standard entry visas rarely need full medical examinations, but the change removes a major barrier for anyone planning long-term settlement through New Zealand's residency rules.

Panel physicians must still conduct specific diagnostic workups during the immigration medical exam, including viral load testing, liver function tests and antigen counts. Applicants managing these conditions should obtain recent clinical notes from their treating physicians before filing to verify their management plan sits comfortably within the NZD $81,000 cost ceiling.