I found quite a bit of information out there in regards to the New Zealand Working Holiday Visa. However, when it came to the part of the application that required chest X-rays to prove that we’re TB (Tuberculosis) free, the information became scarce and most things I found were only from the official NZ government website. Here’s a completely New Zealand Working Holiday Chest X-ray Guide to help you get through the process better!
READ part 1 and part 2 of my guide on everything you need to prepare for your NZ WH trip.
So let’s get right to it, IF you are one of those people who needs to get a chest X-ray for your working holiday visa, here is all you need to know.
Photo by J. Kelly Brito on Unsplash
Do I need a chest x-ray for my NZ working holiday?
The official blurb in my own words from the NZ immigration website:
If you’re applying for a working holiday visa and plan on staying in NZ for more than 6 months.
AND
If in the last 5 years, you have lived or traveled to countries that are NOT low-risk(in other words, high or at risk) for TB infections, for more than 3 months.
you must obtain a chest X-ray for your NZ Visa approval.
I was a little confused at first, crossing my fingers hoping I didn’t fit in this category. However, upon further research, I found out that the list for low risk countries is a very short one.
Source: New Zealand Immigration
For example, I was traveling in Southeast Asia for 5 months prior to submitting my application. Even though I didn’t stay in any single country for more than 3 months, the combination of my time spent in Indonesia, Thailand, China, etc put me in this unfortunate category. (unfortunate because it’s extra hassle and extra money)
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How Much Time Do I Have?
Without any special circumstances, you will have 15 days to get the X-ray and submit it to the NZ Immigration. However, if you’re currently in a country that does not have an “approved panel physician”, you may be able to extend your deadline. To do this, simply contact your assigned case worker.
Where Can I Get It?
You must go to one of the medical providers posted on the NZ Immigration website. There’s a list of “approved panel physicians” that you can search for by country. You may be lucky to find one near you, or you might actually need to travel a bit of distance. (I hope it’s the former!)
Here’s the link to get your list of approved panel physicians:
Clicker here to find an approved physician near me
Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash
How To Send The Results?
On the list of the approved panel physicians, you will see a little marker under the address and phone number that says “eMedical enabled”. This means that the doctor’s office will send your results electronically to the immigration office.
We went in to a doctor’s office who then sent us to the radiologist, everything was fine, and they sent over the results in the same day.
You will be asked to email your NZER Reference to your case worker after the X-ray. I believe so they can look you up in the system to move your visa process along.
How Much Does It Cost?
This is another thing that will change depending on the country you’re in while you apply for your visa. I read on one blog, the author paid 25 USD in Thailand. In another blogpost, the author paid over 200 USD in the U.S. I did this in France, and paid about 120USD.
Related: Your Ultimate Guide to The NZ Working Holiday Visa
💡TIP:
If you need travel medical insurance, I recommend using Orbit because they have a plan specifically tailored for the NZ working holiday. I also researched some other companies and found Orbit’s rate to be more within my budget.
Alright guys, hope you feel a whole lot better now about your visa process, and please let me know in the comments if you have any questions!
Related: How to Prepare for Working in New Zealand
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