Visa medical examination cost: what to budget

Immigration New Zealand does not publish a fixed fee for visa medical examinations, and the official guidance does not state a price for a chest X-ray or general medical examination. What the official guidance does confirm is when these examinations are required, who can perform them, and what evidence you must submit. You will need to obtain a cost quote directly from an approved panel physician or clinic, and you should verify the current requirements on the Immigration New Zealand website before you book anything.

When a medical examination is required

The requirement for a medical examination depends on the visa you are applying for and how long you intend to stay.

For a working holiday visa, Immigration New Zealand states that if you apply while in New Zealand, you may need to provide a medical certificate. If you plan to stay in New Zealand for more than 12 months — including time on visas other than a working holiday visa — you must have a chest X-ray and a general medical examination.

For other temporary visas, the same principle applies: the longer your intended stay, the more likely it is that medical evidence will be requested. The official pages for student and visitor visas do not list a medical examination as a standard condition, but they do not rule it out either. The point to take from the official guidance is that medical requirements are tied to the length of stay and the specific visa, not to a universal checklist.

What the examination covers

Immigration New Zealand specifies two distinct types of medical evidence:

• A chest X-ray, which screens for tuberculosis and other chest conditions.
• A general medical examination, which is a broader health assessment.

For working holiday applicants staying more than 12 months, both are required. For shorter stays, only a chest X-ray may be needed, or no medical evidence at all.

The official guidance does not describe the clinical content of the general medical examination in detail. It does make clear that the examination is a formal requirement, not an optional extra, and that the results are submitted as part of the visa application.

Who can perform the examination

The official guidance does not name the panel of approved physicians, but it does state that medical examinations must be carried out by an approved provider. Immigration New Zealand refers to the requirement for a medical certificate and to the need for a chest X-ray and general medical examination, which in practice means you must use a panel physician recognised by Immigration New Zealand.

You cannot use a standard GP or a local clinic unless that clinic is on the approved panel list. The official website maintains a searchable list of panel physicians, and you should use that list to find a provider near you. The cost of the examination is set by the provider, not by Immigration New Zealand, and will vary by country and by the type of examination required.

What the official guidance does not tell you about cost

The official guidance does not state a fee for a chest X-ray, a general medical examination, or any other medical evidence. It does not give a range, an average, or a country-by-country breakdown. This is a deliberate omission on the part of the official guidance: Immigration New Zealand does not set or publish medical examination fees.

This means you cannot rely on this article — or on any single source — for a price. The only reliable way to find out the cost is to contact an approved panel physician directly and ask for a quote. The quote will depend on:

• The type of examination required (chest X-ray, general medical, or both).
• The country where you are having the examination.
• The panel physician’s own fee schedule.
• Any additional tests the physician considers necessary.

How to find the current requirement and cost

Because the official guidance is limited, your next step is to check the official Immigration New Zealand pages for the visa you are applying for. The pages on working holiday visas, working in New Zealand, visitor visa conditions, and student visa conditions all contain references to medical requirements, but they do not list fees.

The official website also has a dedicated page on medical requirements, which is not included in the official guidance. You should locate that page and check it for:

• Whether your visa category requires a medical examination.
• Whether a chest X-ray alone is sufficient.
• The list of approved panel physicians.
• Any recent changes to the requirements.

What to do next

Before you book a medical examination, do the following:

1. Confirm which visa you are applying for and how long you intend to stay.
2. Check the official Immigration New Zealand page for that visa to see whether medical evidence is required.
3. If medical evidence is required, find an approved panel physician using the official list.
4. Contact the physician and ask for a written quote, including any additional tests they may recommend.
5. Keep the quote and any receipts — you may need to show evidence of payment as part of your application.

Do not assume that the cost is the same everywhere, and do not book an examination before you have confirmed that it is actually required for your visa. The official pages are the only authoritative source on the requirement; the panel physician is the only authoritative source on the price.