Police Certificates Now Required Upfront for Student and Temporary Visas

Since 1 July 2026, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has required police certificates to be provided upfront with student and other temporary visa applications, where a police certificate is needed.

What has changed

• If a police certificate is required, upload it when you submit your application

• INZ will not usually contact applicants to request a missing police certificate

• Applicants from Fiji, Hong Kong and Israel can upload proof that they have applied, because those police certificates are sent directly to INZ by the issuing authority

• Police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you submit your application

What happens if it is missing

• Offshore applicants who intend to stay more than 24 months without providing a police certificate are likely to have their application declined, or may be granted a shorter visa and need to reapply, with a new fee, once they have the certificate

• Onshore applicants may be given a short timeframe (for example, 5 working days) to provide it; if they cannot, a shorter visa may be granted and a new application and fee will be needed to stay longer

Our advice

Processing times for police certificates vary a lot between countries. Apply for your certificates early, before lodging your visa application, so a missing document does not delay your plans or cost you another application fee.

How Visapoint can help

If you would like to know how this change affects you, your family or your business, book a free assessment with our licensed immigration adviser. Call or WhatsApp 021 0290 1035, or email gurpreet@visapoint.co.nz.

Source: Immigration New Zealand, Police certificates required upfront for student and temporary visas (1 July 2026)

This update is general information only and is not immigration advice. Immigration instructions can change, so please check the latest Immigration New Zealand information or speak with a licensed immigration adviser before making decisions.