New Zealand immigration requires specific identity, qualification, health, character, and employment documents. Here's the complete checklist so you are not caught short.
What Documents Do You Need to Immigrate to New Zealand?
Document preparation is one of the most common causes of delays in New Zealand immigration. Knowing exactly what is required, and having it ready before your application, removes the most controllable bottleneck in the process.
Identity Documents
Valid passport: Must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended period of stay. Scan all pages including any previous visas.
Birth certificate: Certified copy. Required for yourself and all family members included in the application.
Marriage certificate: Certified copy, if applicable. If issued outside New Zealand, may require apostille or certified translation.
Proof of name change: If your name differs from your birth certificate, provide the legal documentation.
Qualifications
Degree certificates and academic transcripts: Certified copies. If not in English, certified translations are required.
Professional registration certificates: From your home country's regulatory body (e.g., HPCSA for South African nurses, ECSA for engineers).
Skills assessment results: If your occupation requires a formal assessment by a New Zealand authority (e.g., NCNZ for nurses, Engineering New Zealand for engineers).
Work Experience Evidence
Employment reference letters: From each relevant employer, on letterhead, signed by a manager. Must state your role, employment dates, hours worked per week, and key responsibilities.
Payslips or bank statements: As corroborating evidence of employment dates and income.
Updated CV/resume: In New Zealand format — clear, chronological, typically 2–3 pages.
English Language Evidence
If required for your visa type or professional registration:
IELTS Academic: Score report (valid for 2 years)
OET: Score report for healthcare professionals
PTE Academic: Alternative to IELTS for some pathways
South African, British, Irish, Australian, and US citizens are generally exempt from formal English language tests for standard visa applications — check the current exemption policy for your passport.
Police Clearances (Character Requirements)
Required from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
South African police clearance: Obtained through SAPS (South African Police Service). Allow 3–4 weeks.
UK DBS check (if applicable): Through the DBS service or ACRO.
All clearances must be dated within 6 months of your immigration application.
Apostille or certification may be required for clearances from certain countries.
Health Documents
Medical examination: Completed by an Immigration New Zealand-approved physician. The examination covers general health, chest X-ray (for TB screening), and blood tests where required.
Medicals are generally valid for 3 months from the date of examination.
Immigration New Zealand provides a list of approved panel physicians in each country.
Employment Documents (for AEWV)
Job offer or employment agreement: Signed by both you and your employer. Must specify role, salary, and hours.
Job check approval details: Your employer provides the job check token once the job check is approved.
Employer accreditation confirmation: Your employer's accreditation number.
Organising Your Documents
Present documents in a logical, clearly labelled order. Immigration New Zealand's online application system requires document uploads — ensure all scans are clear, complete, and correctly labelled.
New World Immigration prepares a personalised document checklist and reviews all documents before submission.