All Applicants who wish to apply for New Zealand Visas must have good character and should not cause any potential security risk to New Zealand.
The Character checks are carried out by assessing submitted police certificate. The Police certificate must be submitted within 6month from the issue date.
Applicants who are applying for temporary class visa (visitor, student and work visa) must obtain police certificate from:
Their country of citizenship and from any country where they have lived for more than 5 years since being the age of 17 years old.
Applicants who are applying for residence class visa (first time) must obtain Police Certificate from:
Their country of citizenship and from any country where they have lived for more than 1 year or more in the past 10 years.
Who needs to submit Police Certificate?
All visitor, student and work visa applicants who are ages 17 and over wishes to stay 24 months or over (including the time spent already in NZ)
All Residence Class visa applicants who are aged 17 and over.
All other applicants if requested by Immigration officer.
What if I have submitted the Police Certificate with previous application?
Applicants who apply for further Visitor visa or Work visa (all types) within 24 months of the date of issue of the police certificate submitted, there is no need to submit new Police Certificate.
Applicants who apply for further student visa applications (fee- paying foreign student or students studying Doctor of Philosophy in NZ university) within 36 months of the date of issue of the police certificate submitted, there is no need to submit new Police Certificate.