New Zealand has mutual health agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom (United Kingdom). At any time, some services may be funded by public funds for those covered by the agreements. These services can be funded to the same extent as for a national of the country they are visiting or staying temporarily. This agreement is maintained, but New Zealanders who remain in the UK for more than six months on a visa will have to pay a health supplement for immigration issues from 6 April 2016 as part of their visa application. For more information, see www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration (external link). Australia has a mutual health agreement with the UK, which means that UK residents are able to get some health services free of charge while visiting Australia. New Zealand has entered into a mutual health agreement (external link) with the United Kingdom regarding the provision of urgent medical care for emergencies that occur during the United Kingdom. The agreement applies to all persons who normally live and who are national citizens, regardless of nationality, and treatment is granted on the same terms as residents of the United Kingdom. If you plan to live or work in one of the countries of mutual agreement, the information contained in the links below may not apply. Other countries may close borders, restrict freedom of movement or introduce new quarantine rules without warning. Check out our tips on what to consider, and be prepared to stay abroad longer than expected.
New Zealand and Australia have a mutual health agreement, which means that New Zealand citizens travelling to Australia are entitled to limited subsidized health services for the necessary medical care during a visit to Australia. The mutual health agreement includes necessary medical treatment. The necessary medical treatment is any illness or injury that occurs while you are in Australia and requires treatment before returning home. Note: Mutual health agreements with the following countries were denounced in 2016: the New Zealand Ministry of Health (external link) informs of the reciprocal agreement with the United Kingdom (external link). If you are retired in the UK and live in Gibraltar, the Gibraltar authorities will offer you the same medical services as a citizen of Gibraltar. You don`t have to pay insurance premiums, but you have to pay a prescription fee. British nationals requiring a repeat prescription must see a New Zealand prescription doctor (usually a family doctor) to obtain a new prescription. An appointment can be made virtually or potentially over the phone.
There will be a fee. For more information on where family medicine services and medical centres are located, see: www.healthpoint.co.nz. The agreements do not cover the cost of repatriation to the UK (repatriation) or routine monitoring of existing conditions. Copies of the mutual health agreements established in New Zealand legislation are linked below: the legal status and regulation of certain medicines prescribed or purchased in the United Kingdom may vary from country to country. If you are travelling with prescription or non-prescription medications, read NaTHNaC`s instructions on best practices for travel with medications. For more information on the legal status of a particular drug, please contact the embassy, the High Commission or the consulate of the country or territory in which you are travelling. At least 8 weeks before your trip, you will find the latest country health mentions from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website.