New Zealand · Healthcare
How the New Zealand healthcare system works — public vs private care, eligibility, and costs for residents and visitors.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
New Zealand's publicly funded system (Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora) covers citizens, permanent residents and people on work visas valid for two years or more, giving eligible residents free or subsidised public hospital and many primary-care services. The rule worth knowing separately: ACC covers everyone in New Zealand, including visitors, for treatment of accidental injuries. Anyone outside public eligibility should hold health insurance.
New Zealand has a publicly funded health system (Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora) that covers citizens, permanent residents and people on work visas valid for two years or more; eligible residents get free or subsidised public hospital and many primary-care services. Everyone in New Zealand — including visitors — is covered by ACC for treatment of accidental injuries. Others should hold health insurance.
- The public system (Health NZ / Te Whatu Ora) covers citizens, PRs and 2-year+ work-visa holders.
- ACC covers everyone (including visitors) for treatment of accidental injuries.
- Those not eligible for public care should hold health insurance.
- 1
Check the two-year work-visa threshold
Public eligibility covers citizens, permanent residents and people on work visas valid for two years or more. The length of your visa, not just having one, is what decides it.
- 2
Know that ACC covers everyone for injuries
ACC covers everyone in New Zealand, including visitors, for treatment of accidental injuries. This sits separately from public-system eligibility and applies regardless of visa status.
- 3
Do not read ACC as general health cover
ACC is for treatment of accidental injuries, not illness in general. Being covered by ACC does not mean you are covered for medical conditions unrelated to an accident.
- 4
Insure privately if outside public eligibility
Those not eligible for publicly funded care should hold health insurance. A visitor or a shorter work visa leaves you outside the public system for non-injury care.
- 5
Re-check eligibility if your visa changes
Because eligibility hangs on visa type and length, a change can move you in or out of the public system. Re-check when your visa situation changes rather than assuming continuity.
- Visa type and validity checked against the two-year rule
- Public eligibility position established
- ACC injury cover understood as universal
- Understood ACC does not cover illness generally
- Health insurance held if outside public eligibility
- Primary-care enrolment arranged where eligible
- Plan to re-check eligibility on any visa change
- Health New Zealand — Te Whatu Ora
Official public health system.
- ACC
Universal accidental-injury cover.
Frequently asked questions
Do work-visa holders get public healthcare in New Zealand?
If the work visa is valid for two years or more, yes — the publicly funded system covers citizens, permanent residents and that group. The length of the visa is what decides it, so a shorter work visa does not qualify.
What is ACC and who does it cover?
ACC covers everyone in New Zealand, including visitors, for treatment of accidental injuries. It applies regardless of visa status and sits separately from public-system eligibility — but it is for injuries, not illness in general.
Is ACC enough, or do I still need insurance?
Not enough on its own, because ACC covers accidental injuries rather than illness. If you are outside public eligibility — a visitor, or on a work visa under two years — you should hold health insurance for everything ACC does not reach.
Government portals
- govt.nz — New Zealand government services portal
- Immigration New Zealand — Visas, work/student visas, and residence
- Inland Revenue (IRD) — Income tax, GST, and the IRD number
- business.govt.nz — Company registration, employment, and compliance