85 countries to be added to the INZ Low Tuberculosis Incidence List

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is adding 85 countries to the Low Tuberculosis (TB) Incidence Countries List. Included in the countries being added are Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu as they now meet the requirements.

Effective from Tuesday 7 June 2022, 85 countries and territories will be added to the INZ TB Low Incidence countries list.

This means visa applicants from the countries on this list will be able to check on the INZ webpage for countries with a low incidence of tuberculosis to see if they are still required to provide a chest x-ray with their applications, depending on their previous circumstances and duration of stay in New Zealand.

This will have a large positive impact particularly on Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu who now meet the requirements of low TB to be added to the list. This is great news for Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme worker from these countries as they will no longer be required to provide a chest x-ray with their RSE applications.

Dominica and Libya will also be removed from the list, as latest data shows their TB incidence rates are now above the low incidence threshold.

The INZ webpage for countries with a low incidence of tuberculosis will be updated on 7 June to include the additional 85 countries.

You need to have a chest x-ray if you have been living in a country that does not have a low incidence of tuberculosis (TB).

When you need a chest x-ray

If you are applying for a visa to come to New Zealand for 6 months or more you need to have a chest x-ray if:

• you are a citizen of a country that is not on this list, or
• in the last 5 years you have spent more than 3 months in a country that is not on this list.

If you are a citizen of a country that is not on this list, but you can prove you have never lived in or spent time in that country, you may not need to have a chest x-ray.

Check the list of countries with a low incidence of TB