Whether you need to supply another Police Certificate will depend on your individual circumstances.
1. You are applying for an additional temporary visa and intend on staying in NZ
Period in NZ (include time already spent in NZ)
When was the Police Certificate with your earlier application issued?
Do you need another Police Certificate?
Longer than 24 months
Less than 24 months ago
No, you don't need another Police Certificate
​Longer than 24 months
More than 24 months ago
Yes, you do need to submit another Police Certificate that is less than 6 months old.
Less than 24 months
Less than 24 months ago
​No, you don't need another Police Certificate
​Less than 24 months
More than 24 months ago
No, you don't need another Police Certificate
Note: Some student visa applicants do not need to submit a Police Certificate.  These types of applicants are outlined below:
  • You do not need to submit a Police Certificate if you hold a student visa and are applying for a subsequent student visa, and:
    • you are younger than 20 years of age, and
    • you held a student visa on your 17th birthday, and
    • you have held student visas (or interim visas with study conditions) continuously since turning 17.
  • You do not need to submit another Police Certificate if you are applying for a Student Visa as a full fee paying student, or a PHD student and the Police Certificate you submitted with an earlier application was issued less than 36 months ago.
  • Partners and dependant children of students enrolled in a PHD programme and who are applying for a further temporary visa do not have to supply a new Police Certificate if the one they supplied previously is less than 36 months old.
2. You are applying for a Resident Visa
Note: Applicants for residence visa under Partner of a New Zealander or Dependent Child instructions can re-use police certificates from a previous application, if that certificate is less than 24 months old.
However, this does not apply to the supporting partners in Partnership applications - supporting partners will have to submit a Police Certificate that is less than six months old.