Preparing your police certificates, medical/chest X-ray, and supporting documents early is one of the simplest ways to reduce delays in a New Zealand visa application. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is typically strict about completeness: if you upload the wrong thing, upload an incomplete version, or submit something outside the validity window, you may be asked to provide it again—costing time and momentum.

This guide walks you through what INZ usually expects, how to prepare fast, and the common mistakes that slow applicants down. It is written to be practical for applicants applying from Africa (including Nigeria), but the process is broadly the same worldwide.

1) What “fast preparation” actually means for INZ

Fast preparation is not rushing at the last minute. It is sequencing your steps so that slow items begin first, while you prepare everything else in parallel:

Usually slowest items

Police certificates from certain countries (processing times vary widely).
Medicals if panel clinics have limited appointment slots.
Translations and certified copies (if your documents are not in English).

Usually fastest items

Passport bio page scans, birth certificates, relationship evidence organization, and online photo formatting.

INZ’s online systems also have file format rules, photo rules, and upload constraints—so “fast” also means preparing files correctly before you click submit. (Immigration New Zealand)

2) Quick 14-day fast-prep timeline (practical checklist)

You can compress your preparation into about two weeks if your police certificates are not unusually slow.

Day 1–2: Setup and document inventory

Create one folder per category:
- Identity
- Character (Police certificates)
- Health (Medicals/X-ray)
- Education/Employment
- Family/Relationship
- Translations
Write a simple list of every country you have lived in since age 17, and how long you lived there.

Day 2–4: Start police certificates (do not wait)

Confirm which countries require police certificates under your situation (details in Section 3).
Apply immediately where required.
Track expected processing times (every issuing authority differs).

INZ does not accept “receipt of application” in place of a completed police certificate. (Immigration New Zealand)

Day 3–7: Medical appointment (if needed)

Confirm whether you need a medical exam and/or chest X-ray (Section 4).
Book with an INZ panel physician (Section 4).
Prepare ID and medical history documents.

INZ expects medicals/X-rays to be done through approved panel clinics where available. (Immigration New Zealand)

Day 5–10: Translations + certified copies (if needed)

Translate non-English documents using certified translators (INZ rules apply). (Immigration New Zealand)

Day 7–14: Upload-ready file preparation

Ensure scans are clear, complete, correctly named, and in acceptable formats.
Prepare your visa photo to INZ’s exact pixel/size requirements. (Immigration New Zealand)

3) Police certificates (Character requirements): what INZ wants and how to do it fast

3.1 Who usually needs a police certificate?

INZ commonly requires police certificates as evidence of good character for applicants aged 17 or over, depending on:

how long you will spend in New Zealand, and
what visa category you are applying for, and
your residence history in other countries.

INZ guidance indicates police certificates may be required if your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer across all visits, including time previously spent in New Zealand on other visas. (Immigration New Zealand)

INZ also expects police certificates from any country you have lived in for a threshold period (commonly 12+ months), and for your country of citizenship, depending on the application context. (Immigration New Zealand)

3.2 The strict rule that causes the most rejections: “receipt not accepted”

INZ is explicit: you must upload a valid and complete police certificate; they will not accept a receipt showing you applied. (Immigration New Zealand)

Fast-prep implication: apply for police certificates early enough that you have the actual certificate before you submit.

3.3 Validity: how “fresh” must the police certificate be?

INZ’s public guidance commonly states you should make sure the police certificate is less than 6 months old when you submit your visa application. (Immigration New Zealand)

Practical rule:
If your certificate will be older than 6 months at the time you click “submit,” plan to request a new one—unless INZ instructions for your specific pathway clearly say otherwise.

3.4 Do you need a New Zealand police certificate too?

Many applicants do not apply directly for a “New Zealand police certificate” for INZ purposes. Where required, INZ may request checks directly through the NZ Police Vetting Service as part of your visa processing.

The NZ Police website states that Immigration New Zealand will submit a vetting request to NZ Police if required, and the result is provided directly to INZ—so applicants typically do not apply separately for that INZ vetting step. (New Zealand Police)

Important nuance:
This is different from other situations (for example, other countries’ immigration processes), where a New Zealand police vetting form may be requested for non-INZ purposes. The NZ Police also publishes a visa vetting pathway used for overseas visa authorities in some contexts. (New Zealand Police)

3.5 Fast-prep method: build your “country list” correctly

INZ delays often happen because applicants miscalculate where they must provide certificates from.

Do this:

List every country you have lived in since age 17.
Put exact dates (month/year).
Mark those where you lived 12 months or more (or near that threshold).
Keep your travel history consistent with what you enter in your visa form.

If your travel history and police certificates don’t match logically, INZ may ask questions or request additional character evidence.

3.6 Translations: police certificates not in English

INZ requires certified English translations of police certificates and medical certificates where they are not already in English. (Immigration New Zealand)

Fast-prep implication: do not wait until the certificate arrives—line up your translator and confirm turnaround time.

3.7 Common police certificate mistakes that slow applications

Submitting a receipt instead of the actual certificate. (Immigration New Zealand)
Uploading a certificate that is older than 6 months at submission. (Immigration New Zealand)
Uploading the wrong type of police check (some countries issue multiple products—make sure it’s the one intended for immigration/visa purposes).
Providing certificates from some countries but forgetting others that meet the residence threshold. (Immigration New Zealand)
Not providing certified translations. (Immigration New Zealand)

4) Medicals and chest X-ray: who needs them, where to do them, and how to speed it up

4.1 When do you need a medical examination?

INZ guidance indicates:

If you will stay in New Zealand for more than 12 months, you must have a medical examination. (Immigration New Zealand)
If you are applying to stay in New Zealand permanently (and do not already have a resident visa), you must have a medical examination regardless of where you are from. (Immigration New Zealand)

There are different rules for some temporary categories and student pathways, so always confirm based on your visa type. (Immigration New Zealand)

4.2 Where must the medicals/X-ray be done?

INZ requires medical examinations and chest X-rays to be done by approved panel physicians and radiology providers (where available in your country). (Immigration New Zealand)

INZ maintains a list of panel physicians and explains that you should visit a panel clinic unless there are none in your country. (Immigration New Zealand)

4.3 eMedical: how results are typically sent

For online applications, INZ explains that panel physicians generally complete medical certificates through eMedical and send your medical information electronically to INZ. (Immigration New Zealand)

Fast-prep implication: when you book, confirm the clinic uses eMedical and ask what ID you must bring, plus the reference details they need.

4.4 Validity of medical certificates: the 36-month rule you should know

INZ operational guidance indicates that applicants for many temporary entry class visas do not ordinarily need to provide new medical and chest X-ray certificates if:

they provided them previously,
were assessed as having an acceptable standard of health, and
those certificates were issued less than 36 months before the new application. (Immigration New Zealand)

Practical note: this does not mean “every medical is valid for 36 months in every case.” Visa type, time in NZ, and INZ instructions matter. But the 36-month rule is a common reason some applicants are not asked to redo medicals. (Immigration New Zealand)

4.5 What to bring to your medical appointment (so you don’t get rebooked)

At minimum, plan to bring:

Your passport (or acceptable original identity document—panel clinics often require a valid ID).
Any relevant medical history, current medications, and previous test results if you have them.

Clinics commonly instruct applicants to bring passport/ID and medical history information. (whitecross.co.nz)

4.6 What happens during the exam (high-level, non-scary version)

A New Zealand immigration medical typically includes:

Identity verification
Medical history and basic physical checks
Tests required by INZ and recorded through panel systems (the exact tests depend on age, visa type, and health history)

INZ also has multiple medical certificate types (general vs limited medical), depending on pathway. (Immigration New Zealand)

4.7 Common medical mistakes that delay applications

Going to a non-panel clinic when panel clinics exist in your country. (Immigration New Zealand)
Booking late and missing your intended submission window.
Arriving without the correct ID and being asked to rebook. (Immigration New Zealand)
Not following the panel clinic’s instructions for photos/ID or eMedical reference details. (Immigration New Zealand)

5) Supporting documents: the “upload-ready” approach that keeps INZ from coming back with questions

Even when police and medicals are perfect, applications can stall because uploaded documents are unclear, incomplete, or inconsistent with the information entered in the form.

5.1 Visa photos (online): the exact requirements you must meet

INZ’s photo requirements for online applications commonly include:

JPEG/JPG format
File size and pixel dimensions within a set range (and portrait format)

INZ guidance for online photos includes pixel dimensions between 900 × 1200 and 2250 × 3000, and file size between 500KB and 3MB, plus portrait orientation. (Immigration New Zealand)

Fast-prep tips

Take your photo in good light (no harsh shadows).
Do not wait until upload day to find out the file is rejected—test it early. (Immigration New Zealand)

5.2 File formats for uploads (documents and photos)

INZ provides rules about file formats when uploading documents and photos online. Photos must be JPG/JPEG, and documents must be uploaded in accepted formats per INZ instructions. (Immigration New Zealand)

Fast-prep habit: standardize everything to PDF for documents (where allowed), and JPG/JPEG for photos, naming each file clearly.

5.3 Certified translations: when you must translate

INZ states you must provide certified English translations of medical and police certificates and advises translating other evidence not in English to help process applications faster. (Immigration New Zealand)

Fast-prep rule: if it is not English, treat translation as part of your core checklist—not an optional extra.

5.4 “Consistency” is a document requirement (even if INZ doesn’t call it that)

INZ tends to assess documents as a complete story:

Names, dates of birth, passport numbers: match exactly.
If names differ across documents (e.g., after marriage), include name change evidence.
If you present employment evidence, it should match what you claim in the application form.

5.5 Document scanning standards (simple but decisive)

To avoid INZ follow-ups:

Scan in color where possible (stamps and seals show better).
Capture full pages (no cut edges).
Combine multi-page documents into a single file (e.g., bank statement pages, academic transcripts).
Keep files readable (avoid heavy compression that makes stamps unreadable).

6) Police certificate + medicals + documents: the “one-page master checklist” you should use

Here is a consolidated checklist you can copy into your notes:

Identity

Passport bio page (clear scan)
Birth certificate (and translation if needed)
Name change evidence (if applicable)
Correct INZ-compliant digital photo (Immigration New Zealand)

Character (Police)

Police certificate(s) from required countries (Immigration New Zealand)
Must be complete (not a receipt) (Immigration New Zealand)
Must be within INZ freshness window (commonly under 6 months at submission) (Immigration New Zealand)
Certified translations if not English (Immigration New Zealand)

Health

Medical exam and/or chest X-ray if required (Immigration New Zealand)
Use panel physicians (Immigration New Zealand)
eMedical submission where applicable (Immigration New Zealand)

Upload readiness

Correct file formats (Immigration New Zealand)
Clear scans, properly named files
Translations completed and certified (Immigration New Zealand)

7) How to avoid scams and “agent shortcuts” that cause refusal or bans

Because police certificates and medicals involve official documentation, scammers often target applicants with:

“Guaranteed police certificate in 24 hours”
“We can edit your travel history to avoid police checks”
“We have an inside connection at immigration”

Avoid anything that suggests falsification or bypassing INZ checks. INZ and panel systems are designed to verify authenticity, and inconsistencies often trigger deeper review.

Stick to:

Official issuing authorities for police certificates
INZ panel physicians for medicals (Immigration New Zealand)
Certified translators per INZ rules (Immigration New Zealand)

8) Final “fast prep” strategy recap (what works reliably)

If you want speed without mistakes, do these three things:

Start police certificates first (because INZ will not accept a receipt). (Immigration New Zealand)
Book panel medicals early if your stay/visa type requires it. (Immigration New Zealand)
Make every file upload-ready (photo specs, formats, translations) before you submit. (Immigration New Zealand)

Conclusion

A strong New Zealand visa application is often won or lost on preparation quality, not luck. Police certificates and medicals are time-sensitive, format-sensitive, and process-sensitive—meaning you can do everything “honestly” and still get delayed if you upload the wrong version, miss the freshness window, or ignore INZ’s photo/file rules. The fastest approach is to begin with the slow items (police certificates and medical bookings), use INZ-approved pathways (panel physicians and eMedical where applicable), and standardize every document so it is clear, complete, translated where necessary, and consistent with your application. Done properly, you reduce the chance of INZ coming back with extra requests—and you keep your timeline under control.

FAQs

1) Can I submit my application with a police certificate receipt and upload the real one later?

Usually no. INZ states they will not accept a receipt showing you applied; they want a valid and complete police certificate uploaded with the application. (Immigration New Zealand)

2) How old can my police certificate be at the time I submit?

INZ guidance commonly says your police certificate should be less than 6 months old when you submit your application. (Immigration New Zealand)

3) Do I personally apply for a New Zealand police certificate for an INZ visa?

Often, no. The NZ Police states that if required, INZ submits a vetting request and results go directly to INZ—meaning you typically do not apply separately for INZ’s NZ vetting checks. (New Zealand Police)

4) When do I need a medical exam for New Zealand?

INZ guidance indicates you must have a medical exam if you will stay more than 12 months, and permanent/residence pathways generally require a medical exam regardless of country. (Immigration New Zealand)

5) Must I use an INZ panel physician?

Yes, where available. INZ instructs applicants to use a doctor/radiologist from their approved panel physician list (unless there are none in your country). (Immigration New Zealand)

6) What are INZ’s online visa photo requirements?

INZ provides specific technical requirements such as portrait orientation, JPG/JPEG format, and size constraints (commonly 900×1200 to 2250×3000 pixels, 500KB to 3MB). (Immigration New Zealand)

7) Do I need translations for documents not in English?

INZ requires certified English translations for police and medical certificates and recommends translating other supporting evidence to help processing. (Immigration New Zealand)