Britons move to New Zealand as nurses, doctors, teachers, engineers and tradespeople, and many start on a working holiday and stay. UK paperwork is straightforward compared with many countries: an ACRO police certificate online, full birth and marriage certificates from the right registry, and evidence of any name changes. The traps are using a short birth certificate, ordering from the wrong part of the UK, and timing.
The documents at a glance
| What INZ asks for | In the UK | Issued by | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Police certificate | Police Certificate | ACRO Criminal Records Office | Covers the whole UK; shows spent convictions too |
| Birth certificate | Full (long) birth certificate, showing parents | GRO (England and Wales), NRS (Scotland), GRONI (Northern Ireland) | The short certificate doesn't show parents |
| Marriage certificate | Marriage or civil partnership certificate | The same registries | Order from where the marriage took place |
| Name changes | Deed poll, marriage certificate | Your own record; registries | No national ID ties names together |
| Divorce | Final order (decree absolute) | Family court | Keep a copy |
| Qualifications | Degree certificates and transcripts | University | Check NZQA's exempt list before paying for an assessment |
The ACRO police certificate
INZ needs a UK police certificate from British citizens for every resident visa application, and for temporary visas once your total time in New Zealand will reach 24 months. Anyone who lived in the UK for 12 months or more in the last 10 years needs one for residence. It must be less than 6 months old when you submit.
Apply online to ACRO, from the UK or New Zealand. It costs £70 including standard post, and ACRO aims to issue it within 20 working days, plus postage. It covers England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Step by step: ACRO police certificate for a NZ visa.
Where an adviser helps: a UK police certificate shows spent convictions and some cautions that UK employers never see, and INZ asks you to declare every conviction. If yours isn't clear, a licensed adviser can tell you how INZ is likely to treat it and how to explain it, before you apply.
Birth, marriage and name changes
INZ needs full birth certificates showing parents' details, especially for children. Order from the registry where the birth was registered: the GRO for England and Wales, ScotlandsPeople for Scotland, GRONI for Northern Ireland. If you've changed your name by deed poll or marriage, keep the documents that link each name. Detail: UK birth and marriage certificates for INZ.
The working holiday route
UK citizens aged 18 to 35 can get a United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa: up to 36 months of temporary work, NZ$770, with up to 15,000 places a year. You can't take a permanent job on it, and partners and children need their own visas. Many people then move to an AEWV or residence.
Registration and the Green List
UK-trained nurses, doctors, teachers and engineers often go through New Zealand registration (the Nursing Council, Medical Council, Teaching Council, or Engineering New Zealand). Many of these roles are on the Green List, which can mean Straight to Residence. Nurses currently registered in the UK follow a different Nursing Council route from other overseas nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a UK police certificate for a New Zealand visa?
Apply online to ACRO. It costs £70 including standard post and takes up to 20 working days plus postage.
Does INZ accept a short UK birth certificate?
INZ wants a full birth certificate showing parents' details: the full (long) certificate.
Can I order Scottish certificates from GRO?
No. Scottish records come from National Records of Scotland, through ScotlandsPeople. Northern Irish records come from GRONI.
Do UK documents need an apostille for INZ?
Usually not. INZ accepts scans online and certified copies where needed.
Can I go from a working holiday to residence?
Many do, usually through an AEWV and then a Green List or Skilled Migrant Category residence visa.
Get help with your UK documents
Most British applicants handle their documents themselves. A licensed immigration adviser is worth it when your police certificate shows convictions, you're planning a family's move from working holiday to residence, or registration and visa timing need coordinating. If INZ raises character concerns, talk to an adviser or immigration lawyer before you reply.
Tell us your situation and we'll introduce you to a licensed adviser or immigration lawyer. It's free to ask.
Sources: Immigration New Zealand, "How to get a police certificate" (United Kingdom), "Police certificates" and "United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa"; ACRO, GRO, National Records of Scotland and GRONI guidance (via visapilot research, checked 27 October 2026); read 28 October 2026.