On 1st December 2026, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV) will now be publicly funded to all people in New Zealand, regardless of their visa status.
Targeted changes are being made to the eligibility settings for publicly funded health services. These had not been updated since 2011. The eligibility settings are set through the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) (Eligibility) Regulations 2026.
These changes come into effect on 1 December 2026. See the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) (Eligibility) Regulations 2026 on the New Zealand Legislation website.
Most people’s eligibility will be unchanged from the current 2011 settings to the new settings. This includes people who are New Zealand citizens and residence class visa holders, who remain eligible for all publicly funded services.
The main changes being made through the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) (Eligibility) Regulations 2026 are:
making publicly funded measles and polio immunisations available to all people in New Zealand, regardless of their visa status
making publicly funded HIV prevention treatment, available to all people in New Zealand, regardless of their visa status, where there is an elevated risk of acquiring HIV; this is consistent with the clinical settings for those currently eligible
extending eligibility for publicly funded health services to people on the Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa and Victims of Family Violence Work Visa.
To better manage public health risks, the settings are also being broadened to allow for wider application of contact tracing, diagnostic testing or treatment for infectious diseases. People who have, or are suspected of having, an infectious disease are already eligible, if addressing a public health risk, to access diagnostic or treatment services, regardless of visa status.
From 1 December, this will be expanded to also include those who are a contact of someone who has an infectious disease or have been in settings with a risk of exposure, if addressing a public health risk.
