Starting December 1, 2025, Indian nationals applying for New Zealand visas from India will face a new requirement: only Police Clearance Certificates (PCCs) issued by the Regional Passport Office (RPO) under India’s Ministry of External Affairs will be accepted.
The change aims to standardise documents, reduce verification delays, and make background checks more reliable for immigration authorities.
What is a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)?
A Police Clearance Certificate is an official document confirming whether a person has a criminal record. In India, the RPO typically issues this certificate.
For New Zealand visa applications, the PCC is an essential part of meeting the country’s character requirements. It helps immigration officers ensure that applicants with serious criminal histories are identified before being granted a visa.
Why is New Zealand Making This Change?
Previously, applicants could submit certificates from:
- Local police stations
- Deputy Commissioners
- Superintendents of Police
However, these documents often varied in format and were harder to verify. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) reported delays in confirming authenticity.
By limiting certificates to those issued by the RPO, the process will now:
- Ensure consistency in documentation
- Speed up verification
- Reduce processing delays
Who Will Be Affected?
- Affected: Indian nationals applying for New Zealand visas from inside India
- Not affected:
- Indian citizens applying from abroad
- Foreign nationals who previously lived in India
For these groups, police certificate requirements remain unchanged.
Key Things Applicants Should Know
- PCCs must be issued within the last six months at the time of submission.
- If the certificate is not in English, a certified translation is required.
- Some applicants may be asked to undergo fingerprinting—check with local services or the New Zealand Police.
- If you’ve already submitted a PCC with a past visa application, you may not need a new one unless the document is older than 12 months. Immigration officers still have the right to request a fresh certificate.
Student Visa Updates for 2025
Alongside this change, New Zealand has introduced several updates to make the student visa process easier for Indian applicants:
- Indian qualifications no longer require external assessment
- A new online application system has been launched
- Eligible students can now work up to 25 hours a week
These changes are expected to make studying in New Zealand more straightforward and flexible for Indian students.
Final Thoughts
By centralising PCC issuance under the RPO, Immigration New Zealand is streamlining background checks and cutting down on processing delays.
While this adds a new step for Indian applicants applying from India, it ultimately means faster, more reliable visa decisions.
For more details please contact my team. Thanks Regards
+91 63015 50340
