FAQ         New Zealand IME

Frequently Asked Questions

New Zealand IME Overview

You can download the entire overview document (seen below) by clicking here.

For a summary of information regarding your IME, please read the below instructions carefully.

For more detailed visa information please visit: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/

Booking your Panel Physician appointment:

Contact ShipMed to book an appointment by using:

  • Via our website
  • Telephone 031 261 8291
  • Email ops@shipmed.co.za

Tests required and the cost

All tests must be done at the Panel Clinic (this is the INZ regulation).

Type of Test Who Needs It? Cost (per person)

501 (Medical Exam) All Applicants R1370

502 (Chest Xray) Applicants 11 years and older R1360

Blood Work Applicants 15 years and older R612

Blood work includes: HIV, Hepatitis B/C, Syphilis, Full Blood Count, Kidney Function, HbA1c

Pricing is per 2021 March

AT your Panel Physician appointment:

  • All applicants bring the following to your appointment at ShipMed:
  • ORIGINAL Passport of each applicant. (No copies of any kind are accepted).
  • No photos are required.
  • All required paperwork will be provided at ShipMed.

X-ray (502) requirements

  • The X-ray must be done at Lake, Smit and Partners (Panel Radiologists) at Entabeni Hospital (Ground Floor) after your medical exam (501) is complete.
  • ORGINAL passports for each applicant must be shown.


ShipMed (Panel Clinic) Location

Our rooms are within the Ear, Nose and Throat Centre


25 Glenwood Drive, Glenwood, Durban, 4001

Payment Options

  • Credit Card
  • EFT (Proof of Payment must be provided at the appointment)
  • Cash.

Note: we do not deal with medical aid under any circumstances.

Duration of Medical

On the day you will be required to:

  • Fill in multiple forms (only available at the Panel Clinic)
  • Have a photo taken
  • Be checked by a nurse
  • Be examined by the Panel Physician

The Panel Clinic visit will take approximately 30 – 45 minutes per applicant (e.g. Family of four will take approximately three hours)

Once the Panel Clinic visit is complete you will go for your chest x-ray (if required). This is will take more time and if you want more information about this contact Lake Smit and Partners, Entabeni Branch (click here for contact)

Preparation for the Medical

No fasting or special dieting is required.

Menstruation – as there is a mandatory urine test for all applicants, we suggest that you wait until seven days after your period ends to have your appointment.

Clothing – shorts and a T-shirt are preferable.

  • You will be required to remove clothing that cannot be easily manipulated to reveal most of your body (a gown is provided in this instance).

Specialist Reports – your Panel Physician will advise you at the appointment if any further specialist reports are required.

What will be examined?

All the major systems will be examined.

Genitalia will not be examined.

A breast exam will be performed if:

  • there is a history of breast cancer either in the applicant or the applicant’s direct female relatives.
  • The applicant is over 45 years old

AFTER your Panel Physician Appointment

Processing times:

  • if there are no apparent problems with your medical (501), chest x-ray (502) or bloods (if required) then your medical will take up to TEN working days to be submitted, via eMedical, to the New Zealand Government.
  • If further information is required due to findings made during the exam, then you will be informed by your panel clinic of what will be required next and of the expected timeframe for submission.

Please do not contact ShipMed with queries regarding submission if it is within 10 working days (two full weeks).

Note: the nature of the IME medical is to assess your health in order to be assessed for a Visa by the New Zealand Government. It is not a “fit to fly” medical. If an applicant is concerned about their fitness to fly then we strongly advise that you see your personal doctor for a “fit to fly” assessment.

Warmest regards

Drs Addington and Park-Ross - Panel Physicians (Australia/New Zealand/UK)

Will I need blood tests or a chest x-ray?

(To download the New Zealand IME Overview document click here.)

Tests required and their cost

All tests must be done at the Panel Clinic (this is the INZ regulation).

Type of Test Who Needs It? Cost (per person)

501 (Medical Exam) All Applicants R1370

502 (Chest Xray) Applicants 11 years and older R1360

Blood Work Applicants 15 years and older R612

Blood work includes: HIV, Hepatitis B/C, Syphilis, Full Blood Count, Kidney Function, HbA1c

Prices as at 2019.



What do I need to bring fro my New Zealand IME appointment?

(To download the Australian IME Overview document click here.) All applicants must bring the following to your appointment at ShipMed:

  • ORIGINAL Passport of each applicant. (No copies of any kind are accepted).
  • No photos are required.
  • All required paperwork will be provided at ShipMed.

If blood tests are required they will be done at ShipMed.

X-ray (502) requirements

  • The X-ray must be done at Lake, Smit and Partners (Panel Radiologists) at Entabeni Hospital (Ground Floor) after your medical exam (501) is complete.
  • ORGINAL passports for each applicant must be shown.



How do I get to ShipMed?

For Google Maps directions click here. From the North Coast:

  • From N2 take Gateway exit onto M41, head towards M4.
  • Take M4 until Bram Fisher Rd, then turn right (still M4).
  • Carry on straight, merge onto N3.
  • From N3, take Exit 3 (Berea Rd South).
  • At robots, left onto Mazisi Kunene Rd.
  • After Entabeni Hospital, take first right (into Glenwood Drive).
  • Look for the Ear, Nose & Throat Centre (on the left).
  • We are inside the ENT Centre!
From the South Coast:
  • From N2 take exit 165 (EB Cloete Interchange) onto N3, towards Durban.
  • Take Exit 3 (Toll Gate Bridge) for Mazisi Kunene Rd.
  • At robots, turn right to go over the bridge.
  • Carry on up the hill.
  • After Entabeni Hospital, take first right (into Glenwood Drive).
  • Look for the Ear, Nose & Throat Centre (on the left).
  • We are inside the ENT Centre!

How much will my New Zealand medical cost?

Each applicant may require various and different investigations and so the pricing varies:

Tests and their cost

All tests must be done at the Panel Clinic (this is the INZ regulation).

Type of Test Who Needs It? Cost (per person)

501 (Medical Exam) All Applicants R1370

502 (Chest Xray) Applicants 11 years and older R1360

Blood Work Applicants 15 years and older R612

Blood work includes: HIV, Hepatitis B/C, Syphilis, Full Blood Count, Kidney Function, HbA1c

Payment Options

  • Credit Card
  • EFT (Proof of Payment must be provided at the appointment)
  • Cash

Note: We do not deal with medical aid under any circumstances.



How long will my medical take on the day?

Duration of Medical

When you get to ShipMed on the day of your New Zealand IME each applicant will be required to:

  • Fill in multiple forms (only available at the Panel Clinic)

  • Have a photo taken

  • Pass a urine sample (ages five years and upwards)

  • Be checked by a nurse (height, weight, eyesight, urine check)

  • Have blood taken (if required)

  • Be examined by the Panel Physician (review of medical history, systemic examination)

It will take approximately 30 – 45 minutes per applicant (e.g. Family of four will take approximately three hours)

At Lake, Smit & Partners (Panel Radiologist)

  • If you require a 502 (chest x-ray) this will be done at the Lake, Smit & Partners, Entabeni Branch.

  • Please call Lake, Smit & Partners for any questions related to the 502 (chest x-ray) procedure.

  • You can find the contact details of Lake, Smit & Partners, Entabeni branch here



Do I need to fast or specially prepare for my medical?

Preparation for the Medical

No fasting or special dieting is required before the IME.

Clothing – shorts and a T-shirt are preferable.

  • You will be required to remove clothing that cannot be easily manipulated to reveal most of your body (a gown is provided in this instance).

Specialist Reports – your Panel Physician will advise you at the appointment if any further specialist reports are required.

Menstruation – as there is a mandatory urine test for all applicants, we suggest that you wait until seven days after your period ends to have your appointment.



What will the Panel Physician check during my exam?

The Panel Physician will conduct the following on each applicant:

  • Personal Medical History - this is an in-depth enquiry into the applicant's medical, surgical and psychiatric history. Important aspects of this will be recorded on your IME profile on eMedical.

  • Review of Specialist Reports - the Panel Physician will review any specialist medical reports that you might have brought along. If needed, the Panel Physican will request a recent medical report describing a specific problem that you might or might have had.

  • Physical Exam - each body system will be examined.

    • Genitalia - genitalia will not be examined.

    • Breast Exam - applicants with a significant personal or family history of breast cancer will require a breast exam (for example, if the applicant's mother, daughter or sister had breast cancer).

      • This will be done by the Panel Physician with a female chaperone present in the case of a male Pannel Physican.

      • An applicant may decline the breast exam at the Panel Clinic, but then a mamogram report, not older than three months must be provided.



How will the New Zealand authorities get my medical?

The Panal Physican makes use of an online platfrom (eMedical) to capture the various elements of your IME (medical, chest xray, blood results) which is then submitted directly to a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (a New Zealand medical official) who will review your medical and make a final decsion.



How long will it take the Panel Physician to submit my medical?

At ShipMed, the turnaround time for your medical to be finalized and submitted is between 3 and 14 days depending on:

  • What results are outstanding (xray and blood work).
  • Application load at the time of your visit.
If it has been less than 14 days since your appointment, please do not call in to enquire about your medical - rest assured we are working to submit it as soon as possible. If it has been longer than 14 days then please do send an email to newlzealand@shipmed.co.za, quote the applicants NZER number and request feedback.



Does the IME tell me if I am fit to travel?

The IME is a medical related to your visa application and is not a test of fitness to travel or fly in an airplane overseas. If you have any concerns or questions about your fitness to travel, please consult your personal doctor before you travel.



I'm pregnant, should I do the chest xray?

You must inform the Panel Physician and the Panel Radiologist of your pregnancy. There are risks involved in exposing your fetus to the radiation of any xray. Please call Lake, Smit and Partners, ahead of your medical appointment, to discuss the risks involved so that you can make an infromed decision. If you choose not to do your chest xray, your medical will be put on hold until you complete the chest xray after you have given birth.



Directions from:
SOUTH
COAST

  • From N2 take exit 165 (EB Cloete Interchange) onto N3, towards Durban.

  • Take Exit 3 (Toll Gate Bridge) for Mazisi Kunene Rd.

  • At robots, turn right to go over the bridge.

  • Carry on up the hill.

  • After Entabeni Hospital, take first right (into Glenwood Drive).

  • Look for the Ear, Nose & Throat Centre (on the left).

  • We are inside the ENT Centre!

Directions from:
NORTH
COAST

  • From N2 take Gateway exit onto M41, head towards M4.

  • Take M4 until Bram Fisher Rd, then turn right (still M4).

  • Carry on straight, merge onto N3.

  • From N3, take Exit 3 (Berea Rd South).

  • At robots, left onto Mazisi Kunene Rd.

  • After Entabeni Hospital, take first right (into Glenwood Drive).

  • Look for the Ear, Nose & Throat Centre (on the left).

  • We are inside the ENT Centre!