“Were you involved in war crimes ?”: New Zealand Requires Israelis to Disclose Military Service Details for Visa Applications

Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- New Zealand’s immigration authorities now require Israelis applying for visas to provide detailed information about their military service. This includes mandatory and reserve service, according to Israeli media reports.
Applicants within the age range for compulsory military service must complete a questionnaire. The form asks for specifics such as dates of service, military base locations, units served in, ranks, and military identification numbers.
The questionnaire also includes probing questions like: “Were you affiliated with an intelligence or enforcement agency?” “Did you have contact with groups using violence or violating human rights?” and “Were you involved in war crimes or crimes against humanity?”
Israeli media reports indicate that some Israeli soldiers cannot disclose service details due to security concerns. Refusing to complete the questionnaire results in automatic visa denial, making it impossible for them to meet the requirements.
One case involved a soldier who served in Gaza and disclosed this in his application. Despite claiming no involvement in war crimes, his visa was denied.
As of January 14, 2025, New Zealand’s immigration department received 944 temporary visa and residency applications from Israeli citizens. Of these, 809 were approved, 37 rejected, 69 are still being processed, and the rest were withdrawn.
During the same period, the department received 259 similar applications from Palestinian passport holders. Of these, 177 were approved, 53 rejected, 21 are under processing, and the rest were withdrawn.
The immigration department stated it prioritizes applications from those affected by the war. However, all applicants must meet relevant immigration requirements. Exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Statistics show that the rejection rate for Israeli applications (4%) during the Gaza genocide is not significantly higher compared to previous years or other developed countries.
Recently, reports revealed that Australia has adopted similar measures. Israeli applicants must disclose military service details, and those who served in Gaza face visa rejections over suspected involvement in war crimes.