Can I work
in New Zealand?

Registration

Your board decides whether you can practise in New Zealand, and in which scope of practice. Each regulated profession has its own board, and registration can come with conditions, such as a period of supervision when you start.

A practising certificate

Once you’re registered, you also need an annual practising certificate before you can work. You need both.

Your visa

This is your permission to live and work in New Zealand, granted by Immigration New Zealand. Registration does not give you a visa.

Your profession guide explains the professional requirements. For the immigration side, see our New Zealand visa guide.

Start by checking your board’s list for your pathway. It will usually include:

• Your degree certificates and academic transcripts.
• Proof of identity and references.
• A certificate of good standing from your current regulator.
• English language evidence, if your board needs it.

Some documents must be certified or sent directly between organisations, and they can take weeks to arrive, so start early. Check the instructions before you pay for certification or translations.

Not necessarily. Most boards need evidence of English unless you trained and practised in English in a recognised country, and each board publishes its exemptions and required scores. Where evidence is needed, IELTS (Academic) and OET, which is built for healthcare, are the widely accepted tests. If you need to prepare, our endorsed partner Swoosh English ↗ (opens in a new tab) offers IELTS and OET preparation for healthcare professionals.

Whether you’ll need an examination, an assessment or supervised practice depends on your profession and pathway. Your profession guide explains what applies, so check it before you book anything.

Gathering your documents usually takes a few weeks, and certificates of good standing are often the slowest part. The board’s assessment then usually takes a few months, depending on your profession and pathway.

Each board sets its own application and annual practising certificate fees, and English tests, assessments, exams and certified documents add to the cost. For some people the total is significant, so budget for it early with the cost calculator.

We’d wait until your registration and visa are in place before you resign or book flights.

Yes, you can start looking and applying while your registration is underway. Many employers want to see that you’re registered, or clearly registrable, before they progress an application, and the pathways most international doctors use need a job offer first. You can’t start work until you hold both your registration and a practising certificate.

You don’t need to start again. Carry on with your application and answer any requests from your board. If you’re registered in Australia, ask your board whether Trans-Tasman mutual recognition applies to you, as it is often the quicker route.

If you’d like help finding a role or planning around your application, tell us where you’ve got to.

Career breaks, training in more than one country, a niche specialty or a less common qualification can all change your route, and some situations won’t meet the requirements. The Pathway Navigator shows where you’re likely to stand, and your board makes the final decision.

No. Ethicare’s candidate support is free. Registration, English tests and other services have their own fees, payable to the organisations that provide them.