New Zealand's healthcare system faces genuine and persistent workforce shortages. That shortage translates into concrete immigration policy advantages: more health occupations appear on the Green List than in almost any other sector, and direct residence pathways — bypassing the usual work visa stage — are available to a broad range of clinicians. If you're a trained health professional considering New Zealand, the immigration pathway is often more accessible than it is for other skilled workers, but it's sequential: professional registration must come before the visa application, and registration takes time.
The Green List and Why It Matters for Healthcare
The Green List is New Zealand's list of high-demand occupations that carry enhanced immigration settings. Healthcare dominates both tiers.
Tier 1 — Straight to Residence lets eligible applicants apply directly for a residence visa without first working in New Zealand on a work visa. This is a significant advantage: you can accept a job offer, apply for residence, and arrive with long-term security already in place rather than spending two or more years on a temporary work visa pathway. Tier 1 healthcare roles include most medical specialist categories, general practitioners, registered nurses in multiple specialisations, midwives, pharmacists, and a range of other clinical roles. Check the current Green List on the INZ website, as the occupation lists are reviewed periodically.
Tier 2 — Work to Residence requires you to work in the role in New Zealand for 24 months on an AEWV before applying for residence. The 24-month clock starts when you begin substantive employment in the qualifying occupation. This pathway is available for allied health professions and some other health roles that are in demand but not at the Tier 1 priority level.
If your occupation doesn't appear on the Green List at all, the standard AEWV pathway remains available — work for an accredited employer, meet the relevant wage threshold for your occupation's skill level, and pursue residence through the Skilled Migrant Category or other pathways once you have New Zealand work experience.
Professional Registration: The First Hurdle
Every clinical role in New Zealand requires registration with the relevant professional authority before you can practise. This is not a formality — it is a substantive assessment process, and it must largely be completed before your visa application can proceed. Immigration NZ requires evidence of registration (or at minimum a formal assessment of eligibility by the registration body) before approving most health professional visas.
Medical Council of New Zealand
International medical graduates (IMGs) go through the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) for registration. The process involves:
- A primary source verification of your qualifications through a designated verification service
- Assessment of your training against New Zealand standards
- An English language assessment (MCNZ has specific requirements, typically OET grade B in all bands or IELTS 7.5 overall, depending on pathway)
- In many cases, a competency assessment, peer review, or a period of supervised practice
The MCNZ has specific pathways depending on where you trained. Graduates from the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, and some other recognised countries face a more streamlined process. Graduates from other countries typically go through a more detailed assessment. Some IMGs need to sit the New Zealand Registration Examination (NZREX Clinical) before being eligible for full registration.
The medical registration process can take anywhere from several months to two or more years depending on your starting point. Start the MCNZ process as early as possible — it runs independently of your immigration application and there's no reason to wait.
Nursing Council of New Zealand
Internationally qualified nurses apply to the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ). The NCNZ assesses your qualifications and experience against New Zealand registration requirements. Most international applicants go through a competency assessment programme before being granted annual practising certificates.
The NCNZ has an international application process specifically designed for nurses trained outside New Zealand. You submit qualifications, references, and evidence of current practice. The Council assesses whether your training is substantially equivalent to NZ nursing programmes. Where gaps exist, the Council may require a period of supervised practice or completion of specific components.
Registered Nurses and Enrolled Nurses are both on the Green List, making the investment in registration directly worthwhile. English language requirements for nursing registration typically require IELTS 7.0 overall (no band below 6.5) or equivalent.
Midwifery Council of New Zealand
Internationally qualified midwives apply to the Midwifery Council of New Zealand. Midwifery is a Tier 1 Green List occupation, making direct residence available once registration is confirmed. The registration process involves assessment of qualifications and supervised practice requirements similar to the nursing pathway.
Allied Health Registration Bodies
Each allied health profession has its own registration body. Physiotherapists register with the Physiotherapy Board, occupational therapists with the Occupational Therapy Board, radiographers with the Medical Radiation Technologists Board, psychologists with the Psychologists Board, and so on. Requirements vary by profession — some require examinations, others focus on qualification verification and supervised practice. Research your specific profession's registration body early.
Pharmacy is regulated by the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand, which has a detailed pathway for international pharmacy graduates. Pharmacists are on the Green List.
The Practical Sequence
The most common mistake international health professionals make is starting the visa process too early — applying to employers and immigration advisers before registration is secure. The practical sequence that works:
First, assess your registration pathway. Contact the relevant registration body and get a preliminary assessment of what you'll need to do. This tells you whether you're looking at six months or two years, and what gaps you need to address (English language, examinations, supervised practice).
Second, work on registration. This runs independently of everything else and is the longest lead-time item. English language testing can usually be completed relatively quickly. Qualification verification and formal assessment takes longer. Don't wait until registration is confirmed to start job searching — some employers are willing to make conditional offers — but don't count your timeline from a visa application until registration is at an advanced stage.
Third, secure a job offer. Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora) — the public health system — is the largest single healthcare employer and actively recruits internationally. Private hospitals, aged care facilities, GP practices, community health organisations, and specialist services all employ international health professionals. Several recruitment agencies specialise in placing international health workers in New Zealand.
Your employer needs to be accredited under the AEWV system. Most major healthcare employers are already accredited or can obtain accreditation without difficulty — it's a standard requirement that the sector is familiar with. Smaller GP practices and community providers may need to apply for accreditation, which takes additional lead time.
Fourth, apply for the visa. With registration confirmed (or confirmed as imminent) and a job offer in hand, you apply for either the Green List direct residence visa (Tier 1 occupations) or the AEWV (for work-to-residence or AEWV-only pathways). The documentation required includes evidence of your qualifications, registration, job offer, employment agreement, and personal documents.
Care and Support Workers: A Different Pathway
Care and support workers — people working in residential aged care, disability support, and home and community care — have access to a sector agreement that operates differently from the standard AEWV. This pathway allows care workers to be hired at wages below the standard median wage threshold that would otherwise apply to AEWV applicants in Skill Level 4-5 roles.
The care sector agreement exists because the sector faces extreme workforce shortages and the wages typically paid in residential aged care would otherwise price it out of the AEWV's wage requirements. If you're considering care work specifically, see the care and support worker visa page for the specific settings that apply to this pathway.
Regional Opportunities
Healthcare shortages are more acute in regional and rural New Zealand than in the main cities. Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch are well-supplied relative to places like Southland, Northland, the West Coast, Taranaki, or the East Coast. Working in a regional area often means:
- More immediate employment opportunities and faster hiring
- Sometimes faster access to permanent employment contracts
- Potentially additional support from regional employers who are accustomed to recruiting internationally
- Points advantages in the Skilled Migrant Category if you're pursuing that pathway (regional employment outside Auckland earns bonus points)
Some regional areas have specific recruitment drives and may offer relocation support. It's worth contacting regional District Health Boards and Health New Zealand entities directly as well as using central recruitment channels.
English Language for Health Professionals
English language requirements for healthcare visa and registration pathways are typically higher than for most other work visas. Registration bodies set their own standards, which are often above INZ's general requirements:
- Medical Council typically requires OET grade B in all four bands, or IELTS 7.5 overall with no band below 7.0 (check current requirements, as these are updated)
- Nursing Council typically requires IELTS 7.0 overall with minimum 6.5 in each band, or OET grade B in at least three bands and B- in one
- Allied health registration bodies set their own thresholds — check your specific body
Plan for English language testing early, as test slots can be limited and some registrations accept only specific tests (OET is healthcare-specific and generally preferred by health registration bodies).
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the whole process take from deciding to move to arriving in New Zealand?
The honest answer is highly variable. For someone from a recognised country with no English language issues and a straightforward qualification, the whole process from starting registration to arriving and working can be done in 9–18 months. For someone who needs to complete examinations, undertake a supervised practice period, or whose English language doesn't yet meet the standard, it can be 2–4 years. Get a preliminary assessment from the registration body early so you know what category you're in.
Can I work as a healthcare professional while my registration is being processed?
Generally no — you need registration to practise in a clinical capacity. Some healthcare employers can create support or administrative roles for someone awaiting registration, but these don't count toward Green List work experience requirements. Some registration bodies allow supervised practice arrangements for specific assessments, but this is distinct from open employment.
Are there pathways for doctors who trained outside the English-speaking world?
Yes, but they're longer. Doctors from countries without a recognition agreement with the MCNZ typically need to go through a detailed qualification assessment, may need to sit NZREX Clinical, and will work under supervision initially before progressing to general or specialist registration. The investment is worthwhile given that most specialist medical roles are Tier 1 Green List — direct residence is available once registration is confirmed.
Do I need to have a specific specialty, or are generalists in demand?
Both. GPs (general practitioners) are among the highest-demand roles in New Zealand, particularly in regional areas. Specialists are also in demand, with shortages varying by specialty. Registered nurses in most specialisations face strong demand. The Green List specifies which specialisations are included — check the current list for your specific specialty.
Can my family join me?
Yes. Partners and dependent children can be included in your visa application or apply to join you separately. Partners of AEWV holders are eligible for open work rights (allowing them to work for any employer) where your AEWV wage meets the median wage threshold. Both pathways — AEWV and direct residence — allow family members to be included.
Health professional planning to move to New Zealand? Find a licensed immigration adviser with experience in healthcare immigration who can map out your registration and visa pathway.