Working in New Zealand
Working as a doctor in New Zealand
New Zealand is a paradise for lovers of adventure and the great outdoors. This unique island nation is brimming with awesome landscapes, lush forests, snowy mountains, sandy beaches and amazing wildlife.
New Zealand is both a great place to work and live. With lots of work in most specialties, doctors choose New Zealand for the quality of life; great pay, excellent study and training options, awesome career prospects and the unique lifestyle.
And while we might be a little bit biased, international quality of life surveys regularly vote New Zealand as one of the world's top 10 places to live. No surprise really as in New Zealand you can ski, surf, bike, swim with dolphins, go whale watching, walk through spectacular national parks, explore the beautiful coastline, lie on white sandy beaches and savour the cafe, dining and winery culture.
New Zealanders are famous for their work hard, play hard ethisc. The collaborative environment and staffing levels of New Zealand smaller hospitals lets you experience a lot more variety in your work. On the other hand, large metropolitan hospitals offer great clinical experiences and career advancement opportunities.
General practice work is also varied. Larger city practices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch have minimal on call requirements (due to after hour clinics providing cover on behalf of practices). Coastal towns have wonderful lifestyle opportunities while rural practices offer a different experience with their close community focus.
To work as a doctor in New Zealand, you must:
- Register with the Medical Council of New Zealand
- Apply for a work visa or work permit
Register with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ)
We co-ordinate your application with the MCNZ and assist you every step of the way with all the information you need to provide. We then keep in touch with the MCNZ so we know if there are any issues with your registration application. This ensures there are no lengthy delays.
If you completed your primary medical degree in Australia, you are eligible for general registration in New Zealand if:
- You have completed an internship in New Zealand or Australia and;
- You achieved registration in a general scope or full registration
If you completed your primary medical degree outside New Zealand or Australia, you may be eligible for registration through one of the following pathways:
Registration for Junior Doctors
Competent Authority Pathway
- Graduated with a UK or Irish university medical degree
- One year postgraduate experience
- Full registration with the GMC or IMC
Comparable Health System
- Achieved IELTS with minimum requirements of: Speaking 7.5; Listening 7.5; Writing 7.0; and Reading 7.0.
- Primary medical degree listed in WHO World Directory of medical schools or the ECFMG FAIMER directory.
- If you have worked in any of the following countries for 36 (or more) months out of the last 48 for a minimum of 30 hours per week;
- Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, UK or USA.
- Achieved full registration (or equivalent) in that heath system.
If you meet the above criteria, you may be eligible to register in a provisional general scope of practice with the MCNZ, to work under supervision. You can also check your eligibility using the Medical Council's online self-assessment tool - www.mcnz.org.nz
The registration process takes around 20 working days. Plus you will be required to attend a short registration interview upon your arrival in New Zealand to verify your documents.
Registration for Senior Doctors and Specialists
If you completed your specialist training overseas, you may be eligible to apply for vocational registration. This can take up to six months to finalise. In certain situations, you may be eligible for Competent Authority Pathway registration.
If you want to work as a specialist in New Zealand for less than six months, you may be eligible to apply for registration in a special purpose scope.
You can also check your eligibility using the Medical Council's online self assessment tool - www.mcnz.org.nz
All info provided on this website is a guide only and subject to change. For further info or for the contact details of the NZ and Australian Medical Boards and Councils, email us at doctors@triple0.com or click here.
Immigration in New Zealand
Once we have confirmed a position for you, you can apply for a work visa or work permit. We can suggest options and put you in touch with the immigration authorities so your visa or permit is processed in a timely manner.
To work in New Zealand, you must meet criteria laid down by the NZ Immigration Service. For further info, please visit the NZ Immigration Service website www.immigration.govt.nz