A big thank you to NZDr for sponsoring this post! NZDr is a New Zealand owned and operated specialist medical recruitment agency. They are one of several preferred suppliers to the national public health system, Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand. They recruit Hospital Specialists and GP’s across New Zealand. NZDr assists with finding the role and location that is right for you, be it Locums, Permanent or a Fixed Term contract. They provide a tailored vacancy search, guidance through the Medical Council registration process and manage the immigration process through their own in-house licensed immigration advisor.
Thinking about making a change? New Zealand is a real option for medical professionals like yourself.
At NZDr, we understand this journey intimately because we’ve lived it ourselves. Most of us were born overseas and have chosen to make New Zealand our home. We are uniquely based to provide valuable insight into the journey ahead. We’ve guided countless American physicians through this transition—from those seeking six-month adventures to others who’ve made New Zealand their permanent home, and even physicians who return year after year for the experience they can’t find anywhere else.
Our role is to guide you with appropriate information that fits with your unique circumstances, support you to make informed decisions and then assist you make those dreams a reality.
Today, we will answer some of the frequently asked questions to help you decide if moving to New Zealand is right for you. We’ve broken it down into 3 major categories: Employment, Medical Registration, and Immigration.
Employment
New Zealand operates a truly publicly funded health system, and most opportunities will be hospital-based within this system.
The exceptions are for family medicine physicians, and opportunities for certain specialities in private practice, in particular Radiology where the private sector delivers most services.
Currently, there’s strong demand across multiple specialties, with particularly high needs in Psychiatry, Anaesthesia, Radiology, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Internal Medicine.
Whether you’re seeking a fixed-term position (typically 12 months) or a permanent role, you’ll benefit from New Zealand’s standardized nationwide collective agreement for public healthcare.
This collective agreement offers:
- A transparent salary structure ranging from NZ$180,000 to NZ$280,000 base salary for a 40-hour week, with steps based on years of specialist experience (up to 15 years)
- Additional compensation through on-call payments, job sizing adjustments, and CME allowances
- Consistent pay scales across all specialties and regions—meaning a psychiatrist with 5 years experience and a pediatrician with the same years of experience receive equivalent base salaries
- Generous leave benefits including 6 weeks of annual leave and 2 weeks of paid CME leave with a $16,000 CME allowance
- Relocation support in most positions, including contributions toward flights and shipping costs.
Family medicine and the private sector salaries, including radiology, have different terms, and information can be provided at request. .
Medical Registration in New Zealand
Before practicing medicine in New Zealand, you’ll need to obtain the appropriate type of medical registration. The type of registration depends on your specific situation. Are you a board-certified specialist? A family physician? Planning a short-term adventure or a permanent move? Your answers to these questions will determine your registration pathway.
Let’s explore the three main types of registration available:
1. Vocational registration is a permanent form of registration for board-certified specialists. If you intend to work for more than 12 months as a specialist recognized by the applicable vocational college (Board), you will need this form of registration. Applications form the basis of a comparability assessment of your training with that of the NZ equivalent specialist; this includes both content and duration of training.
- Perfect for long-term career moves (12+ months)
- You do NOT need an immediate job offer to start the process
- Takes about 6 months to process with a 2-year window to secure a position once approved.
- Involves a detailed comparison of your training with NZ standards.
💡PRO TIP: The overall length of training in New Zealand is longer than in the US. All medical graduates complete 2 years hospital-based rotational training before specializing (residency). Also the specialist training is typically longer; for example, psychiatric training takes 5 years in New Zealand compared to 4 years in the US. Specialist work experience can supplement shorter training periods. If you’ve recently completed your residency, you may consider, either:
- Build experience in the US for 1-2 years before applying for specialist registration in New Zealand or
- Start your New Zealand journey under general registration (non-specialist), gaining valuable local experience while working toward specialist recognition.
Every specialty has its unique requirements and pathways. Our team includes experts in each medical field who can provide personalized guidance based on your specialty and circumstances.
2. Locum Tenens is your fast track for temporary registration for board-certified specialists looking to practice for up to 12 months. It’s available for most (but not all) specialties. The eligibility criteria include:
- that you must hold current board certification
- have been in active clinical practice for at least 20 hours a week for at least 6 months in the last 12 months and no less than 22 of the last 36 months.
- The Application requires a job offer
- Typically takes 4-5 weeks.
3. General registration is recommended for family physicians (GP’s) and non-specialists. This requires:
- You to have practiced clinically for at least 20 hrs per week for at least 33 of the last 48 months in a comparable health system (the US qualifies) and in the same area of medicine and level as the job offered in New Zealand.
- The application requires a job offer.
- Typically takes 4-5 weeks.
Special Considerations:
The DO qualification and equivalent board certification is recognized for registration. However, some employers prefer candidates with MD qualifications. We know where and how to navigate this.
The paperwork required varies between the registration types, with Vocational being particularly more detailed. Copies of qualifications, specialist training curriculum, and log books for those specialisms that have them as the main requirements.
For all applications, you will also need 3 references from people you have worked with for at least 6 months in the last 3 years and who are registered as board-certified specialists in the same area of medicine.
Immigration Options
The immigration pathway for physicians and their families is remarkably welcoming and family-friendly. Here are the most common options:
Temporary Visas: Flexibility for Your Initial Journey
Temporary visas can be issued for up to 5 years, without an age limit, with accompanying partner and dependents (under 20) eligible for their own work and study visas, respectively.
While your work visa and duration will be tied to your specific medical position and the term of your employment, your partner gets a flexible work visa that allows them to pursue any career path—whether employment or self-employment and does not require an offer of employment.
Your children’s opportunities depend on their age:
- Ages 5-19: Eligible for student visas and can attend local schools as domestic students until the end of high school
- Under 5: Can attend early childhood education while on visitor visas
- Over 19: They are NOT eligible for inclusion with the family and would require their own visa appropriate to their circumstances.
Residence Visa: For Making a Permanent Home
If you’re considering making New Zealand your permanent home, you can apply for a residence visa once you have a job offer and medical registration. The main applicant must be under 56 years old, and you can include your partner and dependent children (under 25) who are single, with no dependents of their own, and are financially dependent upon an adult
Health & Character Requirements
All applicants are required to meet health and character requirements.
- Medical examinations are required for stays over 12 months
- Police checks are needed for stays of 2+ years
- Some health conditions considered to be high cost or burden, including children needing significant educational support, may require a medical waiver. We have extensive experience in navigating these situations.
- Convictions and prior adverse visa history for any country needs to be carefully assessed and managed.
Extended Family Considerations
While parents can’t be included in your initial application, there are several pathways for them to join you later:
- Long-term visitor visas through sponsorship once you’re a resident
- Parent residence options based on financial criteria
- The same health and character requirements apply
And Your Pets…
Dogs and cats are generally ok to move with you. There are specific requirements that need to be completed, and the Ministry of Primary Industries manages this.
Ready to Write your New Zealand Story?
Whether you’re seriously planning your move or just beginning to dream about the possibilities, we’d love to hear from you. Our team of specialists understands that every physician’s journey is unique.
Email our dedicated specialty experts for a confidential, no-obligation chat:
✅ Psychiatry: Kate McKendry
✅ Internal Medicine, Surgical & All Immigration Inquiries: Martin King
✅ Radiology & OB/GYN: Joanna Nelley
✅ Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Rural Medicine : Adam Benko or Rebecca Holman
Kate McKendry and Martin King are directors of NZDr, a leading specialist doctor recruitment advisory in New Zealand, and both migrated from the UK to New Zealand. Kate is a specialist recruiter with 20+ years of medical recruitment experience. Martin is a recruiter and licensed immigration adviser who provides immigration advice to NZDr clients. Meet the team and start your journey to New Zealand today.
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