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For Brits moving abroad
Healthcare and teaching jobs in New Zealand
New Zealand needs nurses and teachers, and both are on the Green List, the government's list of jobs it wants people for. For many of these roles, that means you can apply for residence straight away once you have a job offer from an accredited employer. You'll need to be registered with the right New Zealand body before you apply for a visa, so that's the first step.
There's a catch for teachers, though. Straight to Residence is aimed at experienced teachers in roles paid at least the median wage, not newly qualified teachers early in their careers. If you've been teaching in the UK for a few years, you're the kind of person this route is built for. Below, we cover which jobs are in demand, how registration works, and what moving with your family looks like.
Healthcare and teaching jobs in demand in New Zealand
All of these jobs are on New Zealand's Green List, the government's list of roles it needs people for.
Nursing and midwifery
Registered Nurse (Aged Care), Registered Nurse (Mental Health), Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency), Registered Nurse (Medical), Registered Nurse (Surgical), Registered Nurse (Perioperative), Registered Nurse (Paediatrics), Registered Nurse (Community Health), Enrolled Nurse, Midwife, Nurse Practitioner
Doctors
General Practitioner, Anaesthetist, Paediatrician
Visa options for UK nurses and teachers
The main route is the Straight to Residence Visa. If your job is on Tier 1 of the Green List and you have a job offer from an accredited employer, you can apply for residence straight away, without waiting two years. You need your New Zealand registration first, so sort that out before you apply.
If you're not ready for residence yet, the Accredited Employer Work Visa lets you work for an accredited employer and live in New Zealand while you get settled. And if you're aged 18 to 35, the Working Holiday Visa lets UK citizens stay for up to three years, which is a good way to try the country before committing.
Moving to New Zealand from the UK with your family
If you're on an Accredited Employer Work Visa, whether your partner can work depends on your job and what you're paid. Partners of workers earning below the median wage don't get a work visa of their own, so check this before you accept an offer.
Children of work visa holders can usually go to state primary and secondary schools as domestic students, so you won't pay international fees, as long as you meet the income threshold. For what the move itself will cost, see our New Zealand Costs page.
Teaching
Primary School Teacher, Middle School (Intermediate) Teacher, Secondary School Teacher
Teachers need to be registered with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand and hold a provisional or full practising certificate.
Skills assessment and registration for UK nurses and teachers
Nurses register with the Nursing Council of New Zealand. Most internationally qualified nurses have to pass two tests of competence: a theory exam, taken on a computer at a test centre in the UK or New Zealand, and a hands-on clinical exam, taken in person at the Nurse Maude Simulation and Assessment Centre in Christchurch. The Nursing Council's website asks you a few questions about your training and experience, then tells you exactly what you'll need to do.
Teachers register with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand and need a provisional or full practising certificate before they can teach. Start both processes before you move, because registration comes before your visa.
Wondering what it all costs? See the full cost of moving to New Zealand.
Not sure where you fit?
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Questions about moving to New Zealand as a healthcare or teaching position?
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