To work as a registered nurse in New Zealand, you must be registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) and hold an annual practising certificate. If you trained abroad, you first have your documents verified by TruMerit, then apply to NCNZ, which costs NZD 485. You need passing OET or IELTS scores (or another accepted English route), at least 1,800 hours of nursing practice after registration, and two free online courses. Some nurses must also pass a theory exam and an OSCE in Christchurch.
This guide explains each NCNZ registration step, the fees, the competence assessment, the visa, and what the nursing job market in New Zealand looks like. Everything was checked on the NCNZ and Immigration New Zealand websites in October 2026. Rules change, so check the official pages before you pay. This is general information, not immigration advice.
Who can apply
NCNZ says you may apply to become registered as a nurse in New Zealand if you are currently registered with an overseas regulatory authority and meet its requirements (NCNZ). Two groups follow different routes:
- Nurses with a current practising certificate in Australia apply under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (TTMR) pathway. The fee is NZD 340 (NCNZ fees).
- Midwives register with the Midwifery Council of New Zealand, not NCNZ.
Everyone else is an internationally qualified nurse (IQN) and follows the steps below. If you have no post-registration experience at all, NCNZ says you are not eligible to apply.
How to become a nurse in New Zealand: the steps
Step 1: verify your documents with TruMerit
You cannot apply to NCNZ directly. You first apply to TruMerit (formerly CGFNS), which verifies and authenticates your documents. TruMerit’s fee is USD 380 (NCNZ costs). You provide evidence of (NCNZ requirements):
- Identity: notarised or certified colour copies of your passport and one other identity document.
- Current registration: NCNZ will ask for information from every overseas authority where you were registered in the last 10 years.
- Qualifications: registered nurses need a Bachelor of Nursing (or equivalent) or a nursing master’s degree that led to registration.
- English language: see below.
- Practice hours: a declaration that you have practised nursing for at least 1,800 hours after registration. Apply to TruMerit only after you reach 1,800 hours, or your application will be delayed.
Step 2: apply to NCNZ
Once TruMerit has verified your documents, you apply to the Council through MyIQN and pay the NZD 485 application and processing fee. NCNZ assesses each application individually and does not give a fixed processing time. Its time is separate from TruMerit’s.
Step 3: the “Welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand” courses
All nurses must complete two free online courses on the Health New Zealand learning site, Ko Awatea LEARN: Foundations in Cultural Competency and Module 1 of Ngā Paerewa Te Tiriti o Waitangi. They introduce culturally safe nursing practice and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. NCNZ encourages you to finish them early to avoid delays.
Step 4: criminal history check
All nurses need a criminal history check. If you have lived in New Zealand for more than six months, you apply to the Ministry of Justice. For the international check you use Fit2Work, accredited by NCNZ, at AUD 155 per country.
Step 5: competence assessment, if required
NCNZ says it requires some registered nurses and all enrolled nurses to complete a competence assessment. If your nursing education was in the UK, Ireland, Ontario, British Columbia, Singapore or the USA, you may not need one; NCNZ tells you after assessing your application. NCNZ has a free self-assessment tool on its IQN page that indicates whether you are likely to need one.
The assessment has two parts, and you must pass both:
- A theory exam taken online at a Pearson test centre, overseas or in New Zealand: Part A on medication safety and Part B on nursing knowledge.
- A clinical competence assessment: a two-day orientation and preparation course, then a three-hour OSCE (objective structured clinical examination). Both are in person at the Nurse Maude Simulation and Assessment Centre in Christchurch.
NCNZ registration fees (checked October 2026)
| Item | Paid to | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Document verification | TruMerit | USD 380 |
| Application and processing | NCNZ | NZD 485 |
| International criminal history check | Fit2Work | AUD 155 per country |
| Theory exam (Parts A and B) | Pearson | NZD 140 |
| Orientation and preparation course | Nurse Maude | NZD 500 |
| OSCE | Nurse Maude | NZD 3,000 |
Resits cost NZD 32 for Part A, NZD 108 for Part B and NZD 3,000 for the OSCE. If you need no competence assessment, the core costs are the TruMerit, NCNZ and criminal check fees. Add translations, travel to Christchurch and your English test if you need them (NCNZ costs).
The annual practising certificate
Registration is not enough to work. You also need an annual practising certificate (APC). The NCNZ fee schedule lists NZD 130 for 12 months, including a NZD 10 disciplinary levy (NCNZ fees).
English language requirements
NCNZ accepts two tests (NCNZ):
| Skill | OET | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 350 | 7.0 |
| Listening | 350 | 7.0 |
| Speaking | 350 | 7.0 |
| Writing | 300 | 6.5 |
Rules to know:
- You can reach the scores over more than one sitting, but within 12 months of your first sitting, and all sittings must be within the three years before you apply to NCNZ.
- NCNZ does not accept PTE, and does not accept online tests taken at home. Computer-based tests at an approved centre are accepted, including OET on computer at a venue.
- You may be invited to use an alternative English evidence pathway if you were educated in English in the UK, Singapore, Ireland, Canada or the US, or hold current registration in the UK, Ireland, Canada or the US that needed an English test. This is at the Council’s discretion.
Our OET vs IELTS guide compares the two tests.
Visas for nurses in New Zealand
NCNZ registration does not give you the right to work. Most overseas nurses need a visa from Immigration New Zealand:
- Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). You need a job offer from an accredited employer with an approved job check. It can lead to residence, lasts up to 5 years for most jobs and costs from NZD 1,540 (Immigration New Zealand).
- Green List. Registered nurse roles in many specialties, including aged care, mental health, critical care and emergency, perioperative, medical, surgical and paediatrics, are on the Green List (Green List). Green List roles can lead to residence straight away (Tier 1) or after 2 years of work (Tier 2), if you have the registration it requires. Check the tier for your role on the list.
- Straight to Residence Visa. For Tier 1 Green List jobs with an accredited employer, paid at least the rate set for the job. It costs from NZD 6,450 (Immigration New Zealand).
Nursing jobs in New Zealand
Be realistic about the market before you spend money. NCNZ itself says that New Zealand has recently employed a large number of internationally qualified nurses, “so demand is currently lower than previously, except in some particular areas of speciality or experience (e.g. mental health and addiction)” (NCNZ). It encourages you to look at jobs before you apply for registration. NCNZ has no role in recruitment.
On Nurse Jobs World on 16 October 2026 there were 74 nursing jobs in New Zealand, many of them with aged care and retirement village operators, and none stated visa sponsorship. See nursing jobs in New Zealand and jobs in Auckland for the current list.
If you have a written job offer and are waiting for registration, NCNZ asks you to email it so it can take this into account.
Nursing salary in New Zealand
On OECD data, the average hospital nurse in New Zealand earned NZD 105,280 in 2024, about 1.13 times the average wage (OECD). Pay depends on the employer and agreement, so ask for the exact step on the pay scale. Our guide to nurse salary by country compares New Zealand with other destinations.
From the UK, India, the Philippines, Nigeria and elsewhere
The NCNZ process is the same for every country. What changes is mainly the competence assessment and English:
- From the UK, Ireland or the US: you may not need the competence assessment, and you may be invited to use an alternative English pathway.
- From India, the Philippines, Nigeria, Ghana and most other countries: plan for the theory exam and the OSCE in Christchurch, and an OET or IELTS result, unless NCNZ tells you otherwise after assessing your application.
- From Australia: use the TTMR pathway.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the NCNZ registration fee?
The Nursing Council’s application and processing fee for internationally qualified nurses is NZD 485. TruMerit’s verification fee is USD 380, and the criminal check is AUD 155 per country. If you need the competence assessment, add NZD 140 for the theory exam, NZD 500 for the orientation course and NZD 3,000 for the OSCE.
Is there an NCNZ registration exam?
Only if NCNZ says you need a competence assessment. It then has two parts: an online theory exam at a Pearson centre (medication safety and nursing knowledge), and a three-hour OSCE after a two-day course at Nurse Maude in Christchurch. All enrolled nurses and some registered nurses need it.
What IELTS or OET score does the Nursing Council of New Zealand need?
OET 350 in reading, listening and speaking and 300 in writing, or IELTS Academic 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking and 6.5 in writing. You can combine sittings within 12 months. PTE is not accepted.
Can I get a nursing job in New Zealand with sponsorship?
Yes, but only with an accredited employer, usually on the Accredited Employer Work Visa. Many registered nurse roles are on the Green List. NCNZ warns that demand for overseas nurses is currently lower than before, except in areas such as mental health and addiction.
How do I check if a nurse is on the NCNZ register?
NCNZ publishes a public register you can search on its website. Employers use it to confirm registration and practising certificates.