NewZealand - Occupational Registration

People intending to work in some occupations in New Zealand are required by law to be registered with the appropriate professional body of their occupation. Most often registration is required in medical and health occupations but registration is also required for some other business and trade occupations.

You will only qualify for points for a job offer in these occupations under the Skilled Migrant Category if you can prove to them that:
  • you have been granted full or provisional registration by the relevant New Zealand occupational registration authority and can therefore legally work in that occupation in New Zealand, or
  • you are a dental or medical professional and hold written confirmation from the New Zealand Dental or Medical Council that you are eligible for full or provisional registration subject only to attending a personal interview with a Council representative within one month of your arrival in New Zealand.
To be granted a work visa or permit – or a residence permit under the Work to Residence policy – to work in one of these occupations, you also need to prove you can meet occupational registration requirements. 


RELATED LINKS: - For a list of occupations that require registration in New Zealand, see Operational Manual at SM 19.5.

For details on the effect of occupational registration on eligibility for points, see SM 19.10.
Operational Manual outlines the effect on points for qualifications at SM 19.15 and skilled employment at SM 19.20.
See also: - Full occupational registration, Provisional occupational registration.