If you are registered nurse having experience in India then there is a golden opportunity for you to migrate to New Zealand. Nursing is a profession highly in demand in New Zealand which means that there are good chances of registering and migration subject to fulfilling all the requirements. Below is a detailed information about the process. This article about Nursing in New Zealand is compiled by an experience Licensed Immigration Adviser having years of experience.
There are 3 steps in this process of settling in New Zealand as a nurse.
Steps in the process of becoming a nurse in New Zealand from India
The first step is Registration with New Zealand nursing Council as a nurse
The second step is to apply for New Zealand Accredited Employer Work visa for Nurses
The third step is to apply for New Zealand Resident visa for Nurses from India
Step 1 Registration with New Zealand Nursing Council
To register as a Nurse with New Zealand nursing council there are certain requirements which the applicants must meet.
Following are the Requirements to register as a Nurse in New Zealand
Qualification
Bachelor of nursing degree
Current Registration
You must currently be registered overseas as a nurse with a registration authority.
Work Experience
Applicants must have practised nursing for at least 1,800 hours in last 10 years
English Language
- IELTS Academic, must achieve a minimum score of 7 for reading, listening, and speaking and a minimum score of 6.5 for writing.
- OET, must achieve a minimum score of 350 for reading, listening, and speaking; and a minimum score of 300 for writing.
Once the applicants have met the requirements then they need to start the process of Verification documents with CGFNS
After Verification of documents with CGFNS the nurses need to apply to the Nursing Council to become registered.
As a part of the registration process nurses need to do short online courses and complete competence assessment exams like Theoretical Exam online at Pearson VUE centres. This theoretical exam, tests nursing knowledge of the applicants. The applicants can appear for this exam outside of New Zealand in their home country overseas or in New Zealand at a Nursing Council accredited-exam centre. Another test the nurses need to pass is an objective structured clinical exam (OSCE) in New Zealand which is conducted in New Zealand. Nurses need to travel to New Zealand to appear for this exam. In New Zealand there is a two-day orientation and preparation programme for the OSCE Test Takers followed by a 3-hour OSCE exam. The applicants are also undergo an international criminal history check by Fit2work
After getting registered with Nursing Council of New Zealand applicants on finding job offer may apply for AEWV for New Zealand
Step 2- New Zealand Accredited Employer Work visa for Nurses
Below are the Requirements applicants must meet to apply for AEWV
Applicants must have New Zealand job offer which must be current at the time you apply for your visa. Further the job offer must be for at least 30 hours of work a week from an employer who is accredited to hire migrants
Applicants must have Occupational registration with New Zealand nursing council which is the first step as explained above.
Step 3 apply for New Zealand Resident visa under straight tom residence visa category.
On successfully getting job offer fulfilling the conditions as explained above the applicants may apply for apply for New Zealand Resident visa under straight to residence visa category. Following are some of the nursing job titles featuring in straight to residence visa category
- Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
- Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)
- Registered Nurse (Community Health)
- Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
- Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)
- Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)
- Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)
- Registered Nurse (Medical)
- Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
- Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)
- Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
- Registered Nurse (Surgical)
- Registered Nurses nec
Why West Highlander?
West Highlander is one of the best consultants for New Zealand visas. Ms Parwinder Kaur one of the directors of the company is an LIA – Licensed Immigration Adviser licensed by the Immigration Adviser Authority New Zealand. She has in-depth knowledge about the registration process of overseas nurses with the Nursing Council of New Zealand.