Do I need to be registered with a professional body in New Zealand in order to commence my application for residency under the Skilled Migrant Category?
New Zealand’s beauty, warmth and high quality of life are some of the various reasons why many Brits are looking to make the move to New Zealand. According to the recent Global Peace Index, New Zealand is the world's most peaceful nation, while Britain ranked 35th place.
One cannot help but be excited about the prospects of emigrating to New Zealand and being caught up on the romanticism of starting a new life abroad. Before launching into the emigration and job search process it is vitally important for you to ask the following question:
Do I need to be registered with a professional body in New Zealand in order to commence employment in my occupation in New Zealand?
People working in New Zealand in some occupations are required by law to be registered with the professional body of their occupation. It is no surprise that registration is required in the medical and health occupations. However, registration is also required for some trade occupations and other professional occupations.
Below is a list of all the occupations requiring either full or provisional registration in New Zealand:
Architect |
Electrician (see note below) |
Optometrist |
Barrister or Solicitor |
Electrical Service Technician |
Osteopath |
Chiropractor |
Enrolled Nurse |
Pharmacist |
Clinical Dental Technician |
Line Mechanic |
Physiotherapist |
Clinical Dental Therapist |
Medical Laboratory/Scientist/Technologist |
Plumber, Gasfitter and Drainlayer |
Dental Hygienist |
Medical Laboratory Technician |
Podiatrist |
Dental Therapist |
Medical Practitioner |
Psychologist (see note below) |
Dentist |
Medical Radiation Technologist |
Real Estate Agent |
Dietician |
Nurses and Midwives |
Cadatral (Land Title) Surveyor |
Disposing Optician |
Occupational Therapist |
Teacher |
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Veterinarian |
Psychologist - this applies only if the principal applicant is claiming points for an offer of employment in the state sector or in an institution licensed under the Mental Health Act 1992. |
Electrician - where a current 'Employer Licence' is held, an electrician working for that employer does not require individual occupational registration. |
Do I need to obtain full or provisional registration before lodging an Expression of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)?
You will only gain points for qualifications, under the SMC, for the above mentioned occupations or points for an offer of skilled employment in these occupations , if you can prove you have either full or provisional registration. Therefore, to avoid lodging an incorrect EOI, the writer advises that you obtain advice on whether registration is required for your occupation.
How do I apply for registration and how long will the registration process take?
Each professional body in New Zealand has their own unique procedures on how to apply for registration, what requirements need to be satisfied and what documents must be submitted as part of an application. The degree of difficulty to apply for registration will vary from each professional body, as too, will the processing times. Some professional bodies require exams to be completed to show a required level of competency, whilst some require a certain amount of work experience.
What are the names of some the professional bodies in New Zealand?
Below is a list of some of the professional bodies in New Zealand:
- Architects Education and Registration Board
- Dental Technicians Board
- Dental Council of New Zealand
- Electrical Workers Registration Board
- Engineers Registration Board
- Medical Council of New Zealand
- Nursing Council of New Zealand
- New Zealand Law Society
- Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand
- Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand
- Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayer’s Board
- Real Estate Agents Licensing Board
- Registration Boards Secretariat
- The Survey Board of New Zealand Office of the Surveyor-General Land Information New Zealand
- New Zealand Teachers Council
- Veterinary Council of New Zealand
Do I need advice and assistance with my registration application?
As your registration process will be a critical part of your application under the SMC, the writer recommends that advice and assistance is sought at all times from a New Zealand legally qualified Migration Consultant. The Migration Consultant should be able to provide you with advice and assistance with your registration application. This registration process is a fundamental aspect of your residency application under the Skilled Migrant Category.
Obtaining advice will:
- Eliminate any mistakes that lead to delays or refusal;
- Save you time; and,
- Reduce stress levels.
You are not required to utilise the services of a New Zealand legally qualified Migration Consultant to apply for registration and therefore you can complete the process yourself by contacting the relevant professional body in New Zealand. However, should go down this path you do run the risk of delays and in the worst case scenario refusal of your registration application, which will ultimately impact your SMC application, in the event of lodgement of an incorrect registration application.
Conclusion
To successfully emigrate to New Zealand it is certainly prudent to ascertain, at a early stage, whether or not you need to be registered with a professional body in New Zealand. If affirmative, it is important that this process is dealt with correctly and efficiently in the first instance, to avoid any delays and impacts to your SMC application.
If you would like further information on occupation registration or you would like to obtain a Comprehensive New Zealand Visa Evaluation please contact us.
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