The Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) has introduced major updates to streamline the registration process for overseas-trained doctors. These changes are designed to strengthen the healthcare workforce and make it easier for qualified doctors to live and work in New Zealand.
At New Zealand Shores, we welcome this news especially as doctors remain on New Zealand's Green List, giving them a direct pathway to residency.
What's Changing?
1. Fast-Track Registration for GPs
General Practitioners (GPs) trained in the United States, Canada, and Singapore can now access a new fast-track pathway. Applications for provisional vocational registration will be processed within two months.
2. New Comparable Health Systems
Doctors with recent clinical experience in Chile, Luxembourg, and Croatia are now eligible for registration via the Comparable Health System pathway. This pathway now includes 29 countries in total, following the recent addition of Japan and South Korea. Applications under this pathway are usually processed within 20 working days, and require a job offer in New Zealand.
3. Faster Pathways for Specialists
Overseas-trained specialists from the UK, Ireland, and Australia already benefit from fast-track assessments. These cover key fields such as anaesthesia, dermatology, emergency medicine, general practice, internal medicine, pathology, and psychiatry. Assessment times are now reduced to just 20 working days.
Specialists from other countries applying through the provisional vocational registration pathway will see faster processing too, within three months.
Why Is This Important?
New Zealand's health system is under significant pressure, with high demand for doctors across urban, regional, and rural areas. Internationally trained doctors already make up over 40% of New Zealand's medical workforce, one of the highest proportions in the OECD.
By expanding comparable health systems and introducing fast-track registration, New Zealand aims to attract and retain the talent it urgently needs.
Registration + Visa Pathways
While registration is essential to practise in New Zealand, overseas doctors must also secure the right visa. The good news is that doctors are on the Green List, which offers:
- Straight-to-Residence Visa: Apply for residency immediately when offered a role in New Zealand.
- Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): A fast and flexible pathway to work in New Zealand, with clear progression to residence.
- Pathways for family: Eligible partners and dependent children can join you.
This combination of streamlined registration and priority visa processing makes now the ideal time for doctors to explore opportunities in New Zealand.
How New Zealand Shores Can Help
At New Zealand Shores, we specialise in supporting healthcare professionals through both the registration process and the immigration journey.
We can help you:
- Understand your eligibility under the new MCNZ pathways
- Secure an AEWV or residency visa under the Green List
- Connect with healthcare employers across New Zealand
- Relocate smoothly with your family
👉 Start your free eligibility assessment today
