Work in New Zealand as a General Practitioner
A guide to working in New Zealand as a General Practitioner
General Practitioners (GPs) are registered doctors working in general practices providing diagnosis and treatment services to families in the community. New Zealand has an official skill shortage of GP’s in terms of job prospects and high demand for skilled and experienced health professionals.
If you’re interested in migrating to New Zealand to work as a health professional, our team of professionals can guide you step by step in the process. We can help in jobs search assistance and all things visa/ immigration related.
Keep reading to understand what are General Practitioners
- Roles
- Career Progression
- Income and employment prospects
- Skills and knowledge required

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What do general practitioners do?
A General Practitioner uses their professional knowledge and skills to assess, diagnose and treat patients. A General Practitioner plans care around a patient’s medical condition, emotional state & refers to outside agencies or services as required. The General Practitioner is the link between the patient and other medical professionals, such as medical specialists or services.
According to the Australia/New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupation, the main duties of a General Practitioner may include:
conducting examinations and questioning patients to determine the nature of disorders and illnesses, and recording patients’ medical information
ordering laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures, and interpreting findings to assist in diagnosis
providing overall care for patients, and prescribing and administering treatments, medications and other remedial measures
monitoring patients’ progress and response to treatment
advising on diet, exercise and other habits which aid prevention and treatment of disease and disorders
referring patients to, and exchanging medical information with, specialist Medical Practitioners
reporting births, deaths and notifiable diseases to government authorities
arranging the admission of patients to hospitals
Employment prospects
A need for GPs nationwide
There is an ongoing need for General Practitioners in New Zealand. General and Specialist practitioners are in high demand due to the growing general and aging population and also the expected high number of retire GP’s in the coming years. The shortage of doctors in New Zealand is nationwide.
Career path
Once you gain experience as a Registered General Practitioner, you may then progress to become a Senior GP, ie a self-employed contractor or operating your own practice.
General Practitioner are on Green List
The Green List is a list of skilled occupations that are in sustained shortage all over New Zealand.
For a General Practitioner, the Green list requirement is simply to hold NZ registration within a relevant provisional general, general, provisional vocational or vocational scope of practice with the Medical Council of New Zealand. This allows Doctors to apply Straight for Residency if they secure a job offer in New Zealand.Book your assessment now
The assessment done by our Immigration specialists will guide you from start to end and highlight visa options, the job search assistance we provide, and the migration process for you and your family.
Salary range
Pay varies on the skills, experience and region of New Zealand where the doctor is practicing.
General practitioners earn between NZD$130,000 – $250,000 depending on their level of experience and employment situation.
Competency and registration requirements
Do you have what it takes to be a General Practitioner in New Zealand?
The ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) in New Zealand lists the following for a Registered General Practitioner:
a bachelor degree or higher qualification and at least one year of hospital-based training(ANZSCO Skill Level 1)
Registration or licensing is required
Occupational Registration
General Practitioners in New Zealand are required to obtain registration from the Medical Council of New Zealand in order to practice and must apply and hold an annual practicing certificate.
Registration authority
MCNZ
Level 24
AON Centre
1 Willis Street
WellingtonEmail [email protected]
Website https://www.mcnz.org.nz/Resources
Medical Council of New Zealand · Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa https://www.mcnz.org.nz/
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