Moving to New Zealand as a UK Doctor? A Comprehensive Guide

Every year, many UK doctors make the move to New Zealand – and it’s not hard to understand why. Faced with mounting NHS pressures, understaffing, and the creeping sense that work has taken over life, more and more doctors are asking whether there’s a better way. For many, New Zealand is the answer: a familiar healthcare system, an English-speaking culture, competitive pay, and a good quality of life. But making the move isn’t as simple as booking a flight. This guide covers everything you need to know – from checking your eligibility and finding a job, to landing on your feet once you’re there.

🤔 Why New Zealand?

Here’s what draws most doctors over:

🌿 Better work-life balance: Doctors typically have a lighter workload compared to in the NHS, with more flexible working hours!

🏥 Supportive work culture: Resident doctors generally report feeling more valued, with better staffing, very supportive consultants, and less hierarchy.

🧠 Broader clinical experience: Especially in rural areas, you’ll often take on more responsibility and see a wider variety of cases than you would in a UK equivalent role.

🌄 Scenic lifestyle: Beaches, mountains, hikes – often minutes from your door!

🗣️ English-speaking country: No language barrier and similar healthcare system to the NHS

💼 Am I Eligible to Work There?

Yes! – UK-trained doctors are eligible under the “Comparable Health System Pathway”. You need to have a recognised medical degree (from the UK or other approved countries), and be GMC-registered. You must also have at least 1 year post-qualification experience (i.e., completed FY1). Beyond that, the level at which you can work depends on where you are in your training:

Post-FY2 / F3 doctors – will typically work as House Officers and will be required to work under supervision for 6–12 months while you establish a local track record.

Registrars (ST3+) – can work with significantly more autonomy; in some specialties and locations, experienced registrars may be able to work at near-consultant level.

GPs and consultants – pathways exist, though additional steps may be required depending on your specialty and the specific role.

Not sure which pathway applies to you? The MCNZ has a free registration self-assessment tool on their website. Use it as your first port of call – pathways and eligibility criteria do change.

💡Good to know: The supervision requirement for House Officers isn’t always a disadvantage as most UK doctors find NZ consultants are genuinely supportive. The supervised period is a helpful way to adjust to local systems and protocols.

💭 Understanding the New Zealand Healthcare system

The New Zealand healthcare system is a dual system, similarly to the NHS, where there is publicly-funded care and a private system. Publicly funded care is delivered through district health boards (now reorganised under Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand). GPs are mostly private businesses but are subsidised to keep patient costs down.

In practice, the day-to-day feel of working in a NZ hospital is similar to the NHS – the clinical medicine is the same, the structure is recognisable, and the paperwork (while ever-present) is generally considered less burdensome than in the NHS.

The quality of training is generally considered excellent, particularly for doctors who are happy to work in a more generalist environment. Subspecialty exposure can be more limited in smaller centres, so if you’re in a highly specialist training pathway, that’s worth factoring in.

🏷️ Grade equivalents

The NZ grade structure differs slightly from the UK – here’s how they map across:

Years post-graduation	UK grade	NZ equivalent
1	FY1 / House Officer	PGY1 / House Officer / RMO (Resident Medical Officer)
2	FY2 / SHO (Senior House Officer)	PGY2 / House Officer / RMO (Resident Medical Officer)
3–5	CT1–CT2 / SHO (Senior House Officer)	Registrar (Junior Reg)
5+	ST4–ST5 / Registrar	Registrar (Senior Reg) / Fellow
End of training	Consultant	Consultant / SMO (Senior Medical Officer)

💡You may also come across the acronym TI which means Trainee Intern (final year medical students)

After finishing FY2, you’re eligible for either House Officer or Junior Registrar posts. House Officer jobs are similar to FY1/2 all over again. This is good if you’re undecided on specialty or want experience in areas you didn’t cover in foundation training. Junior Registrar posts are more like core training, better suited to doctors who know their intended specialty. Note that some Registrar posts require minimum time in the specialty first (e.g. 6 months in Emergency Medicine before applying as an ED Registrar).

📌 Where in New Zealand?

New Zealand spans two main islands and several distinct regions, each with its own character. The North Island tends to have more hospital jobs and a warmer climate; the South Island is more rural and scenic, often with less competition for roles. Get more information from the encyclopedia of New Zealand.

🌆 Auckland

NZ’s largest city – vibrant, diverse, and with plenty to do. But it’s the most competitive location and has the highest cost of living. Best suited to doctors with some NZ experience already.

🏛️ Wellington

The capital: compact, walkable, and full of young expats. Known for being windy (locals call it “Windy Welly”). Competitive, but slightly more accessible than Auckland.

🏖️ Christchurch

The South Island’s largest city – coastal, friendly, and increasingly rebuilt and revitalised after the 2011 earthquake. Great beaches, and noticeably less competitive than the main North Island cities.

🎓 Dunedin

A university city with a quirky, bohemian character. Colder climate (think Scottish highlands), but beautiful surroundings and a tight-knit medical community. A favourite for doctors who like an outdoorsy lifestyle.

🌿 Smaller towns

Rotorua, Hawke’s Bay, Invercargill and others. Less competition, more clinical responsibility, often rural relocation bonuses, and a slower pace of life. An excellent option for first-timers.

💡Strategy tip: If you’re applying for your first NZ role, consider starting in a smaller or South Island centre. Once you have NZ references and local experience under your belt, relocating to the busier and more competitive Auckland or Wellington becomes much more straightforward.

💰Pay and Hours

Pay in New Zealand is competitive, particularly when you factor in the generally better work-life balance. The table below gives a rough guide but salaries vary depending on location, employer, and role, with rural and more remote areas typically paying a premium.

Years of Experience	Annual Salary (NZD)	Approx GBP
2-5 years experience (post F2)	$140,000	£61,120
5-10 years	$227,600	£99,364
10-15 years	$283,500	£123,769+

But this is variable, and can even be more depending on where you work, with rural areas typically paying more. Locum work also pays very well! Don’t be fooled though as the cost of living is generally higher.

💡Many hospitals offer at least one free hot meal per shift – in some this means a fully free canteen (swipe your ID card to “pay”).

🕒 Hours

Typically 40–50 hours per week

On-calls and weekend shifts are less intense than in the NHS

Good amount of annual leave (around 30 days per year)

📊 House Officer pay banding

Like the NHS, each rotation has a different banding (called a “Category” in NZ) based on actual hours worked. As of the 2024–2026 STONZ Collective Agreement (updated February 2025), the previous separate urban, non-urban, shift, and non-shift scales have been merged into a single national scale. Doctors working at designated rural hospitals receive an additional 5% loading. F3-year doctors are typically placed at Year 3 rates. For the latest salary figures, check the STONZ salaries page directly – rates are updated annually under the collective agreement.

You’re paid fortnightly, with tax deducted at source. There’s no tax-free allowance in NZ. If you start or finish part-way through the NZ tax year (April to April), you may be eligible for a tax rebate the following year.

⏳ When to apply

Start planning as early as possible! Ideally at least 6-9 months ahead, which allows you time to finalise your job offer, and allows time for your visa processing and MCNZ registration.

Usually job applications open in mid-May to mid-June, and you can expect to hear back about offers in early August/September. Don’t worry if you miss the May-June application window, as there will be job vacancies throughout the year so still apply!

Start planning 6–9 months before your intended start date.This gives you time to line up a job offer, begin your MCNZ registration, and process your visa without rushing.

Main application window: mid-May to mid-June. Most hospitals post their House Officer and registrar vacancies during this period.

Offers typically go out in early September. Expect to hear back within a few months of applying.

Start dates: mid-January for House Officers, early February for registrars. These align with the NZ academic year calendar.

💡Missed the main window? Don’t panic – hospitals post vacancies throughout the year as positions become available. It’s always worth applying, even outside the main cycle. Recruitment agencies (see below) can help you find opportunities at any point.

📩 How Do I Apply?

Either via a Medical Recruitment Agency (most common)
- They help with finding jobs, registration paperwork and visas
- Just send in one application, and they do everything else for you – no need to send in multiple job applications!
- They are free!
- Recommended agencies: Triple O, Medrecruit, Head Medical, Ochre Recruitment, Tonix NZ

Or apply directly to the hospital job you want – these are listed on the Kiwi Health Jobs website

References

You’ll need three references from your most recent jobs. If you’re applying for a House Officer position, these should be from the three roles you held immediately before your planned NZ start date – plan ahead to ensure your referees are contactable and willing to respond promptly. Here are the full requirements.

📄 Documents Required

🛂 Working Holiday Visa

If you’re not planning a permanent move, the Working Holiday Visa is the most popular option for F3-year doctors. UK citizens aged 18–35 can apply for 12, 23, or 36 months. The current fee for UK applicants is approximately NZD $770 – check the Immigration NZ website for the exact current fee as it does vary.

The key advantage to this is speed as it can often be approved within a few weeks and you don’t need a job offer before applying. Time on a Working Holiday Visa does not count toward residency or citizenship requirements. The visa can only be applied for once, though if you take a 12 or 23-month visa you may be able to extend to 36 months via a Subsequent Work Visa.

🛂 Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

This visa ties you to a specific accredited employer, so you’ll need a confirmed job offer before applying. Doctors are classified as ANZSCO skill level 1–3, meaning you can stay for up to five years on the AEWV (as of 2025 reforms). If you change jobs, you’ll need to update the visa via the job change process. After your maximum stay you must spend 12 months outside NZ before applying for another AEWV, unless you secure residency in the meantime – which the AEWV can directly support. The current fee for UK applicants is approximately NZD $1540 – check the website for more information.

🏠 Straight to Residency Visa

For those planning to stay long-term, this is the most efficient route. Doctors are classified as roles that NZ actively wants to attract, meaning you can fast-track to permanent residency in two years rather than the six years required for most other professions. Key requirements: you must be 55 or younger, hold or be eligible for MCNZ registration, and have a job offer from an accredited NZ employer for at least 30 hours/week. It costs NZD $6,430 to apply from the UK, requires a full medical and CXR, and takes at least a couple of months to be approved. Always verify the current fee on the Immigration NZ website before applying. After two years you can apply for permanent residency, and eventually NZ citizenship.

🩺 MCNZ Registration

Medical registration in New Zealand is managed by the MCNZ (the NZ equivalent of the GMC). As a UK graduate applying via the Competent Authority pathway, the process is straightforward in principle – but it is paperwork-heavy and takes time, so start as soon as you have a job confirmed.

You’ll be granted a 6-month provisional licence to begin with. Assuming satisfactory sign-offs, this converts to a full licence after six months. At that point you’ll also need to set up “Inpractice” – the MCNZ’s ePortfolio equivalent, which is considerably less burdensome than UK portfolio systems.

The registration fee is approximately $600 NZD upfront. The good news is that the licence fee is reimbursable once you start work. Your agency or employer will guide you through the process, which includes a Zoom document-checking meeting that must be completed in NZ.

💡When you leave NZ: If there’s any chance you might return, the MCNZ recommends staying on their register as a non-practising clinician rather than fully deregistering – this is currently free and saves you having to re-register from scratch later.

What to do with your GMC registration

You have three options while working in NZ:

Keep your licence
- you’ll pay full GMC fees and need to continue revalidating annually.
- Keeps you eligible to locum in the UK if you return temporarily

Relinquish your licence (recommended for most)
- you keep your GMC registration but can’t practise in the UK. Costs just £10 to relinquish and £10 to reinstate.
- No annual return or designated body required.
- To restore your licence on return, you’ll need employer statements and a Certificate of Good Standing from the MCNZ (currently $220 NZD)

Relinquish your registration entirely
- not recommended unless you’re leaving medicine permanently or have no intention of returning to UK practice

🗣️ The Interview

Will happen via Zoom

Includes:
- Discussion of a clinical scenario
- Your motivation for moving to NZ
- Questions about teamwork and adaptability

The interviews are much less formal than UK interviews.

Top tip: Research the hospital, express interest in their region, and show that you are adaptable.

🏡 Life in NZ: The Practical Stuff

Getting settled involves more admin than most people anticipate. Here’s what to sort out once you’ve landed:

💸 Costs and Finances

The setup costs for moving to NZ worth planning for. For a 12 month working holiday you are looking at around £1700. On top of this, budget for a car if you need one and initial accommodation – estate agents typically require one week’s rent upfront, three weeks’ deposit, and a letting fee. Monthly rent is roughly £400–650 depending on location. Most of the registration costs are reimbursable once you start work, but you’ll need the cash upfront to begin with.

💡Money tip: Set up your NZ bank account before you arrive – you can transfer money in advance so it’s ready when you activate the account in person. For international transfers, Wise (formerly Transferwise) tends to offer the best exchange rates. Note that NZ wages can only be paid into a NZ bank account.

🏠 Accommodation

Sorting accommodation from the UK can be tricky as most landlords want to meet you in person. The most practical approach is to arrange short-term accommodation (friends, friends-of-friends, or Airbnb) for your first few weeks, then find something permanent once you’re on the ground.

TradeMe is the go-to platform for both rental properties and “Flatmates Wanted” listings.

Facebook groups (search “[City] Flatmates Wanted”) are also useful.

Be aware that many properties come unfurnished and without white goods but these can be bought cheaply on TradeMe.

💡You’ll need a NZ address for bank accounts, your IRD number, and car insurance – if you don’t have one yet, ask a friend or Airbnb host if you can use theirs temporarily.

🏦 Bank account

Apply before you arrive: most banks allow you to set up an account online in advance, then activate it in person at a branch meeting shortly after you land. This means you can transfer money in ahead of time and have it ready to go from day one.

Main banks are Westpac, BNZ, ANZ, and ASB

Your account will come with card for in-person purchases

🔢 IRD number (tax)

Your IRD number is the NZ equivalent of a National Insurance number. Without it, you’ll be taxed at 45% with no way to claim it back retrospectively – so get this sorted quickly.

You need to already be in NZ to apply, and you’ll need an active bank account first.

Applying online takes under a week; the paper form takes 2–3 weeks.

🚗 Getting a car

Public transport in NZ is limited outside major cities, and even within cities it’s modest by UK standards. If you plan to travel or work in a smaller centre, a car is essentially non-negotiable.

The NZ car market is dominated by imported Japanese vehicles as they are cheaper to buy and easier to fix than European equivalents.

Options for buying include TradeMe, Car Fairs (pre-organised selling events held on weekends), and dealerships.

Car insurance is not legally required but is recommended; it’s roughly half the price of UK insurance.

The NZ MOT equivalent is called a WOF (Warrant of Fitness) and costs £50–80 — make sure any car you buy has a current WOF and up-to-date registration (“Rego”).

📱 Phone

The main networks are Vodafone, Spark, and 2Degrees. Vodafone and Spark are generally considered to have the best rural coverage. Pick up a SIM on arrival; the airport will have options.

🏥 Health insurance

Emergency care is free at the point of contact. GP appointments are not and you’ll pay per visit plus any additional costs. Most annual travel insurance policies only cover the first 90 days of a trip, so factor in the cost of GP visits or look for a longer-term health insurance policy.

🏖️ Annual Leave

Generally, house officers get 30 days annual leave with a maximum of two weeks in a row.

If you don’t take all you leave, you get paid for any days you don’t take.

You are also entitled to 5 days of study leave per year and will get reimbursement for courses that are deemed relevant to your training.

💡Top Tip: At house officer level you have 5 days study leave during an academic year. It has to be approved in the same way as annual leave. It would be good to do internationally recognised courses in New Zealand as then you can do them for free!

✅ Advantages

🌞 Better work-life balance than the UK

💬 Supportive work environment

👩‍⚕️ Scope to take on more responsibility (especially for Regs)

🧠 Many doctors return with broader clinical, cultural, and leadership experience

❌ Disadvantages

🧳 Distance from family and friends

📄 Long paperwork (MCNZ and visas)

🩺 Limited subspecialty exposure in some rural areas

😔 If applying for House Officer jobs, priority is given to NZ nationals, so you are unlikely to get all of your first choices in terms of location or specific specialty.

💬 FAQ

💭Do I need to take any additional exams?

No! The Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) recognises UK medical degrees, so you can apply via the Comparable Health System Pathway

💭Will working in NZ affect my UK training or career progression?

It depends:

If you’re taking a break after FY2 – you can return and apply for specialty training as normal

If you’re in speciality training – you’ll likely need to pause or resign and reapply (and possibly re-enter later)

BUT, working in New Zealand can give you a lot of valuable clinical experience and research opportunities that are seen as valuable by many specialities in the UK

💭Is it hard to get a job in popular areas like Auckland or Wellington?

Yes – a bit. These are competitive locations, especially if you’re applying for your F3 year. You’ll have better chances in:

Smaller towns

More rural locations

South Island hospitals (e.g: in Dunedin, Invercargill)

You can always relocate later once you’re registered and have local references

💭Can I take my partner or family?

Yes – on a work visa, your partner can usually get a spousal open work visa, and children can attend local schools. Healthcare access is generally available if you’re working in the public system

💭Do I need to worry about differences in clinical practice or guidelines?

Some, but not many – the core medicine is the same, though protocols (especially in ED and obstetrics) may differ slightly. You’ll be given time to adjust, and most hospitals have induction weeks to familiarise you with the important protocols

💭What happens when I return to the UK? Will I still be on the GMC register?

Yes, if you maintain GMC registration and continue to pay your fees, you’ll remain on the register. Most doctors do this by voluntarily giving up their licence to practise in the UK, but still staying on the GMC register. To do this you pay an annual reduced fee, but can’t practise medicine in the UK whilst you don’t have your licence to practise. However, once you want to practise in the UK again you can restore your licence easily, but to do this you may need a certificate of good standing from the MCNZ. However leave time to do all of this, as restoration usually takes 1-3 months.

💭What are the differences between working in Australia and NZ?

There are many similarities between the two countries, but there are also some distinct differences. In terms of clinical exposure, Australia offers more sub-speciality opportunities than NZ, which will give you more of a generalist focus, but Australia is also more competitive. The pay in Australia is also typically higher, but in NZ the cost of living is lower, and arguably you’ll have a better work-life balance there too with typically less overtime!