How do overseas nurses register with the Nursing Council of New Zealand?

What the official guidance says

• You must be currently registered with an overseas regulatory authority, and you need at least 1,800 hours of post-registration practice.
• The qualification must be a Bachelor of Nursing degree (or equivalent) or a Master’s degree in nursing that led to your registration. The Council checks registrations from the last 10 years.
• You verify your documents through TruMerit; the Council says you cannot apply directly to it.
• English: OET 350 in reading, listening and speaking and 300 in writing, or IELTS Academic 7 in reading, listening and speaking and 6.5 in writing. Sittings can be combined within 12 months of the first, and PTE and online tests are not accepted.
• The competence assessment is required for some registered nurses and may not be required if you trained in the UK, Ireland, Ontario, British Columbia, Singapore or the USA.
• Part 1 of the competence assessment is an online MCQ at Pearson centres; Part 2 is a 2-day course and an OSCE at the Nurse Maude Simulation and Assessment Centre in Christchurch.
• The Council lists its own fee as NZ$485, with separate fees for TruMerit, the criminal history check, the exam, the course and the OSCE.

What it does not mean

• ✕Registering in New Zealand is not the same as registering in Australia, though NZ-registered nurses can use mutual recognition there.
• ✕Without post-registration practice hours, you are not eligible.
• ✕The Council does not publish a processing time; it says the length of the process varies.

What to do next

1. 01Use the Council’s self-assessment tool.
2. 02Start TruMerit verification of your identity and documents.
3. 03Meet the English requirement and complete the cultural safety courses and criminal history check.
4. 04Complete the competence assessment if the Council requires it.

Questions

Official sources

• Nursing Council of New Zealand: Internationally qualified nurses
• Nursing Council of New Zealand: Requirements for internationally qualified nurses
• Nursing Council of New Zealand: Competence assessment process
• Nursing Council of New Zealand: Fees (internationally qualified nurses)

Checked October 2026. Regulators change their rules, fees and scores, so confirm them on the official page before you act.

The visa side

Registration and the visa are separate. Migo’s visa guides cover the routes for this country, from the official government pages.

• New Zealand Green List
• New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa

Related guides

• Ahpra (Australia)How do overseas nurses register with Ahpra and the NMBA?
• Other countriesHow do nurses trained outside Ireland register with the NMBI?
• NMC (UK)How do I register with the NMC if I trained as a nurse outside the UK?