Move to NZ / Visa

Visa and residence

Doctors are the clearest case on Immigration New Zealand's Green List: every medical practitioner role is Tier 1, which means residence can be applied for straight away with a job offer and registration.

Tier 1every doctor roleStraight to Residence

34medical practitioner roles listedread 18 September 2026

$35/hrminimum pay for the pathwaythe 2025 median wage — every doctor scale clears it

What Immigration NZ requires — in its words

Pathway to residence. To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and paid at least NZD $35.00 an hour (the 2025 median wage) or above. If you meet all the visa requirements you can apply for a Straight to Residence Visa now. You can apply in New Zealand or come on a work visa and apply. You can also apply from outside New Zealand.

Green List requirement. You need NZ provisional general, general, provisional vocational, vocational or special purpose locum tenens registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (a letter of eligibility for one of these forms of registration issued by the Medical Council of New Zealand is acceptable).

Health New Zealand is an accredited employer. A letter of eligibility from the Medical Council is enough to apply — you do not have to be fully registered before the visa.

Practical order

1. Work out your registration pathway and get a letter of eligibility or registration.

2. Secure a job offer from an accredited employer (Health NZ, most private hospitals, many practices).

3. Apply for the Straight to Residence Visa — from inside or outside New Zealand.

The Green List changes. The list below is what Immigration NZ published on 18 September 2026; check the live list before relying on it.

Every doctor role on the Green List

Role	ANZSCO	Tier
Resident Medical Officer	253112	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
General Practitioner	253111	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Medical Practitioners nec	253999	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Anaesthetist	253211	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Cardiologist	253312	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Cardiothoracic Surgeon	253512	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Clinical Haematologist	253313	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Dermatologist	253911	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist	253917	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Emergency Medicine Specialist	253912	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Endocrinologist	253315	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Gastroenterologist	253316	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Intensive Care Specialist	253317	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Medical Oncologist	253314	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Neurologist	253318	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Neurosurgeon	253513	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist	253913	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Ophthalmologist	253914	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Orthopaedic Surgeon	253514	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Otorhinolaryngologist	253515	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Paediatric Surgeon	253516	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Paediatrician	253321	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Pathologist	253915	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon	253517	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Psychiatrist	253411	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Radiation Oncologist	253918	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Renal Medicine Specialist	253322	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Rheumatologist	253323	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Specialist Physician (General Medicine)	253311	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Specialist Physician nec	253399	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Surgeon (General)	253511	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Thoracic Medicine Specialist	253324	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Urologist	253518	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence
Vascular Surgeon	253521	Tier 1 · Straight to Residence