New Residence Pathway sees approval in as little as 48 hours

IMG doctor

In September of last year, Immigration New Zealand announced a new pathway to residence for certain professions, including Medical Practitioners. The Straight to Residence Pathway is one of the elements of the Accredited Employer overhaul to the visa space which Immigration New Zealand rolled out over several months at the end of 2022. This pathway now means that, to be eligible for residence all you require is:

  • A job offer from an Accredited Employer
  • For a contract of 12 months of more
  • For a role which appears on the Green List
  • Medical Registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand
  • Be under the age of 55
  • Meet Health and Character requirements
  • In some cases, you will need to meet English Language requirements

While the official processing time for these visas states that 90% are completed within 80 days, we have had candidates in recent weeks who have received their Approval in Principal just days after submitting the application.

The cost for this application is NZ$4290 but this can include all family members who meet the definition of partner and dependent children.

A residence visa gives you the ability to live, work and study in New Zealand permanently. It is a pathway towards citizenship and enables you to vote, buy property, and take out things such as credit cards and insurance policies. It can also give you the opportunity to enrol with one of our specialist colleges to join a training programme if that’s in your career plan.

The first step in any move to New Zealand is to chat to us about your goals and your plans so we can help you in knowing what are the best steps for you to take. Crucially, we can help you secure the role you need to be in a position to apply for both Medical Registration and then a visa. As part of our process, we will organise a complimentary Immigration consultation with one of our advisers once you have secured your contract so that you have all of the information you need to get started on your visa applications.

If the opportunity to live and work in New Zealand appeals to you, we can help. We know that it's a big move, that's why we will provide you with everything you need to know about visas, medical registration, and life in New Zealand so that you are set up for a successful relocation.

Together, you’ll discuss your options and take your first steps toward medical registration in New Zealand.

Find out everything you need to know about moving to Australia or New Zealand in our free IMG Guide.
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Sarah Robertson
08 May 2023Article by Sarah Robertson Medrecruit Immigration Advisor