PH Embassy Advises Filipino Nurses on Employment Opportunities in New Zealand

WELLINGTON 27 September 2024 — The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Wellington, New Zealand advises all Filipino nurses looking for a nursing job in New Zealand to take great caution before traveling to the country as there is a currently a lack of employment opportunities for foreign nurses or Internationally Qualified Nurses (IQNs) in New Zealand.

The Embassy is aware of certain individuals and agencies who offer to facilitate the hiring of foreign nurses by arranging for them to travel to New Zealand on Visitor Visa to take the Comprehensive Assessment program (CAP) or Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for nurses and subsequently apply for registration by the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ).

The Embassy notes that while taking the CAP or OSCE and being registered by the NCNZ is a legitimate means for foreign nurses or Internationally Qualified Nurses (IQN) to be able to practice nursing in New Zealand, it is not a guarantee of employment.

Employment of IQNs in New Zealand is dependent on a variety of factors outside the CAP, OSCE and the NCNZ, including local demand and the ability of employers in the New Zealand Health Sector to hire IQNs.

The Embassy has received information that due to the current lack of employment opportunities, IQNs who came to New Zealand on Visitor Visas have been left with no option but to leave the country upon expiry of their Visitor Visas.

The Embassy encourages Filipino Nurses to ensure that there is ready employment for them before leaving the Philippines, which includes obtaining a legitimate job offer with verified contract from an accredited employer and a proper working visa issued by Immigration New Zealand. END

For further information, please contact the Philippine Embassy through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or the Philippine Migrant Workers Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..