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General Practitioners and Rural Hospital Doctors

General Practitioners and Rural Hospital Doctors are the first point of contact for most New Zealanders who have a health concern. Ninety percent of medical problems are dealt with in a general practice.

Register for a roleexternal link

About the role

Our doctors are more than just individuals in a clinic. They become part of their communities' wellbeing. With a diverse population of 5 million, we need more General Practitioners (GPs) and Rural Hospital Doctors.

You can see more of what Aotearoa New Zealand has to offer, in a role to suit the needs of you and your whānau. Be it small-town rural living or the bright lights of the city, you will be in high demand wherever you choose to go.

Whether you are interested in full-time, part-time or locum work, we offer a healthy work-life balance. This allows you to make lasting connections with patients and work through complex yet rewarding challenges in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

New Zealand General Practitioner workforce statistics

64%

work in GP-owned practices.

58%

identify as female.

51%

work full-time.

38%

are international medical graduates.

48%

of rural hospital doctors got their first medical degree overseas.

New Zealand General Practitioner workforce statistics

64%

work in GP-owned practices.

58%

identify as female.

51%

work full-time.

38%

are international medical graduates.

48%

of rural hospital doctors got their first medical degree overseas.

Visa pathways

As a GP, there are 2 major visa pathways to choose from.

New Zealand Residency (recommended)

GPs are on Tier 1 of New Zealand's Green List. This means you can apply for a straight-to-residence visa for you and your family from offshore. 

To be eligible to New Zealand's straight-to-residence pathway, you must:

  • be 55 years old or younger
  • have a job offer from an accredited employer
  • meet health and character requirements
  • meet English language requirements.

This pathway allows your family to be part of your residency application, rather than needing to apply for separate visas for all family members. Having New Zealand residency also allows you to buy a home and qualifies you for employer-matched superannuation straight away. The job offer you get is also not tied to your residency application, meaning you can move jobs more easily than if you were on a work visa.

Straight to Residence Visa — New Zealand Immigrationexternal link

Accredited Employer Work Visa

An Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is a 3-year work visa that is tied to a job offer, meaning you would need to change the conditions of the visa in order to move roles. Your family would also need to apply for separate work, education and visitor visas that are linked to your AEWV application.

To be eligible for an AEWV, you must:

  • have a job offer from an accredited employer
  • meet health and character requirements
  • provide proof that you are a bona fide applicant as per Immigration New Zealand's requirements.

Accredited Employer Work Visa — New Zealand Immigrationexternal link

Registration information

In order to practice in New Zealand, you need to be registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand. Depending on your level of qualification and what country this was obtained, there are a number of different registration pathways to choose from.

Introduction to scopes of practice — Medical Council of New Zealandexternal link

Fast-track registration for GPs from the USA, Canada and Singapore

Good news for internationally trained GPs. A new fast-track pathway is now available for doctors trained in the United States, Canada and Singapore.

Developed in partnership with the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, this streamlined process means applications for provisional vocational registration can be completed in as little as two months—helping you start work and settle in New Zealand sooner.

The application process

GPs and Rural Hospital Doctors are not typically employed by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.

We work with NZLocums and NZMedJobs, which are divisions of Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network. They are experts in medical recruitment in New Zealand and placing GPs into roles across the country, in both rural and urban practices. 

1

Submit

Complete the registration form as your expression of interest in a General Practitioner (GP) or Rural Hospital Doctor role.

1

Submit

Complete the registration form as your expression of interest in a General Practitioner (GP) or Rural Hospital Doctor role.

2

Review

Our candidate management team will review your application and refer you to Hauora Taiwhenua if suitable.

2

Review

Our candidate management team will review your application and refer you to Hauora Taiwhenua if suitable.

3

Contact

You will be contacted by Hauora Taiwhenua to discuss career and location options.

3

Contact

You will be contacted by Hauora Taiwhenua to discuss career and location options.

4

Referral

Hauora Taiwhenua will refer you to a practice or recruiter in your preferred location(s) for further assessment.

4

Referral

Hauora Taiwhenua will refer you to a practice or recruiter in your preferred location(s) for further assessment.

5

Progress

Your chosen practice(s) will be in touch with you to continue the recruitment process.

Register for a roleexternal link

5

Progress

Your chosen practice(s) will be in touch with you to continue the recruitment process.

Register for a roleexternal link

Abel Tasman National Park
Miles Holden
Milford Sound
Miles Holden
Nelson
Miles Holden
Canterbury
Miles Holden
Piha Beach, Auckland
Scott Venning

Looking to move to New Zealand to work as a GP or Rural Hospital Doctor?

GPs and Rural Hospital Doctors (SMOs) are on Tier 1 of New Zealand's Green List and eligible for a fast-tracked Straight to Residence Visa.

This means you and your family can apply for New Zealand residency before you arrive, provided you have a job offer from an accredited employer.

Straight to Residence Visa — Immigration New Zealandexternal link

'The place we'd want to raise our family is somewhere like New Zealand.'

Meet Sam and Katy — 2 GPs who moved from the UK to New Plymouth in New Zealand.

Moving from the UK to New Zealand and working as GPs in NZ's health system in New Plymouth

Mount Hutt, Canterbury
Miles Holden

Explore New Zealand

Whether you prefer the vibrant urban centres of Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch, the scenic landscapes of Otago and Nelson, or the close-knit community atmosphere in areas like Hawke's Bay and Taranaki, there’s a location to suit your lifestyle. 

Discover New Zealand

Explore New Zealand

Whether you prefer the vibrant urban centres of Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch, the scenic landscapes of Otago and Nelson, or the close-knit community atmosphere in areas like Hawke's Bay and Taranaki, there’s a location to suit your lifestyle. 

Discover New Zealand

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