Occupations requiring registration by law
Lists occupations that legally require registration to undertake employment in New Zealand.
- Status
- active
- Updated
- 2026-04-30
- Also known as
- Occupations requiring registrationRegistration occupationsAppendix 16
- Sources
- A-appendix-16-occupations-requiring-registration-by-law
At a glance
Registration with a relevant professional body is legally required for individuals seeking employment in specific occupations in New Zealand. This page lists those occupations as set out in Appendix 16 of the Immigration Operational Manual.
Definition
In New Zealand, registration is required by law to undertake employment as one of the following [A-appendix-16-occupations-requiring-registration-by-law]:
- Anaesthetic Technician
- Architect
- Barrister
- Barrister and Solicitor
- Cable Jointer
- Chiropractor
- Clinical Dental Technician
- Clinical Dental Therapist
- Dental Hygienist
- Dental Technician
- Dental Therapist
- Dentist
- Dental Specialist
- Dental Prosthetist
- Dietitian
- Dispensing Optician
- Electrician
- Electrical Appliance Serviceperson
- Electrical Engineer
- Electrical Inspector
- Electrical Installer
- Electrical Appliance Service Technician
- Financial Adviser
- Immigration Adviser
- Line Mechanic
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist
- Maritime Professionals
- Medical Imaging Technologist
- Medical Laboratory Scientist
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Medical Practitioner
- Nuclear Medicine Technologist
- Midwife
- Nurse
- Nurse Practitioner
- Occupational Therapist
- Optometrist
- Osteopath
- Paramedic
- Pharmacist
- Physiotherapist
- Plumber, Gasfitter and Drainlayer
- Podiatric Radiographic Imager
- Podiatrist
- Psychologist
- Psychotherapist
- Radiation Therapist
- Real Estate Agent
- Social Worker
- Sonographer
- Substation Maintainer
- Cadastral (Land Title) Surveyor
- Teacher
- Veterinarian
Note: Electrician – where a current 'Employer License' is held, an electrician working for that employer does not require individual occupational registration [A-appendix-16-occupations-requiring-registration-by-law].
Application in decisions
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) uses this list to identify occupations that require evidence of current registration for visa applications, particularly under work visa and residence categories where an offer of employment is in a regulated profession. When an applicant's occupation appears on this list, the visa officer will generally require proof of registration or, in the case of electricians subject to the employer licence exception, evidence that the employer holds a current licence.
Interpretation & edge cases
- Employer Licence Exception for Electricians: As noted, an electrician working under a current employer licence is exempt from individual registration. This exception applies only to the electrician occupation and only where the employer holds a valid licence recognised by the relevant authority. [A-appendix-16-occupations-requiring-registration-by-law]
- The list is exhaustive – any occupation not listed does not require statutory registration for the purposes of immigration, though other regulatory or industry standards may apply.
Citations
New Zealand citizens and endorsements
Rights of New Zealand citizens to enter and remain in New Zealand, and the use of endorsements to evidence citizenship.
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA)
Legislation that promotes access to official information, enabling participation in law-making and accountability of officials, while protecting privacy.