Whether you would like to work in New Zealand as a locum, or more permanently, the specialist recruitment staff at NZLocums will assist you with the administrative aspects of making a move and welcome you (and your family) upon arrival in New Zealand. We will also provide you with an orientation programme. This will cover the clinical, administrative, cultural and `living' skills that will make your experience an enjoyable one.
New Zealand Medical Council eligibility
The Medical Council of New Zealand has set requirements for doctors to meet before they may be registered to work in New Zealand within a general scope of practice.
The NZLocums team has an excellent base of experience in registration/licensure of medical practitioners and can advise about eligibility and assist with the registration process. There is no cost to the locum for this service.
Visa requirements
To work temporarily in New Zealand you will need a Work Visa and Work Permit. These are obtained by application to the New Zealand Immigration Service (NZIS) before you leave your country of origin.
Once you have obtained a Work Visa and Work Permit, your spouse is automatically entitled to apply for a work permit/visa to work in New Zealand. Any dependent children are considered to be domestic students and entitled to attend state-funded primary and secondary (high) schooling. The Ministry of Education website www.minedu.govt.nz provides information about schooling in New Zealand and includes a link to a database of each New Zealand school. A performance review of each school is available on the Education Review Office website www.ero.govt.nz Note domestic student rates do not apply at tertiary level education, which attracts international student fees for non-residents.
General Practitioners who have accepted a job offer with one practice for 12 months or longer may be eligible to apply for New Zealand residency. This entitles you to all the benefits enjoyed by New Zealanders, including tertiary level education at domestic student rates.
All the application forms and information you require in order to apply for a Work Visa or Residency can be downloaded from the New Zealand Immigration Service website www.immigration.govt.nz This website also provides contact details for NZIS offices worldwide.
In your NZIS application you will need the following:
an offer of employment - NZLocums will provide you with this when you accept your offer of engagement
a completed, signed application form
the application fee
your passport (which must be valid until at least three months past the date you plan to leave New Zealand)
a recent passport size photograph.
Long term positions
NZLocums has a range of long term General Practitioner placements available throughout the country. We will help find the ideal location for you, assist with immigration and registration processes, and even though your contract is directly with the practice, will offer you support until you are established in your new role. The service is free for both the health provider and the candidate. Please click here for NZLocums vacancies.
The NZLocums team will be happy to answer any questions about the resettlement of your family to a rural setting.
If you are coming from overseas to work as a General Practitioner for NZLocums, your commitment to work for a minimum of 3 months is required. You will be employed directly by NZLocums. Please contact NZLocums for terms and conditions of employment.
Income Tax - Residents
Non-residents are only taxed on New Zealand sourced income whereas residents are taxed on worldwide income. Tax rates for individuals are as follows:
Incomes up to $38,000.00 - 19.5% Incomes $38,001.00 to $60,000.00 - 33.0% Incomes over $60,001.00 - 39.0%
The tax year is 1 April to 31 March and tax returns must be filed by 7 July for the preceding tax year.
The UK and New Zealand have a double-tax arrangement (DTA), based on your length of stay here.
Non Resident Contractor Withholding Tax
If you are here for 92 - 183 days, a 15% Non Resident Contractor Withholding Tax (NRCWT) will be deducted from your income before you receive it. Once you have returned to the UK, you can claim a credit for the tax that is deducted from your New Zealand income.
Tax Exempt
If you are working in New Zealand and the total time you are in New Zealand from date of arrival to departure is less than 92 days you are exempt from New Zealand income tax. NZLocums requires you to produce a Tax Exemption Certificate prior to your first locum payment otherwise NRCWHT will be deducted. NZLocums can assist you in this process.
NZ Resident Tax
If you are working in New Zealand for more than 183 days, you are regarded as a New Zealand resident for tax purposes and tax shall be deducted as per the Income Tax Residents explained previously.
GST
Those locums who are considered under the NZ Resident Tax policy have the option of becoming GST (Goods and Services Tax) registered. New Zealand GST tax, similar to UK VAT, is set at 12.5%. This amount would be added to each Tax Invoice the locum submits to the Network. The Tax Invoice would include the GST number gained by the locum from the Inland Revenue Department.
There is no refund of GST available when you leave New Zealand. Locums are, however, entitled to GST refunds on work-related expenses such as petrol and phone calls.
To reclaim GST, locums must complete a GST return with the Inland Revenue Department either every two months or every six months.
If you are employed by NZLocums, NZLocums will provide you with an orientation programme when you arrive in New Zealand. This will cover the clinical, administrative, cultural and `living' skills that will make your experience an enjoyable one. NZLocums will pay the accommodation during attendance at the orientation.
The programme is personalised to your needs and covers the following:
introduction to the clinical practice of medicine in New Zealand rural general practice
introduction to the practice of medicine in New Zealand rural primary health care
contact with your supervisor
advice on the financial, tax and any administrative requirements
administrative processes associated with your employment
a short refresher course on the management of trauma if required
introduction to Taha Maori (culture of the New Zealand indigenous people)
observation in a rural general practice.
Locums practise working in an emergency situation at the National Patient Simulation Training Centre as part of their Orientation programme.
Supervision
Supervision is a requirement of the New Zealand Medical Council for all new registrants. The role of the supervisor is to assist the Council in determining that the registrant has the required skills, knowledge and attitudes to practise safely in New Zealand to a standard comparable to peers in this country.
NZLocums organises a supervisor for each locum prior to arrival in New Zealand. Your supervisor will be an experienced rural General Practitioner who is vocationally registered. We try to make your first placement in the supervisor's practice.
The supervisor and locum determine a suitable contract schedule to:
