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Teachers Moving to New Zealand: Registration, Green List and Pay Rules

Teachers trained overseas deal with the Teaching Council for registration and Immigration New Zealand for the visa. The Council requires an NZQA International Qualification Assessment first. INZ's Green List names many teaching roles, and INZ says Tier 1 teaching is designed for experienced teachers paid at the median wage, not new graduates.

Searches such as "teacher New Zealand visa" and "Green List teacher" bring together two systems that do not share an application. The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand decides who can be registered and hold a practising certificate. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) decides who can be granted a visa. A school or early childhood centre decides who gets a job.

This guide explains each set of rules as the Teaching Council, NZQA and INZ publish them, read on 10 October 2026. It does not say whether any reader's qualification will be accepted, whether a particular teaching job is on a particular tier or which visa a particular teacher could apply for. Applying rules to one person's facts is immigration advice, and in New Zealand only a licensed immigration adviser or a lawyer may give it. Registration questions go to the Teaching Council.

Rules at both bodies change, so the pages named below are the authority, not this summary.

Which teaching roles INZ's Green List names

INZ's Green List is a search tool, and the tier and requirements for each role appear when a role is searched. On 10 October 2026 the role names in the Green List filter included these teaching and education roles:

  • Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher – registered;
  • Primary School Teacher;
  • Middle School Teacher / Intermediate School Teacher;
  • Secondary School Teacher;
  • Kaiako Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori-medium Primary School Teacher);
  • Pouako Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori-medium Primary School Senior Teacher);
  • Special Needs Teacher and Special Education Teachers nec;
  • Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages;
  • Teacher of the Hearing Impaired and Teacher of the Sight Impaired; and
  • School Principal.

A role appearing in the list of names does not say which tier it sits in. INZ explains: "Tier 1 jobs allow you to apply for a Straight to Residence Visa" and "Tier 2 jobs allow you to apply for a Work to Residence Visa." INZ also says that listed requirements "can include needing to be paid a certain amount or have a specific registration, professional membership, or qualification." The tier, pay and registration requirement for a specific teaching role must be read from INZ's Green List page on the day of any decision.

INZ's note on Tier 1 teaching

INZ's Straight to Residence Visa page carries a specific note about teaching. It says: "For teaching roles eligible for the Green List Tier 1, Straight to Residence is designed for experienced teachers who are working at, or are offered, roles paid at the median wage." It continues: "It is not intended for newly graduated teachers or those early in their careers who are not yet earning at this level."

INZ's note then mentions other visas: it says newly graduated teachers "can still apply to live and work in New Zealand while they build experience and should consider applying under the Post Study Work Visa or the Accredited Employer Work Visa." That is INZ's statement of general policy, not an assessment of any individual. How the Post Study Work Visa and the AEWV work is covered in separate guides.

On pay, the Straight to Residence Visa page says the job must pay "at least the rate specified for your Green List Tier 1 job, or the current median wage if a pay rate is not specified for your job". INZ's figure for the median wage is NZD 35.00 an hour (the 2025 median), from 9 March 2026. The Work to Residence Visa has its own wage test, counted over 24 of the 30 months before applying and measured against the rate in force when the work started; see the Work to Residence guide.

Step one at the Teaching Council: the qualification assessment

The Teaching Council's page on requirements says: "Before you register with the Teaching Council, you need to apply for a Teaching IQA to register as a teacher in New Zealand." An International Qualification Assessment (IQA) is done by NZQA. The Council says an IQA "will ensure your qualification is recognised at the appropriate level on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQF) and compares your qualification against New Zealand Initial Teacher Education (ITE) standards."

The Council also says: "NZQA no longer pre-approves overseas teaching qualifications." Individuals with overseas teaching qualifications need to apply for a teaching IQA, and the Council notes an IQA may be needed for other purposes, such as setting a salary. NZQA's own page says it only starts evaluating an application when all the required documents and evidence have been provided, so the order of preparation matters.

Some overseas programmes do not lead to a formal academic qualification and so cannot be assessed by NZQA. The Council names UK Qualified Teacher Status and teacher licensure from US states as examples. A teacher with one of those can still apply, and the Council may use its discretion and look at the full teaching background: other qualifications (an IQA is still needed before the application can progress), teaching experience, appraisal reports and professional development.

The pathways the Council describes

The Council describes how an overseas-trained teacher's ability to meet New Zealand's teaching standards is assessed through several pathways.

General pathway. The teacher applies for a teaching IQA and registers on that basis. The Council says that if teaching experience is not recent or up to date, a refresh pathway may apply.

Discretionary pathway. If the IQA report says the qualifications do not meet the core knowledge requirements of a New Zealand ITE programme, the Council "may still consider your application". There is an additional fee for review by the discretionary pathway panel. The Council's own wording on that fee is: "payment of the fee is not a guarantee of acceptance." This pathway looks at the whole profile and any approval is an exception to policy. The evidence list includes the IQA report, certified transcripts, practicum information (length, age of learners and type of institution), professional registration status, teaching service, recent appraisal or observation records, induction or mentored teaching, and professional development.

Australian-trained teachers. A teacher registered in Australia may be eligible for a New Zealand practising certificate under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997, with evidence of current registration in the relevant category for the Council to verify.

For a teacher with none of these, the Council notes the option of gaining a teaching qualification at a New Zealand university or polytechnic.

What every overseas-trained applicant provides

The Council's requirements page lists the evidence it expects for first-time registration and a first practising certificate:

  • a certified copy of the NZQA IQA, with certified copies of the overseas teaching qualifications and supporting qualifications;
  • a declaration of commitment to the values and expectations in the Code | Ngā Tikanga Matatika, and a declaration about any matters under investigation that might affect teaching;
  • consent for the Council to apply to New Zealand Police for a police vet, with confirmation of the identity documents given to the identity referee;
  • overseas police vets from the national police service of each country lived in for 12 months or more in the 10 years before the application, or a statutory declaration if one cannot be obtained;
  • a declaration that no condition would affect the ability to teach safely and satisfactorily (with a medical certificate if required);
  • evidence of competence in English or te reo Māori; and
  • a declaration of commitment to develop and practise te reo me ngā tikanga Māori throughout a teaching career.

The Council also requires a Proof of Identity form, because working with children falls under the Children's Act. It tells applicants that its proof-of-identity section "is very particular and specific" and that only the listed identity documents are accepted, certified by listed people such as a Justice of the Peace, a solicitor or a school principal in New Zealand. The application is made through the Council's My Rawa portal, which needs an Educator Sector Login account.

The language competency rule

The Council says teachers must be "competent in English or te reo Māori". Applicants supply one of several types of evidence. The English options listed by the Council include:

  • New Zealand University Entrance literacy credits, or a full International Baccalaureate Diploma taught in English with at least 24 points;
  • schooling in English: all primary and at least three years of secondary education in English, completed in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Ireland, the UK, the USA or South Africa;
  • extended education in English: at least six years of secondary and tertiary education, including two years of full-time tertiary study, in one of those eligible countries;
  • a Level 7 or higher qualification requiring two or more years of full-time study, taught in English in an eligible country;
  • Cambridge CELTA or Trinity CertTESOL; or
  • an approved test result from within the past two years. IELTS Academic requires 7.0 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking, and 7.0 overall. PTE Academic requires 61 in listening, 62 in reading, 73 in writing, 79 in speaking and 69 overall.

The Council adds a condition for one eligible country: "Candidates from South Africa must include a Matriculation or Senior Certificate with a minimum pass in English (Higher Grade D or Standard Level 5)." Results from more than one sitting or provider can be combined if each skill meets the minimum, and online tests count only if the provider has shown the Council the test is secure and reliable; the Council named TOEFL iBT and ISLPR Online as currently accepted. For te reo Māori, evidence includes Whakamātauria Tō Reo Māori Level 3. A Pacific-region pathway also exists, and exceptional cases can be reviewed by a language competency exemption panel.

The first practising certificate

The Council's page on the Tōmua | Provisional Practising Certificate says it is the first certificate a teacher holds in New Zealand, because the teacher is new to the profession here and has not yet had the chance to show independent use of the Standards. It says: "A Tōmua | Provisional Practising Certificate is issued or renewed for three years." It adds that "This practising certificate is designed to be held for a maximum of five years" and that the holder is expected to complete induction and mentoring and gain a Tūturu | Full (Category One) certificate in that time.

The Council lists evidence that supports the application: practicum details (length, age of learners, type of institution), a testimonial or reference from a professional leader within the last 10 years on official letterhead, recent appraisal or performance documents (it gives examples of what different countries commonly use, including Philippines IPCRF, South Africa QMS and Fiji myAPA), a list of professional development, and where relevant a letter of professional standing from the body that registered the teacher abroad. It encourages applicants to answer every question on the form and to keep all communication in one email thread.

Fees and current processing times are on the Teaching Council's website; check them on the day, because they change.

Employment, scams and advice

A registration does not create a job offer, and a job offer does not create registration. INZ's visa pages treat the job and the visa as separate requirements. For the Accredited Employer Work Visa, INZ says: "New Zealand employers or agents cannot charge you fees for a job or make you pay any of their recruitment costs." INZ also says it "will not prioritise your application because you use an adviser" and "You are not required to use an adviser to apply for a visa."

INZ says visa advice "must come from a licensed immigration adviser (LIA), or a person who is exempt from being licensed". The guides to checking an adviser's licence and to unlicensed immigration advice explain how to check and what the offences are. Whether a teacher's qualification will be accepted by the Council is a question for the Council; which visa fits is a question for a licensed adviser.

Finding a licensed immigration adviser

Migratio lists licensed immigration advisers so you can compare them and contact one directly. Every listing shows the adviser's licence number, which you can check on the Immigration Advisers Authority's public register before you book. We don't assess cases and don't tell anyone which visa or pathway fits them; that is the adviser's job.

Questions people ask

Do I need an NZQA assessment to register as a teacher in New Zealand?

The Teaching Council says that before registering an overseas-trained teacher needs to apply for a Teaching IQA from NZQA. Where the qualification cannot be assessed, such as UK QTS or US state licensure, the Council may use its discretion, but an IQA is still needed before the application can progress.

Is a teacher on the Green List eligible for Straight to Residence?

The Green List shows the tier of each role. INZ says Tier 1 teaching is designed for experienced teachers paid at the median wage, not new graduates. Whether a particular role is Tier 1 is shown in INZ's search.

What is the median wage INZ uses?

NZD 35.00 an hour (the 2025 median), in force since 9 March 2026, as published on INZ's Straight to Residence Visa and work to residence wage pages.

How long does a Tōmua provisional practising certificate last?

The Teaching Council says it is issued or renewed for three years and is designed to be held for a maximum of five years.

Can my IELTS or PTE score show English competence for the Teaching Council?

Yes, if the result is within the past two years and meets the minimums the Council sets. Check the Council's language competency page for the current table.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-10.

Related guides

  • Straight to Residence Visa (Green List Tier 1): How It Works — The Straight to Residence Visa is for people aged 55 or younger with a job or offer from an accredited employer in a Green List Tier 1 role, paid the role's specified rate or the median wage. INZ showed a fee of NZD 6,450 and 80% of applications completed within 3 months on 9 October 2026. The role list is searchable on INZ's site.
  • Work to Residence Visa (Green List Tier 2): How It Works — The Work to Residence Visa is for people aged 55 or younger who have worked 24 months in a Green List Tier 2 job in New Zealand within the 30 months before applying, and who hold or are offered a job with an accredited employer. INZ showed a fee of NZD 6,450 on 9 October 2026. The wage rate that counts is the one in force when the work experience started.
  • Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): The 2026 Rules — The Accredited Employer Work Visa is New Zealand's main employer-sponsored work visa. The job must be full-time (30+ hours), with an accredited employer holding an approved job check, and paid at least the required rate. INZ showed a fee of NZD 1,540 and 80% of applications within 5 weeks on 9 October 2026. The longest continuous stay is 5 years, or 3 years for skill level 4 or 5 jobs.
  • Post-Study Work Visa NZ: The Rules and the 16 November 2026 Changes — The Post-Study Work Visa lets eligible graduates of New Zealand study work for up to 3 years. From 16 November 2026 INZ extends eligibility to level 7 graduate diplomas held with a bachelor's degree; INZ showed NZD 1,670 and 80% within 5 weeks on 9 October 2026.
  • Registered Nurses Moving to New Zealand: How the Rules Fit Together — A nurse trained overseas deals with two separate bodies: the Nursing Council of New Zealand for registration, and Immigration New Zealand for the visa. The Council's published fee is NZD 485 plus outside costs, and every overseas applicant first verifies documents with TruMerit. INZ lists many registered nurse specialties on its Green List but shows the tier for each role only in its search tool.
  • How to Check an NZ Immigration Adviser's Licence — Search the adviser's name or licence number on the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) public register and confirm the status reads current. The record also shows whether the licence is full, provisional or limited. Lawyers are not on that register; check them on the New Zealand Law Society's register of lawyers.