Planning to move to New Zealand as a doctor, nurse, or healthcare professional? Then this update is important for you.
New Zealand has announced a major change to its immigration rules.
From July 13, 2026, applicants will no longer be able to use at-home Occupational English Test (OET) scores for immigration applications.
Instead, all parts of the OET must be completed at an authorised, supervised test centre.
The new rule, announced by Immigration New Zealand, will come into effect from midnight (NZST) on July 12, 2026.
What Is the OET and Who Needs It?
The Occupational English Test (OET) is an English language exam specially designed for healthcare professionals who want to work in English-speaking countries.
It measures a candidate’s English communication skills in a healthcare setting.
The test is managed by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment and is recognised by healthcare authorities in more than 20 countries.
OET scores are widely accepted in countries such as New Zealand, the UK, the US, Canada, and Singapore.
The test is available for professionals in these 12 healthcare fields:
Medicine
Nursing
Dentistry
Dietetics
Occupational Therapy
Optometry
Pharmacy
Physiotherapy
Podiatry
Radiography
Speech Pathology
Veterinary Science
Only Test Centre Scores Will Be Accepted
Under the new immigration rule, only OET scores earned at fully supervised test centres will be accepted.
Anyone taking the exam on or after July 13, 2026, must appear at an authorised testing centre.
Completing any part of the test from home will no longer be allowed for New Zealand immigration purposes.
Immigration New Zealand says the change has been introduced to ensure fairness, protect the integrity of the immigration system, and make sure test scores accurately reflect each applicant’s English skills.
Existing At-Home OET Scores Will Still Be Valid
There is good news for applicants who have already taken the OET at home.
If you completed the at-home OET on or before July 12, 2026, your score will still be accepted for New Zealand immigration applications.
Immigration New Zealand has acknowledged that the new rule may affect some applicants’ plans.
The department said it is working closely with OET to make the transition as smooth as possible and reduce inconvenience for future test takers.
