Overseas applicants

Skip to section

Have you considered making the transition?

This can be your chance to have a change of lifestyle, travel to new places both for work and leisure, and live in a relatively safe environment for you and your family. Your previous service to your country will have given you the experience and transferable skills that allows you to fit right in with the NZDF. Whether you are living in New Zealand already or are thinking of moving over, this could be an opportunity for you to be part of this Defence Force.

Before pursuing a lateral transfer, we recommend you ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for a career within the NZDF. If you're unclear, the best thing to do is apply, as we'll work through the criteria with you to determine if you can proceed.

Eligibility criteria

To apply for any career with us, overseas applicants must:

Be a currently serving member of the UK, Australian, USA or Canadian Armed Forces, who is eligible for release from this service within 18 months of applying and/or;
Be a citizen of either the UK, Australia, USA, or Canada for a minimum period of 10 years, or have been living in NZ for at least the last 5 years;
Meet current vacancy and rank criteria at the time of application.

Eligibility results must be included on your application at time of registration. If successful, it is your responsibility to become a NZ Permanent Resident to gain the right to live and work in NZ.

Pause on Skilled Migrant Category applicants

Due to recent criteria changes, we are temporarily unable to recruit overseas candidates who require a Skilled Migrant visa. We're actively working with the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Enterprise (MBIE). This page will be updated with progress.

You must undergo a full medical examination with your current military doctor and have all medical forms completed. Send these forms to your CEF who will liaise directly with our medical team. Our doctors will assess your fitness for enlistment and grant a medical clearance to enlist if everything is in order.

Please be aware that the military medical is separate from your immigration medical - we require a military doctor’s assessment of your health, as they understand the environmental issues of being in the NZDF. If you are unable to see a military doctor, you will need to have the full medical examination completed by a civilian doctor at your own cost.

If you incur a medical condition between your medical examination and your arrival to Aotearoa, please notify us immediately.

Once in New Zealand, you will be required to undergo a fitness test and we expect you to maintain the required fitness levels throughout your Defence career. Read more about our fitness standards.
You must apply to become a NZ Permanent Resident. We cannot influence NZ Immigration in any way, however your Offer of Service will be used to facilitate your application.

We advise that you apply for and gain a NZ Permanent Residence class visa via the Skilled Migrant category*

Please be aware of the legality with NZ Immigration – once you have your visa in your passport, you must move to NZ and commence work within a certain timeframe (depending on the type of visa). You will need to take this into account when planning your arrival in NZ and enlistment date.

Once enlisted, it is your responsibility to gain NZ citizenship as soon as you’re eligible. For more information visit the New Zealand Immigration website.

*As of October 2023, NZDF is temporarily unable to recruit overseas candidates requiring the Skilled Migrant Category Visa (SMCV) due to recent criteria changes. We apologise for the inconvenience and are actively working with the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Enterprise (MBIE) to facilitate change. In the meantime, please continue preparing your application. Your patience and dedication is appreciated.

For overseas applicants who have New Zealand Permanent Residency or New Zealand Citizenship, this change in criteria does not impact you. Please continue working through your application with your Candidate Engagement Facilitator (CEF).
You must gain a security clearance at the required level for your role. Check what level is required on the relevant trade page.

We will request evidence of your current security clearance and apply to transfer this clearance to NZ. If you do not have current clearance, we will submit a new application to the NZ Security Agency, although this will take considerable time.

Overseas application process

Steps for a successful overseas selection and recruitment process

01Initial screening

Initial screening

The first stage is NZDF’s assessment of your potential suitability for employment. You will complete an online form requesting detailed information on your military career, skills, experience and qualifications. The lateral recruitment team will then screen this information to determine whether you meet the requirements for our current overseas vacancies.

If successful, you’ll be paired with a civilian Candidate Engagement Facilitator (CEF) who will support you throughout the process, working alongside our military recruiting staff.

Your CEF will request supporting documentation for assessment by the Career Manager of your specialisation. As a minimum, we will request a current CV, your three most recent military performance reports and all trade-relevant qualifications (military and civilian). The CV must clearly reflect your military career – positions, postings and deployments. The Career Manager will then review your application against current vacancies and determine whether to progress you to the next stage.

02Health check

Health check

We care about your health and wellbeing. If you want to be part of the Defence Force, you must be medically and physically fit for service. Complete an initial health check questionnaire (IHC) via your Defence Careers dashboard to ensure you meet the requirements. If you list any medical issues, please provide as much detail as possible so our Health Specialists can assess the situation.

03Interview & assessment

Interview & assessment

At this point, you’ll attend an online interview with a Lateral Recruiter which assesses your suitability to transfer to NZDF and covers your understanding of Kiwi culture.

Our career management team will assess all documentation and determine suitability for enlistment into the NZDF. Advice will also be sought from trade and branch specialists to help the decision-making process.

04Offer of service

Offer of service

If successful, you will be made an Offer of Service (OOS). We request that you promptly send us written confirmation of your acceptance. An OOS indicates that NZDF wishes to employ you as soon as possible. The OOS is dependant on you:

• Gaining a NZ Residence class visa, and
• Gaining medical and security clearances.

Please note that the NZ Army makes a Provisional Offer of Service (POOS), followed by a Final Offer of Service (FOOS) once the above criteria are met. New Zealand's Navy and Air Force give one OOS conditional on meeting the above criteria.

05Medical & security clearances

Medical & security clearances

You must undergo a full medical examination with your current military doctor and share comprehensive medical forms with your CEF. Our doctors will grant a medical clearance to enlist if everything is in order.

You must apply for a NZ Residence class visa, and your Offer of Service will be used to facilitate your application. As of October 2023, we are temporarily unable to recruit overseas candidates who require a Skilled Migrant visa due to recent criteria changes. For more information visit the New Zealand Immigration website.

Finally, you must gain security clearance at the required level for your role. We will request evidence of your current security clearance to apply for a transfer. If you do not have a current security clearance, we will submit a new application to the NZ Security Agency, although this will take considerable time.

06Enlistment

Enlistment

Once all the above is successfully completed, you will be eligible to enlist in the NZDF and an enlistment date will be agreed upon. The NZDF cannot enlist personnel until they are completely discharged from their current service obligations, including any reserve liability and terminal or resettlement leave. This normally entails an enlistment date the day after the terminal date, or later, as agreed.

You should not resign from your current service until you have met our full medical and security clearance criteria, and gained an NZ Permanent Resident class visa.

Please note that any Offer of Service is subject to meeting and maintaining the health, fitness and security criteria prior to and upon enlistment.

Frequently asked questions

This section provides general information to help facilitate the transition from overseas to Aotearoa, New Zealand. Several independent sources have been included so individuals can undertake their own research to develop a realistic and personal impression of life in NZ.

Personnel enlisting from overseas need to be prepared to pay their own relocation expenses. Partial funding may be available, and will be determined on an individual basis. Any funding that is approved will be included in the OOS. Funding is done on a pay and claim basis and will bond you to the NZDF for a period of three years.
We aim to recruit successful lateral candidates at a rank and seniority that reflects their military service. However, we are a small Defence Force and this will be dependent on vacancies. If you're offered a reduction in rank, it is in no way a reflection of your skills and experience. You'll likely be required to complete the respective promotion courses to amalgamate you into the NZDF, establish a peer group, and enable us to assess you for further career progression.
NZDF personnel are paid fortnightly and subject to ‘PAYE’ (Pay As You Earn) tax in accordance with current NZ tax rates. Details of tax rates and brackets can be found at www.ird.govt.nz.
NZDF rates of pay are regularly reviewed, and your salary will be determined by your skills, experience and knowledge. The details of your remuneration package will be included in your OOS.
You'll join the Government Kiwisaver superannuation scheme. Members contribute a minimum of 3% of their salary and the NZDF will contribute 4%. However, benefits are locked in until at least age 65 (with minor exceptions). For more information on the Kiwisaver scheme, visit www.kiwisaver.govt.nz.
All service personnel are provided with subsidised medical and dental care. The NZDF does not provide cover for families of service personnel.
NZ’s public health system is good by world standards. All essential health care is provided free to NZ Residents through the public health system. This means that some routine services, such as visits to local doctors and dentists, must be paid for. NZ Residents may receive free hospital treatment, subsidies on prescriptions and support services for specific disabilities. Please visit the Ministry of Health’s website for more information: www.health.govt.nz.
Upon enlistment, members of the Regular Force are entitled to apply for service housing. There is a waiting list for service housing in some locations. In these locations, members will be placed on the housing register and allocated housing based on their priority when a house becomes available.
NZ’s housing market has become significantly more expensive in recent years, affecting both rental and purchasing markets. Please visit relevant commercial sites to ensure you have a realistic understanding of housing costs.
The NZDF has family-friendly, equal employment and anti-harassment policies in effect. Family-friendly policies have been implemented, so that the unique aspects of service (such as deployment) do not impact adversely on families. There are also trained personnel who are able to provide guidance on any aspect of discrimination, harassment or other adverse events.
You must seek permission to wear any awards or medals on the NZDF uniform. We'll apply on your behalf to the NZDF’s medals team for recognition of any awards or medals you hold. Please provide all relevant details including evidence to your Candidate Engagement Facilitator.
The NZDF’s standard entitlement to annual leave is 25 working days. The statutory leave entitlement is 11 public holidays each year. However, you'll likely be expected to parade on Anzac Day (25 April).