Apply for a practising licence to complete your overseas registration
Please refer to your assessment outcome letter to make sure you have completed your registration requirements before you apply for a practicing licence.
You must have completed a Competence Programme course within the last 2 years to be able to apply for a practicing licence.
You can check your competence status by logging into your EW Portal and selecting “Manage my competence portal”.
If you need to complete a course you can find a Board approved training provider here:
Apply for a practising licence
If you have not previously paid for a practising licence you can do so by completing the following:
- Go on-line to login to your EW Portal and select "Apply for a practising licence”.
- Upload the required documents in your application:
- Certified colour copy of your proof of Identity – passport personal identity page (if not already on file) Approved certifiers:
Oaths and Declarations Act 1957(external link) — New Zealand Legislation - A photo that meets the criteria for your ID card (if not already on file):
- a face, head and shoulders shot, looking directly at the camera and less than 6 months old
- plain, light coloured background
- sunglasses, glasses with tinted lenses OR headwear that obscures your face are not permitted.
- 3:4 – width to height ratio, in full colour
- between 50KB and 5MB in size (or printed image for paper applications).
- Check that your photo meets the requirements here:
Online photo checker(external link) — New Zealand passports
- Payment details (credit/debit card).
- Send your supporting documents by email to info@ewrb.govt.nz:
- Reference(s) on company letter, signed and dated by your Board approved supervisor on file containing details of the type of prescribed electrical work you have carried out.
- Certified colour copies of your New Zealand Certificate qualification (if applicable).
Oaths and Declarations Act 1957(external link) — New Zealand Legislation
Or you can apply using the Practising Licence paper application form and send your application and supporting documents listed above by post.
How much it costs to apply
The practising licence.application fee is $250 (including GST)
You can pay for your application by credit card or debit card.
How long does it take?
Once we have received your application and it is deemed complete:
- Applicants applying for a PL to complete overseas registration > 20-35 working days.
When will my licence card arrive?
Once your application has been completed, you will be advised by email. If a card is being issued this will take up to 15 working days to arrive depending on your location.
If it has not arrived within 20 working days then contact us.
If you have not received your licence card you must contact us within 3 months of receiving the approval email. If you contact us outside of this time frame and have not received your card, you will need to apply and pay for a replacement card.