Apply for registration – Overseas trained applicants
How to get your overseas work experience and overseas qualifications assessed for registration.
Check your eligibility
Please check you meet the minimum requirements for registration here before you apply:
You must have completed the minimum work experience for the registration class you wish to apply for.
If you apply and you do not meet the minimum requirements, your application will be declined and the registration application fee will not be refunded.
How much it costs to apply
The application fee is $1,650 (including GST) for each class of registration. If you are applying from overseas, GST is not applied. When applying on-line, you must indicate that you are
You can pay for your application by credit or debit card. All payments made outside the New Zealand banking system must be made by credit card.
You're a New Zealand tax resident if:
- you've been in New Zealand for more than 183 days in any 12-month period and haven't become a non-resident.
How to apply
You will need to register as an Electrical Worker here:
Request a EW Portal account(external link)
Once you have logged in to your EW Portal, select “Apply for practitioner class (Registration)(external link)”
Choose the “Registration Class Overseas Experience” pathway.
Read each page carefully before making your selection.
To apply you must:
- have completed the electrical work experience overseas which meets the the minimum required experience for your class of registration
- upload the required documents
- enter correct contact details and postal address
- complete the on-line application
- pay the application fee
- submit the application
If you are unable to apply on-line you can fill in this form and send in by post along with certified hard copies of all supporting documents:
Australian Licence Holders
If you have an Australian licence, your application is processed in accordance with the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 (TTMRA).
More details on registering with an Australian Licence under TTRMA.
What next?
Once we have received your fully completed application (the on-line application or form is correctly filled in, all required documents have been submitted and payment is accepted) the assessment process will begin. An assessment of an overseas application may take up to 8-12 weeks.
You will receive confirmation once your completed application has been received and the assessment process has started.
Reviewing your application
Qualifications are evaluated and following confirmation of an applicant’s eligibility, an assessment of the supporting documentation is undertaken by the Boards assessment team.
What happens once a decision is made?
Once the assessment of your application has been completed and the outcome has been made you will receive your outcome letter by email from the Licensing Team.
If you meet the minimum requirements for registration, you will be invited to apply for a Limited Certificate.
You will need to complete some additional requirements to be granted a full registration while holding a Limited Certificate.
Requirements may include passing specific examinations, completing practical assessments and gaining further work experience in NZ. These will be set out in your outcome letter.
Limited Certificate
A Limited Certificate application will be set up for you in your EW Portal for you to complete and submit.
You will need to compete any additional requirements for full registration set out in your outcome letter while holding a Limited Certificate Licence.
You will need to find a registered, licenced electrical worker to supervise your work while holding your Limited Certificate.
Declined applications
If you do not meet the minimum requirements for registration, your application will be declined and the registration application fee will not be refunded.
How long does it take?
Once we have received your completed application
- Overseas applicants registration assessment
- Up to 8-12 weeks if all required paperwork is submitted. The 8-12 week assessment period commences at the time when a complete application is received.
- Limited Certificates:
- Overseas > 20 working days.
- Completion of registration and issue of Practising Licence (PL):
- Overseas applicants applying for a PL to complete registration > 20-35 working days.
Once you have completed your registration requirements
Once you have completed all of the requirements for registration set out in your outcome letter, you will need to make sure you have completed a Competence Programme course through a Board approved training provider and complete and submit a practising licence application in your EW Portal.
You will need to send the required documents to info@ewrb.govt.nz:
- References signed and dated by your Board approved supervisor
- Certified copies of your qualifications