Which Green List tier are physiotherapists on?

Tier 1. Under INZ Appendix 13 (9 March 2026), Physiotherapist (ANZSCO 252511) requires registration with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand (PBNZ), after which Straight to Residence applies.

How does a Chinese physiotherapy degree get PBNZ registration?

Via the International General Pathway: submit your degree, transcript, curriculum, clinical hours profile, English evidence, certificates of good standing, police certificates and two cultural competency course certificates. PBNZ maps your curriculum against the Physiotherapy Practice Thresholds; full alignment means registration, otherwise a Phase 3 competence assessment follows. UK, Irish, Canadian and South African registrants use the faster Express Pathway; Australian registrants use TTMR.

Do physiotherapist salaries meet the immigration median wage?

Starting pay is the weak spot: PayScale (2026) shows entry level around NZ$53k and early career near NZ$60k: below the NZ$72,800 median-wage annual line. Glassdoor's NZ$75,000 average (NZ$36/hour) sits just above it. Most physiotherapists need two to four years of experience to cross the line reliably, bridging on an AEWV first.

Where can I study physiotherapy in New Zealand?

Three providers offer the four-year Bachelor of Physiotherapy: Auckland University of Technology (AUT), University of Otago, and Wintec. All run a first year of health science followed by three professional years; graduates apply to PBNZ directly.

Guides

Physiotherapists in NZ: Green List Tier 1, PBNZ Registration Routes

Updated: 2026-08-09 · Data verified: 2026-08-09

Physiotherapists in New Zealand: The Complete Guide

Physiotherapy holds a strong position in the Green List’s health family: Tier 1, persistent demand, and structural growth from rehabilitation and aged-care needs. The bar is clear: PBNZ registration. But one thing first: this is one of the lowest-paid health professions in this series at entry level, and crossing the median-wage line takes a few years.

Green List Position

Under INZ Appendix 13 (effective 9 March 2026), Physiotherapist (ANZSCO 252511) sits on Tier 1 (Straight to Residence). The requirement is a single line: registration with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand (PBNZ); the registration qualifications column lists Bachelor of Physiotherapy / Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy). Registration plus a compliant offer means you can apply for residence directly.

Three Registration Routes for Overseas Applicants

PBNZ splits applicants into three pathways:

International Express Pathway: unrestricted registration in the UK, Ireland, Canada or South Africa, or a qualification recognised by one of those regulators: complete documents go straight to the Registrar for approval
Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (TTMR): current AHPRA physiotherapy registration in Australia
International General Pathway: everyone else, including China-trained applicants

The General Pathway: Documents and Assessment

Document checklist: passport, degree certificate, academic transcript, curriculum, clinical hours profile, English evidence, Certificates of Good Standing from every regulator you have been registered with (under three months old), police certificates from any country you lived in for 12+ months over the last decade, a Board-template CV, and certificates from two cultural competency courses (choose from Mauri Ora’s Foundations in Cultural Competency, the Treaty of Waitangi healthcare foundations course, and the Ministry of Health’s Ngā Paerewa modules 1+2).

Assessment runs in phases:

Phase 2: qualification assessment: your curriculum is mapped against the Physiotherapy Practice Thresholds in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Meet every key competency and your application goes forward for registration
If not met: Phase 3: a further competence assessment (the Board sets the form it takes)

After registration you must still obtain an Annual Practising Certificate (APC) and meet recency-of-practice requirements: practising without an APC is not permitted. The cultural competency courses can be completed online ahead of time; do them early.

Studying Physiotherapy in New Zealand

Three providers run the four-year Bachelor of Physiotherapy: AUT, the University of Otago, and Wintec, all structured as a health-science first year plus three professional years. Local graduates apply for registration with no assessment stage.

Jobs and Salaries

Work settings: private practices (mostly musculoskeletal), hospital rehabilitation, sports teams, aged care and community health. Salary references (sources differ; treat offers as authoritative):

PayScale (2026, 142 responses): average about NZ$66,950 (10th–90th percentile NZ$54k–87k); entry level around NZ$53,227, 1–4 years around NZ$60,392
Glassdoor (2026): average about NZ$75,000 (NZ$36/hour)
Indeed (June 2026): average about NZ$72,902
Private practice and niches (sports rehab, paediatrics) have higher ceilings; senior roles pass NZ$90k

Median Wage Maths

Tier 1 occupations without a specified pay rate must meet NZ$35.00/hour (about NZ$72,800/year) when applying for residence:

Entry and early career (NZ$53k–60k): below the line. This is the most commonly overlooked trap in physiotherapy migration planning
Average range (NZ$72k–75k): just over: check the hourly maths on every offer
Practical path: graduate, work two to four years on an AEWV, then lodge Straight to Residence once pay crosses the threshold. Private practice offers more negotiation room than the public hospital system

Common Misconceptions

“A rehabilitation-therapy degree guarantees registration”: Not necessarily. PBNZ maps curricula course by course; coverage varies widely between programmes, and shortfalls go to Phase 3.
“Registration means you can practise”: The APC is still missing. Registration is the qualification; the Annual Practising Certificate is the licence to work.
“Physiotherapy is highly paid”: It pays less than nursing or medicine. Entry salaries sit below the immigration median wage, so do not read Tier 1 as “residence on graduation”.
“The cultural competency courses are optional”: They are mandatory documents. Without two certificates your application stalls: but they are fully online and can be done in advance.

Green List Checker: the requirement text for 252511
Salary Tax Calculator: take-home pay on NZ$75k
SMC Points Calculator: compare Green List vs SMC routes

Frequently asked questions

Which Green List tier are physiotherapists on?: Tier 1. Under INZ Appendix 13 (9 March 2026), Physiotherapist (ANZSCO 252511) requires registration with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand (PBNZ), after which Straight to Residence applies.
How does a Chinese physiotherapy degree get PBNZ registration?: Via the International General Pathway: submit your degree, transcript, curriculum, clinical hours profile, English evidence, certificates of good standing, police certificates and two cultural competency course certificates. PBNZ maps your curriculum against the Physiotherapy Practice Thresholds; full alignment means registration, otherwise a Phase 3 competence assessment follows. UK, Irish, Canadian and South African registrants use the faster Express Pathway; Australian registrants use TTMR.
Can I practise straight after registration?: One more step: you must hold an Annual Practising Certificate (APC) and meet recency-of-practice requirements. Practising without an APC is not permitted. The cultural competency courses are mandatory application documents and can be completed online in advance.
Do physiotherapist salaries meet the immigration median wage?: Starting pay is the weak spot: PayScale (2026) shows entry level around NZ$53k and early career near NZ$60k: below the NZ$72,800 median-wage annual line. Glassdoor's NZ$75,000 average (NZ$36/hour) sits just above it. Most physiotherapists need two to four years of experience to cross the line reliably, bridging on an AEWV first.
Where can I study physiotherapy in New Zealand?: Three providers offer the four-year Bachelor of Physiotherapy: Auckland University of Technology (AUT), University of Otago, and Wintec. All run a first year of health science followed by three professional years; graduates apply to PBNZ directly.

Keep going with the tools

Green List Checker Open tool → Take-Home Pay Open tool → SMC Points Calculator Open tool →