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MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Embassy in Wellington warned Filipino nurses about going to New Zealand on visitor’s visas in the hope of finding work as health-care workers.
“The Embassy has received information that due to the current lack of employment opportunities, [internationally qualified nurses] who came to New Zealand on visitor visas have been left with no option but to leave the country upon expiry of their visitor visas,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.
The embassy said some recruitment agencies have been persuading Filipinos to go to New Zealand and take the Comprehensive Assessment program or Objective Structured Clinical Examination for nurses and later apply for registration by the Nursing Council of New Zealand.
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While taking these exams and assessments is the legitimate way of getting nursing opportunities in New Zealand, the embassy said it is not a guarantee for employment.
“The Embassy encourages Filipino nurses to ensure that there is ready employment for them before leaving the Philippines, which includes obtaining a legitimate job offer with verified contract from an accredited employer and a proper working visa issued by Immigration New Zealand,” the DFA added.