MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand advised all Filipino nurses looking for a job there to exercise great caution as there was currently a lack of opportunities for internationally qualified nurses (IQNs) in that country.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said that the embassy reported that certain individuals and agencies offered to facilitate the hiring of foreign nurses by arranging for them to travel to New Zealand on a visitor visa to take the Comprehensive Assessment Program (CAP) or Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and subsequently apply for registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ).

The Embassy said that while taking the CAP or OSCE and being registered by the NCNZ was a legitimate means for foreign nurses to practice, it was not a guarantee for employment.

The employment of IQNs in New Zealand is dependent on various factors outside the CAP, OSCE, and the NCNZ, including local demand and the ability of employers in the New Zealand Health Sector to hire IQNs.

The embassy has received information that, due to the current lack of employment opportunities, IQNs who came to New Zealand on visitor visas have no option but to leave the country upon the expiration of their visas.

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 a verified contract from an accredited employer and a proper working visa issued by Immigration New Zealand.