NCNZ Registration and TruMerit (CGFNS) Verification for Nepali Nurses
LIFE Academy guides Nepali nurses through registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) as an Internationally Qualified Nurse — from TruMerit (formerly CGFNS) credentials verification through to the NCNZ application and the English language requirement. We work from Bharatpur 12, Chitwan, and with nurses anywhere in Nepal.
Why LIFE Academy
- Five years assisting Nepali nurses with TruMerit verification and IQN registration.
- More than 20 successful registrations completed.
- OET and IELTS are taught in-house, so the English requirement and the registration file are handled in one place.
- Location: Bharatpur 12, Chitwan, Nepal. Support available online for nurses elsewhere in Nepal.
Our Service and Fee
| Service | Fee (NPR) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| TruMerit verification and NCNZ IQN registration support | 15,000 total | Guidance and document preparation through the full process, from opening your TruMerit file to submitting your NCNZ application |
| Our fee is NPR 15,000 in total. Official TruMerit (CGFNS), NCNZ, police check, exam and visa charges are paid by you directly to those organisations and are not included. Indicative amounts are listed in the cost table below. |
The Registration Process at a Glance
| Step | Stage | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Credentials verification — TruMerit (CGFNS) | You open a file on the NCNZ Credentials Verification Service portal and your documents are verified |
| 2 | NCNZ application and assessment | After an invitation email, you apply through the MyIQN portal and complete the portfolio requirements |
| 3 | Competence Examination, if required | A theory exam, plus a clinical OSCE in New Zealand |
| 4 | Registration granted | NCNZ registers you and issues your practising certificate |
Step 1 — Credentials Verification via TruMerit (CGFNS)
You begin with the Credentials Verification Service (CVS) run by CGFNS, now called TruMerit. You create an account on the CGFNS–NCNZ portal and submit your documents for verification.
Documents required:
- Proof of identity — notarised passport and similar.
- Nursing education credentials — transcripts and syllabus, showing your qualification is equivalent to a New Zealand nursing degree.
- Proof of your current nursing registration in Nepal.
- Licence verification, or Certificate of Good Standing, from the Nepal Nursing Council.
- Evidence of at least 1,800 hours of post-registration nursing experience.
| These documents must be sent to CGFNS directly by the issuing authority — your college, the Nepal Nursing Council — not by you. Request your Certificate of Current Professional Status (CCPS) from the NNC well in advance. |
Step 2 — NCNZ Application and Assessment
Once TruMerit verifies your file you receive an email invitation, and you then apply to NCNZ through the MyIQN portal. This application, often called the Portfolio, requires you to:
- Complete two free online modules, "Welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand" — cultural safety courses.
- Pass Fitness to Practise checks, including police clearance for every country you have lived in for more than 12 months in the last 7 years, arranged through NCNZ's agency Fit2Work.
- Possibly complete a Competence Assessment, depending on NCNZ's evaluation of your education and experience.
| You have 12 months from the invitation to complete every step, or the application closes. NCNZ states its own assessment takes at least 5 months once your application reaches them — that is on top of the time taken by TruMerit verification and exam scheduling. |
Step 3 — Competence Examination
NCNZ assesses your education and experience to decide whether you must sit a competence examination. Their Self-Assessment Tool gives you an early indication. Because of the differences between the Nepali and New Zealand curricula, Nepali nurses should expect to take it.
Since 2024 the old CAP course has been replaced by a two-part Competence Examination:
- A theory examination — multiple choice, which can be taken in New Zealand or overseas.
- A clinical OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination), taken in New Zealand.
Nurses trained in some English-speaking countries may be exempt. Nepali nurses typically are not.
English Language Requirement
NCNZ accepts only IELTS Academic or OET (Nursing). You may reach the required scores across up to two sittings within a 12-month period, and the scores must be from tests taken no more than 3 years before your NCNZ application.
| Test | Listening, Reading, Speaking | Writing | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Minimum 7.0 | At least 6.5 | An overall band of 7.0 or above is expected. IELTS General Training is not accepted |
| OET (Nursing) | Minimum Grade B (350) | At least Grade C+ (300) | Nursing version only |
| NCNZ does not currently accept TOEFL or PTE, and at-home or online-proctored tests are not accepted. The test must be taken at a test centre. |
LIFE Academy prepares nurses for both IELTS Academic and OET (Nursing), so you can take whichever route suits you and prepare for it here.
Indicative Costs
These are the official charges you pay directly to the organisations involved. They are separate from our NPR 15,000 service fee.
| Cost | Amount | Details |
|---|---|---|
| TruMerit (CGFNS) verification | USD 380 (about NPR 50,000) | Paid to CGFNS when opening your file |
| NCNZ application fee | NZD 485 (about NPR 40,000) | Paid to NCNZ on the MyIQN portal |
| Criminal record checks (Fit2Work) | About AUD 159 per country | One check if you have only lived in Nepal; each additional country adds the same fee |
| Competence examination | NZD 140 theory, NZD 3,000 OSCE | Plus a required two-day orientation before the OSCE, about NZD 500. Paid in New Zealand |
| English test | IELTS about NPR 33,000; OET about NPR 53,000 | Taken in Nepal before you apply |
| Document preparation | About NPR 1,000–2,000 per page | Notarisation and translation where needed |
| NNC verification | About NPR 3,000, plus NZD 80 to NCNZ | The NNC sends verification directly; NCNZ charges to process each foreign verification |
| Work visa (AEWV) | About NZD 750 (about NPR 60,000) | A resident visa under the Green List pathway costs more — around NZD 4,240 for the principal applicant |
| Airfare | About NPR 100,000–150,000 | One way, Kathmandu to Auckland or Wellington |
| Other | Police clearance ~NPR 500, medical exam ~NPR 15,000, passport renewal ~NPR 5,000 | Budget living expenses for any waiting period in New Zealand |
| These figures are subject to change with changing policy. For updated prices, check the official pages — you will find the links at the bottom of this website. |
After Registration: Visa Options
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
The standard route if you have a job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer — most public hospitals and large providers are accredited. Nursing is on the skills shortage list, so labour market testing is generally waived. The visa is typically granted for up to 3 years and requires your NCNZ registration, or at least an offer of registration, to be in place. Processing usually takes one to two months.
On an AEWV in a Green List occupation, your spouse can get an open work visa and your children student or dependent visas.
Resident Visa — Green List, Straight to Residence
Registered Nurses in most specialties sit on Tier 1 of New Zealand's Green List, which means a qualified nurse with a job offer can apply directly for residence rather than waiting.
Applying Directly or Through an Agency
New Zealand allows direct applications, and many Nepali nurses apply straight to hospitals through Kiwi Health Jobs (kiwihealthjobs.com) without a recruiter. Applying directly means no middleman fees and direct contact with the employer. Accredited employers in New Zealand are not permitted to charge you recruitment fees.
If you do use an agency in Nepal, check it is licensed by the government on the DoFE website, and be careful of any agent asking for large upfront payments.
| Before leaving Nepal on an employment visa you must obtain a labour permit from the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), with your contract, visa, insurance payment and orientation certificate. This is a legal requirement for Nepali citizens. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TruMerit, and is it the same as CGFNS?
Yes. TruMerit is the new name for CGFNS International. It runs the Credentials Verification Service that NCNZ requires before you can apply for registration. You will see both names used, including on official documents, so do not be confused if your paperwork says one and the portal says the other.
How long does the whole process take?
NCNZ states its own assessment takes at least 5 months from the point your application reaches them. On top of that you need time for TruMerit verification, for documents to arrive from the NNC and your college, and for the competence examination if it is required. Plan for the better part of a year, and remember you have only 12 months from your invitation to complete everything.
Do I have to sit the competence examination?
NCNZ decides, based on your education and experience. Nurses from some English-speaking countries are exempt; Nepali nurses usually are not, because of curriculum differences. Use the NCNZ Self-Assessment Tool early so you can budget for the theory exam and the OSCE from the start rather than being surprised.
Should I take IELTS or OET?
NCNZ accepts both. IELTS Academic requires 7.0 in Listening, Reading and Speaking with at least 6.5 in Writing. OET (Nursing) requires Grade B with at least C+ in Writing. OET is set entirely in clinical contexts, which many working nurses find easier; IELTS is more widely available. We teach both, so you can choose and prepare here.
What does your NPR 15,000 fee include?
It covers our guidance and document preparation across the full process — opening the TruMerit file, assembling and checking the documents, and the NCNZ application. The official TruMerit, NCNZ, police check, examination and visa charges are paid by you directly to those organisations and are not part of our fee.
Can I do all of this myself?
Yes. NCNZ's process is designed to be completed by the applicant and no agency is required. Most of the value in getting help is avoiding delays — documents sent the wrong way, a CCPS requested too late, or a 12-month window lost. If you are confident managing the paperwork, apply directly.
Get Started
Call or message us to discuss where you are in the process.
- LIFE Academy, Bharatpur 12, Chitwan, Nepal
- Phone / WhatsApp: (+977) 9855082586
- Website: lifeacademystudy.com