FAQs

UK/Irish/SA trained paediatric OT/SLT’s are in high demand in Dubai

It is good to be aware that Dubai can be very competitive for physios moving to UEA for this first time as employers receive 100’s of applicants for these roles from all across the world.

We would recommend Dubai only for experienced & confident physios who have life experience, those with minimum 3 years+ specific private practice are most in demand

Junior physios are better looking at NZ or AUS.

UK/Irish/SA trained paediatric OT/SLT’s are in much higher demand in Dubai and more junior roles are available.

Dubai has a huge expat community, providing lots of opportunities for meet-ups and events to get involved in.

Employers are keen for you to start in September as this is the start of the school year – lots of recruitment for paeds roles is in July/August

Most of the work in Dubai for OT’s is in pediatrics, this is due to the young demographic in Dubai

You will need a minimum of 2 years experience to work in Dubai due to the DHA license process. There is a one exception to this, where you can complete an internship to gain your DHA license, but your salary will be lower and we feel it is better to gain more experience in your home country so that you can be paid a higher salary in Dubai, gain confidence and enjoy the lifestyle in Dubai more Expectations Dubai is very multicultural and clients can have different expectations, it is very important that you are open minded, confident and able to deal with the wide variety of people that live in Dubai.

Companies will offer a salary, commission or mixed commission/salary. The salary range for paeds OT’s is around AED 15-30k per month which is tax free. All companies have to include medical insurance. Some companies will offer additional benefits such as x1 flight to your home country each year or they may be able to help with accommodation costs at the start e.g. 1 month rent or deducting this from your pay (but these additional benefits are not always offered with small paeds clinics). You will also be paid Gratuity (end of service benefit) once you finish employment if you work for more than 1 year

The set up fees for Dubai can be quite expensive as it is common for rent to be paid upfront for 3-4 months at a time as well as a 10% deposit. It is also recommended that you buy a car to enjoy Dubai (this is also often required for paeds roles) as there is not sufficient public transport (although Careem, similar to Uber, is quite affordable). Approx. rental prices for 1-2 bedrooms can vary between AED 80-125k per year. You cannot take out a lease for an apartment until your Emirates ID has come through which can take 1 month after arriving – you will likely need to book short-term accommodation/AirBnB for the first month. You may also want to use a realtor to help you find accommodation which costs around AED 9k. The application fees for your registration are split into 3 parts – registration application – AED 200, verification of documents AED 935, Activation of license (once you have secured a role AED 1000)

Visa (Work Permits) are for 2 years (renewable) & directly linked to your employer – you will need an offer of employment to be able to apply. Part of the application can be completed outside of Dubai, you will then be granted an Entry Permit. Once you are in Dubai, there are additional tasks that need to be completed including a medical check & Emirates ID before your full work visa is granted.

Your OT license is through Dubai Health Authority/DHA, The application starts with an assessment of your credentials – you will be asked to provide ID/qualification/license & experience letter documents Once this is approved, you will be provided with an eligibility letter for 1 year – in which time you need to activate your registration with your employer (your registration is linked to your employer). UK/Ireland/SA are exempt from sitting the exam as long as you have current registration in your home country, can provide a Certificate of Good Standing and have not had a break in practice since the last day of employment.

Dubai has a vibrant expat community, providing lots of opportunities for meet-ups and events to get involved in.

Employers are keen for you to start in September as this is the start of the school year – lots of recruitment for paeds roles is in July/August

Most of the work in Dubai for SLT’s is in pediatrics, this is due to the young demographic in Dubai

You will need a minimum of 2 years experience to work in Dubai due to the DHA license process. Expectations Dubai is very multicultural and clients can have different expectations, it is very important that you are open minded, confident and able to deal with the wide variety of people that live in Dubai.

Companies will offer a salary, commission or mixed commission/salary The salary range for paeds SLT’s is around AED 15-30k per month which is tax free All companies have to include medical insurance Some companies will offer additional benefits such as x1 flight to your home country each year or they may be able to help with accommodation costs at the start e.g. 1 month rent or deducting this from your pay (but these additional benefits are not always offered with small paeds clinics). You will also be paid Gratuity (end of service benefit) once you finish employment if you work for more than 1 year

The set up fees for Dubai can be quite expensive as it is common for rent to be paid upfront for 3-4 months at a time as well as a 10% deposit. It is also recommended that you buy a car to enjoy Dubai (this is also often required for paeds roles) as there is not sufficient public transport (although Careem, similar to Uber, is quite affordable) Approx. rental prices for 1-2 bedrooms can vary between AED 80-125k per year You cannot take out a lease for an apartment until your Emirates ID has come through which can take 1 month after arriving – you will likely need to book short-term accommodation/AirBnB for the first month. You may also want to use a realtor to help you find accommodation which costs around AED 9k. The application fees for your registration are split into 3 parts – registration application – AED 200, verification of documents AED 935, Activation of license (once you have secured a role AED 1000)

Visa (Work Permits) are for 2 years (renewable) & directly linked to your employer – you will need an offer of employment to be able to apply. Part of the application can be completed outside of Dubai, you will then be granted an Entry Permit. Once you are in Dubai, there are additional tasks that need to be completed including a medical check & Emirates ID before your full work visa is granted.

Your SLT license is through Dubai Health Authority/DHA, The application starts with an assessment of your credentials – you will be asked to provide ID/qualification/license & experience letter documents Once this is approved, you will be provided with an eligibility letter for 1 year – in which time you need to activate your registration with your employer (your registration is linked to your employer). UK/Ireland/SA are exempt from sitting the exam as long as you have current registration in your home country, can provide a Certificate of Good Standing and have not had a break in practice since the last day of employment.

Employers are usually keen for you to start after the summer (June, July, August), as lots of expats families travel/go home for the summer so demand for allied health goes down in these months

Dubai has a vibrant expat community, providing lots of opportunities for meet-ups and events to get involved in.

Dubai is very multicultural and clients can have different expectations. It is very important that you are open minded, confident and able to deal with the wide variety of people that live in Dubai. It is also good to be aware that often Dubai employers expect you to network and/or build a social media presence.

You will need a minimum of 2 years experience to work in Dubai due to the DHA license process. We find employers are looking for ideally 5 years experience, minimum 3 years.

The set up fees for Dubai can be quite expensive as it is common for rent to be paid upfront for 3-4 months at a time as well as a 10% deposit. It is also recommended that you buy a car to enjoy Dubai as there is not sufficient public transport (although Careem, similar to Uber, is quite affordable) Approx. rental prices for 1-2 bedrooms can vary between AED 80-125k per year You cannot take out a lease for an apartment until your Emirates ID has come through which can take 1 month after arriving – you will likely need to book short-term accommodation/AirBnB for the first month. You may also want to use a realtor to help you find accommodation which costs around AED 9k. The application fees for your registration are split into 3 parts – registration application – AED 200, verification of documents AED 935, Activation of license (once you have secured a role AED 1000)

Visa (Work Permits) are for 2 years (renewable) & directly linked to your employer – you will need an offer of employment to be able to apply. Part of the application can be completed outside of Dubai, you will then be granted an Entry Permit. Once you are in Dubai, there are additional tasks that need to be completed including a medical check & Emirates ID before your full work visa is granted.

We start by providing you free information (webinars/booklets/emails/calls) so you can check that you are eligible/understand your options (this saves you lots of research!). After this, the main focus is to gain your registration – we are experts in this and are here to help! Once you have gained your registration, we will set up your interviews and secure you a role. We will then provide you with more information about the next steps and introduce you to others in the same location as you.

We start by providing you free information (webinars/booklets/emails/calls) so you can check that you are eligible/understand your options (this saves you lots of research!).

After this, the main focus is to gain your registration – we are experts in this and are here to help!

Once you have gained your registration, we will set up your interviews and secure you a role.

We will then provide you with more information about the next steps and introduce you to others in the same location as you.

The service we provide is completely FREE for those that would like to be placed in a role with one of our partners (all that we expect is that you give us the first chance to secure you a role).

We are owned by a UK healthcare worker who has lived in AUS/NZ – we understand the industry and the roles!

Highly specialised – we focus solely on international allied health recruitment which also helps us have the best job roles available for your industry

The Healthcare Abroad team have all worked and experienced life in AUS + NZ – there is nothing that makes us happier than sharing our knowledge and helping others make the move!

We are experienced – we help 100+ allied health professionals make the move each year

Community is important to us – we will connect you with with other healthcare professionals we have placed

Once you have your registration approved, we will organise a call so that we can get to know what you are looking for in roles/locations (if you are not sure about locations, we have lived in NZ/AUS so help you with this!)

We will then speak to our partners to see what they have available for you, send through suitable options that match what you are looking for and organise interviews.

We are very well connected to employers throughout AUS/NZ and aim to organise interviews within 2-3 weeks of you gaining your registration.

The interviews are usually over Zoom/Skype or sometimes a phone call.

Absolutely! We have helped lot’s of couples/friends make the move together who wanted to be placed in the same location/live together.

YES! We have helped multiple families make a permanent move.

We feel for families it may be good to consider using a visa agent alongside using Healthcare Abroad’s service (our speciality is in registration + securing you a role but we have an outline of the popular visas). Some employers will refer you to their own visa agent or we can also recommend one

No – all of our partners are looking for healthcare professionals who are looking to stay for a minimum of 12 months/long-term. If you are only interested in short- term work, this service will not be for you as we need to maintain a good relationship with our partners. 12 months is still a short time for an employer to hire staff, especially as they will be providing training/support. We would also highly recommend working for at least 12 months to allow you to get settled/make friends/explore and develop in your role – this time flys by!

Once you have secured a role through us, we will provide you with helpful setup information which covers all of this. Shared accommodation – it is usually best to book an AirbNB/hostel/house sit for the first few weeks and then you can look around share houses once you arrive/meet potential flat-mates. Private accommodation – it is best to contact the real estate agents directly and have at least 2 rental references ready. If you are moving to a location which is popular with tourists, we would highly recommend that you avoid arriving in the peak months (usually Dec-Feb) so that it is easier to find accommodation.

We would highly recommend getting involved with clubs, sports teams or gyms with a community e.g. F45/CrossFit when you arrive as it is a fantastic way to meet people!

We have Healthcare Abroad Groups for OT/SLT/PT’s that we have placed in Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane, Wellington/Tauranga/Auckland/Christchurch and we can let you know who is starting at a similar time to you so that you can connect with them.

You can also search for other communities on Facebook.

This will depend on whether your visa is linked to your employer and the start date you agree on with your employer.

We would recommend giving yourself a minimum of 2 weeks to settle in before starting work.

Our speciality is helping those who have completed their training in either the UK,Ireland, South Africa and Canada.

The normal annual leave is 4 weeks plus public holidays

We also feel one of the best parts of working abroad is making your time-off count and you will be amazed at how much you can fit in within your days off/annual leave!

Absolutely! We work across multiple time zones so we can make it work wherever you are!

Australia – Certain passport holders are eligible for Reciprocal healthcare through Medicare.

You can have a look at this link for more information/how to sign up: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/reciprocal-health-care-agreements

If you are not covered by a Reciprocal healthcare agreement, you will need to take out private healthcare insurance e.g. through BUPA or MEDIBANK

New Zealand – If you are on a 2 year + visa, you will have access to NZ healthcare: https://www.govt.nz/browse/health/public-health-services/healthcare-on-a-work-visa/#:~:text=Health%20care%20and%20insurance,your%20first%20day%20in%20NZ

There is also cover under ACC and reciprocal agreements: https://www.health.govt.nz/new-zealand-health-system/eligibility-publicly-funded-health-services/reciprocal-health-agreements https://www.acc.co.nz/im-injured/what-we-cover/if-youre-a-visitor-injured-in-new-zealand/

We have partnerships with employers all across NZ!

Once you have your NZ physio registration approved, we can help you choose a location which is a good fit for you – we can also provide you with location guides.

Our team is from the UK and have lived in NZ so we can provide you with honest feedback and help you find the best fit!

THE PEOPLE! New Zealanders are very welcoming and approachable so you are made to feel at home very quickly.

THE SCENERY! There are lots of amazing travel opportunities from beaches to mountains and everything is very accessible allowing you to explore lots of New Zealand.

THE JOBS! We have really good feedback about the companies/roles in NZ, with friendly management and a great work-life balance. New Zealand would suit those who enjoy a relaxed life and outdoor activities.

Yes – The main roles for those with less than 2 years experience are in MSK/private practice – we would suggest that you ideally gain some MSK experience before you leave if possible as this will help with employability/the transition but we have placed new graduates in MSK roles!.

For hospital/community roles, we would suggest you have a minimum of 2 years experience.

If you are applying for an Accredited/Straight to Residency Visa (NZ) children/partners can be added to your visa/they can apply for subsequent visas based on your successful application – conditions apply.

If you are applying for a Working Holiday Visa – these are individual visas.

We will arrange interviews once your registration has been approved and ideally, maximum 3-4 months before your planned start date – this gives you enough time to hand in your notice/get organised to leave/apply for your visa etc. and also means that the role is not left open for too long for the employer.

We can also organise interviews nearer to your start date depending on which visa you hold/are looking to apply for.

The maximum time we can organise interviews in NZ is 6 months before, but this will depend on the role/location and we feel 3-4 months before gives you more/accurate choices.

The most popular visa is the Accredited Employer Work Visa, all age groups can apply for this visa and you can stay for up to 3 years. The cost for this visa is NZD $750 and you will need your NZ Physio registration and a job offer before you can apply.
The Working Holiday Visa/WHV is also an option for certain age groups/passport holders, this visa allows you to work for 12 months, but it can be less preferred by some employers. The fee for a 12 month WHV is NZD $450, you also need to have NZD $350 in savings for every month you intend to stay and enough money for a return ticket. UK passport holders are eligible for x3 WHV’s.
As Physio is currently on the Green List, you can also have a look at the Straight to Residency Visa
Medical/Police Checks can be requested for all visas over 12 months (additional fees apply)
As employers can have a preference for different visas, we advise you to wait until you have your registration and are at the interview stage to apply for your visa.

The main fees you need to be aware of are for your Visa (above) and transferring your Physio licence which is NZD $847 + an Annual Fee of NZD $555 (some companies will cover the annual fee) We will secure you a full-time role for when you arrive which can range from NZD $60-105k. The service we provide is completely free for those that would like to be placed in a role with one of our partners

Allowing for around 6 months would be ideal!

The registration process timeframe can vary depending on how long it takes to source the documents required, we would suggest you allow for 3 months (but it could be much quicker!)

Once your registration has been approved, we find 3-4 months is an ideal timeframe for the next steps (securing a role + visa/handing in your notice/getting organised, etc!).

SA trained physios applying for may need to allow to additional time as police/medical checks can take a long time

If possible, try to have your registration approved and interview in the NZ winter (May-August) as this is when the most jobs are available.

We work with employers who can offer a relocation allowance (e.g. upfront amount which can be used for flights/accommodation) for those who are moving on a long-term visa.

Under 30/35’s – The Working Holiday/Work and Holiday Visa is a popular initial visa option for certain age groups/passport holders. This visa allows you to work for 12 months and costs AUD $635 (plus proof of AUD $5000 in savings).

From July 2024, UK passport holders are eligible for x3 WHV, without needing to complete specified/farm work

Looking to stay long-term/bring family/not eligible for the WHV – the most popular options are gaining a Sponsorship or Skilled visa
Sponsorship/482 – visa linked to an employer. Sponsorship requires you to have 2 years of physiotherapy experience and once you have your Australian physio registration approved, we can introduce you to our partners who can offer this. The fees are: $3035 (adult) and $760 (child). This visa has a pathway to permanent residency after 2 years (conditions apply).
Skilled Visa – If you want to gain a permanent residency visa which is not employer supported, you can look at applying for your own Skilled Visa (189/190/491).

The main fees you need to be aware of are for your Visa (above) and gaining your Australian physio licence (ranges from AUD $1850- $3800 depending on which route you are eligible for)

– We will secure you a full-time role for when you arrive, the salaries are usually between AUD $60-95k
– If you are working in a community role, you will likely need to buy your own car
– The service we provide is completely free for those that would like to be placed in a role with one of our partners

WHV – We work with employers who are happy for you to start on the WHV, ideally with the plan to then change to a more long-term visa after e.g. Sponsorship or Skilled visa

Sponsorship – the sponsorship visa is expensive for employers so the availability of roles/companies who can offer these visas, depend on the job market at the time. Currently, if you can gain your own Skilled Visa, that would be better!

Once you have read through the role/visa eligibility information (available on the website/booklets) – please let us know which role/visa you are interested in and the university you attended/graduation year, we will then send through more information about the registration process

We will support you throughout the registration process including free guides and unlimited phone/email support, we are experts and here to help!

– Allowing for around 7 months would be ideal!
– The registration process timeframe can vary depending on how long it takes to source the documents required, we would suggest you allow for at least 4 months
– Once your registration has been approved, we find 3-4 months is an ideal timeframe for the next steps (securing a role + visa/handing in your notice/getting organised, etc!).
– SA trained physios applying for additional checks e.g. police and medical checks may need to allow to additional time

We will arrange interviews once your registration has been approved and ideally, maximum 3-4 months before your planned start date – this gives you enough time to hand in your notice/get organised to leave/apply for your visa etc. and also means that the role is not left open for too long for the employer.

We can also organise interviews nearer to your start date depending on which visa you hold/are looking to apply for.

We do not work with the hospitals in Australia as we find that they are not keen on Working Holiday Visas for full-time roles or providing visa sponsorship in popular locations

We do work with the hospitals throughout NZ though!

Currently, the job market is better for physios in NZ – if you are between the two countries (and especially if you are a junior physio) we would currently recommend NZ.

If you are looking for an employer supported visa and/or a relocation allowance – it is currently much easier to secure a role which can offer this in NZ.

We have partnerships with employers all across Australia!

Once you have your Australian physio registration approved, we can help you choose a location which is a good fit for you – we can also provide you with location guides

Our team is from the UK and have lived in Australia so we can provide you with honest feedback and help you find the best fit!

Our suggested levels are just a suggestion! If you do not have this, we are still happy to see what roles we have available for you once you have your Australian registration approved.

If you are a junior physio, we would highly recommend that you have your registration approved and interview in the Australian winter (May-August) as this is when the most job roles are available.

If you are applying for a sponsorship or skilled visa, children/partners can be added to your visa/they can apply for subsequent visas based on your successful application – conditions apply.

If you are applying for a Working Holiday Visa – these are individual visas.

If possible, try to have your registration approved and be interviewing in the Australian winter (May-August) as this is when the most jobs are available.

We would highly recommend that you do not interview or arrive at the start of the year (January/February) as it gets very competitive for roles and also finding accommodation.

We work with employers who can offer a relocation allowance (e.g. upfront amount which can be used for flights/accommodation) for those who are moving on a long-term visa e.g. Sponsorship/Skilled Visa.

We have partnerships with employers all across NZ!

Once you have your NZ OT registration approved, we can help you choose a location which is a good fit for you – we can also provide you with location guides

Our team is from the UK and have lived in NZ so we can provide you with honest feedback and help you find the best fit!

THE PEOPLE! New Zealanders are very welcoming and approachable so you are made to feel at home very quickly.

THE SCENERY! There are lots of amazing travel opportunities from beaches to mountains and everything is very accessible allowing you to explore lots of New Zealand.

THE JOBS! We have really good feedback about the companies/roles in NZ, with friendly management and a great work-life balance. New Zealand would suit those who enjoy a relaxed life and outdoor activities.

If you are applying for an Accredited/Straight to Residency Visa (NZ) children/partners can be added to your visa/they can apply for subsequent visas based on your successful application – conditions apply.

If you are applying for a Working Holiday Visa – these are individual visas.

The most popular visa is the Accredited Employer Work Visa, all age groups can apply for this visa and you can stay for up to 3 years. The cost for this visa is NZD $750 and you will need your NZ OT registration and a job offer before you can apply.

The Working Holiday Visa/WHV is also an option for certain age groups/passport holders, this visa allows you to work for 12 months, but it can be less preferred by some employers. The fee for a 12 month WHV is NZD $450, you also need to have NZD $350 in savings for every month you intend to stay and enough money for a return ticket. UK passport holders are eligible for x3 WHV’s.

As OT’s are currently on the Green List, you can also have a look at the Straight to Residency Visa

Medical/Police Checks can be requested for all visas over 12 months (additional fees apply)

As employers can have a preference for different visas, we advise you to wait until you have your registration and are at the interview stage to apply for your visa.

The main fees you need to be aware of are for your Visa (above) and transferring your OT licence which is NZD $1188 + an Annual Fee of NZD $500 (some companies will cover the annual fee)

We will secure you a full-time role for when you arrive which can range from NZD $60-100k.

We would suggest you have enough money to buy a car and a minimum of NZD $5k for your first month (deposit for rental/enough money to support yourself until you are paid).

The service we provide is completely free for those that would like to be placed in a role with one of our partners

If possible, try to have your registration approved and be interviewing in the NZ winter (May-August) as this is when the most jobs are available.

We work with employers who can offer a relocation allowance (e.g. upfront amount which can be used for flights/accommodation) for those who are moving on a long-term visa.

We do have paeds roles become available, however, depending on the location, some of the OT roles are mixed adults and paeds/they do not have enough referrals just for paeds. There is a bigger demand for paeds OT’s in Australia so if you are interested in a paeds only caseload, you may want to consider this – your NZ registration is valid in both AUS & NZ so we can still look in NZ first.

The roles that can be more flexible with experience required are the clinic/community rehab roles, we would still suggest you have at least 1 year experience before you make the move to gain confidence/save up etc. Neuro, Paeds, Health Boards usually look for at least 2 years relevant experience

Once you have read through the role/visa eligibility information (available on the website/booklets) – please let us know which role/visa you are interested in and the university you attended/graduation year, we will then send through more information about the registration process

We will support you throughout the registration process including free guides and unlimited phone/email support, we are experts and here to help!

Canadian/Irish/UK trained OT’s – the registration process timeframe can vary depending on how long it takes to source the documents required, we would suggest you allow for 3 months (but it could be much quicker!)

SA trained OT’s applying for the standard pathway should allow for at least 6 months to gain OT registration (applications can also be slowed down by long wait times for police/medical checks)

Once your registration has been approved, we find 3-4 months is an ideal timeframe for the next steps (securing a role + visa/handing in your notice/getting organised, etc!).

We will arrange interviews once your registration has been approved and ideally, maximum 3-4 months before your planned start date – this gives you enough time to hand in your notice/get organised to leave/apply for your visa etc. and also means that the role is not left open for too long for the employer.

We can also organise interviews nearer to your start date depending on which visa you hold/are looking to apply for.

The maximum time we can organise interviews in NZ is 6 months before, but this will depend on the role/location and we feel 3-4 months before gives you more/accurate choices.

It is beneficial to be able to drive for almost all roles in NZ. The only position that does not require you to drive is an in-patient hospital role.

Once you have read through the role/visa eligibility information (available on the website/booklets) – please let us know which role/visa you are interested in and the university you attended/graduation year, we will then send through more information about the registration process We will support you throughout the registration process including free guides and unlimited phone/email support, we are experts and here to help!

The registration process timeframe can vary depending on how long it takes to source the documents required and which registration route you opt for (once we know which role/visa you are interested in, we will send through more information)

Once your registration has been approved, we find 3-4 months is an ideal timeframe for the next steps (securing a role + visa/handing in your notice/getting organised, etc!).

We will arrange interviews once your registration has been approved and maximum 3-4 months before your planned start date – this gives you enough time to hand in your notice/get organised to leave/apply for your visa etc. this also means that the role is not left open for too long for the employer.

– Under 30/35’s – The Working Holiday/Work and Holiday Visa is a popular initial visa option for certain age groups/passport holders. This visa allows you to work for 12 months and costs AUD $635 (plus proof of AUD $5000 in savings). – From July 2024, UK passport holders are eligible for x3 WHV without needing to complete specified/farm work – Looking to stay long-term/bring family/not eligible for the WHV – the most popular options are the Sponsorship or Skilled visa Sponsorship/482 – visa linked to an employer. Sponsorship requires you to have 2 years of OT experience and once you have your Australian OT registration approved, we can introduce you to our partners who can offer this. The fees are: $3035 (adult) and $760 (child). This visa has a pathway to permanent residency after 2 years (conditions apply). Skilled Visa – If you want to gain a permanent residency visa which is not employer supported, you can look at applying for your own Skilled Visa (189/190/491).

The main fees you need to be aware of are for your Visa (above) and transferring your OT licence which varies between AUD $1920 – $2432 depending on which registration route you go down.

We would suggest you have a minimum of AUD $5k for your first month (deposit for rental/enough money to support yourself until you are paid) and enough money for a car (often required for roles).

We will secure you a full-time role for when you arrive which the salary usually ranges from AUD $70-100k.

WHV – We work with employers who are happy for you to start on the Working Holiday Visa, ideally with the plan to then change to a more long-term visa after e.g. Sponsorship or Skilled visa Sponsorship – the sponsorship visa is expensive for employers so the availability of roles/companies who can offer these visas, depend on the job market at the time – currently, OT’S are in demand in Australia and it is possible to gain this offshore

It is often a requirement to be able to drive for almost all OT roles in Australia and you will usually need to buy your own car.

The only position that sometimes does not require you to drive, is for paeds/private practice. It is highly preferred if you can drive so that you can complete home/school visits.

We do not work with the hospitals in Australia as we find that they are not keen on Working Holiday Visas for full-time roles/providing visa sponsorship in popular locations. We do work with the hospitals across NZ though!

We have partnerships with employers all across Australia!

Once you have your Australian physio registration approved, we can help you choose a location which is a good fit for you – we can also provide you with location guides

Our team is from the UK and have lived in Australia so we can provide you with honest feedback and help you find the best fit!

Our suggested levels are just a suggestion! If you do not have this, we are still happy to see what roles we have available for you once you have your Australian registration approved.

If you are a junior OT, we would highly recommend that you have your registration approved and interview in the Australian winter (May- August) as this is when the most job roles are available.

If you require a sponsorship visa, you will need 2 years OT experience.

If you are looking to start work on the Working Holiday Visa/WHV, we would still recommend that you have minimum 1.5 years experience so that you are eligible to change to a sponsorship visa after this (employers like to have a long-term plan for you!)

The key helpful experience for Australia is – paeds, mental health, home mods or community.

If you are applying for a sponsorship or skilled visa children/partners can be added to your visa/they can apply for subsequent visas based on your successful application – conditions apply.

If you are applying for a Working Holiday Visa – these are individual visas.

We work with employers who can offer a relocation allowance (e.g. upfront amount which can be used for flights/accommodation) for those who are moving on a long-term visa e.g. Sponsorship/Skilled Visa.

We have partnerships with employers all across NZ!

Once you have your NZ physio registration approved, we can help you choose a location which is a good fit for you – we can also provide you with location guides.

Our team is from the UK and have lived in NZ so we can provide you with honest feedback and help you find the best fit!

THE PEOPLE! New Zealanders are very welcoming and approachable so you are made to feel at home very quickly.

THE SCENERY! There are lots of amazing travel opportunities from beaches to mountains and everything is very accessible allowing you to explore lots of New Zealand.

THE JOBS! We have really good feedback about the companies/roles in NZ, with friendly management and a great work-life balance. New Zealand would suit those who enjoy a relaxed life and outdoor activities.

If you are applying for an Accredited/Straight to Residency Visa (NZ) children/partners can be added to your visa/they can apply for subsequent visas based on your successful application – conditions apply.

If you are applying for a Working Holiday Visa – these are individual visas.

– The most popular visa is the Accredited Employer Work Visa, all age groups can apply for this visa and you can stay for up to 3 years. The cost for this visa is NZD $750 and you will need your NZ SLT registration and a job offer before you can apply.

– The Working Holiday Visa/WHV is also an option for certain age groups/passport holders, this visa allows you to work for 12 months, but it can be less preferred by some employers. The fee for a 12 month WHV is NZD $450, you also need to have NZD $350 in savings for every month you intend to stay and enough money for a return ticket. UK passport holders are eligible for x3 WHV’s.

– As SLT’s are currently on the Green List, you can also have a look at the Straight to Residency Visa

– Medical/Police Checks can be requested for all visas over 12 months (additional fees apply)

– As employers can have a preference for different visas, we advise you to wait until you have your registration and are at the interview stage to apply for your visa.

– The main fees you need to be aware of are for your Visa (above) and transferring your SLT licence which is NZD $750 (MRA) or NZD $1500 (if you are not eligible for MRA)

– We would suggest you have enough money to buy a car and a minimum of NZD $5k for your first month (deposit for rental/enough money to support yourself until you are paid).

– We will secure you a full-time role for when you arrive which can range from NZD $60-100k.

The main fees you need to be aware of are for your Visa (above) and transferring your Physio licence which is NZD $1734 + an Annual Fee of NZD $555 (some companies will cover the annual fee)

We will secure you a full-time role for when you arrive which can range from NZD $60-100k.

The service we provide is completely free for those that would like to be placed in a role with one of our partners

If possible, try to have your registration approved and be interviewing in the NZ winter (May-August) as this is when the most jobs are available.

If you are moving to a location which is popular with tourists we would highly recommend that you avoid arriving in the peak months (usually Dec-Feb) so that it is easier to find accommodation

We work with employers who can offer a relocation allowance (e.g. upfront amount which can be used for flights/accommodation) for those who are moving on a long-term visa.

Once you have read through the role/visa eligibility information (available on the website/booklets) – please let us know which role/visa you are interested in and the university you attended/graduation year, we will then send through more information about the registration process

We will support you throughout the registration process including free guides and unlimited phone/email support, we are experts and here to help!

The time to gain NZ SLT registration varies depending on which registration route you are eligible for and if there are any additional tasks you need to complete e.g. courses/dysphagia training (we will send through more information once you have let us know what role/visa you are interested in)

Once your registration has been approved, we find 3-4 months is an ideal timeframe for the next steps – securing a role/visa, handing in your notice, and getting organised to leave!

We will arrange interviews once your registration has been approved and ideally, maximum 3-4 months before your planned start date – this gives you enough time to hand in your notice/get organised to leave/apply for your visa etc. and also means that the role is not left open for too long for the employer.

We can also organise interviews nearer to your start date depending on which visa you hold/are looking to apply for.

The maximum time we can organise interviews in NZ is 6 months before, but this will depend on the role/location and we feel 3-4 months before gives you more/accurate choices.

– Under 30/35’s – The Working Holiday/Work and Holiday Visa is a popular initial visa option for certain age groups/passport holders. This visa allows you to work for 12 months and costs AUD $635 (plus proof of AUD $5000 in savings).

– From July 2024, UK passport holders are eligible for x3 WHV without needing to complete specified/farm work

– Looking to stay long-term/bring family/not eligible for the WHV – the most popular options are the Sponsorship or Skilled visa
Sponsorship/482 – visa linked to an employer. Sponsorship requires you to have 2 years of SLT experience and once you have your Australian SLT registration approved, we can introduce you to our partners who can offer this. The fees are: $3035 (adult) and $760 (child). This visa has a pathway to permanent residency after 2 years (conditions apply).
Skilled Visa – If you want to gain a permanent residency visa which is not employer supported, you can look at applying for your own Skilled Visa (189/190/491).

WHV – We work with employers who are happy for you to start on the Working Holiday Visa, ideally with the plan to then change to a more long-term visa after e.g. Sponsorship or Skilled visa

Sponsorship – the sponsorship visa is expensive for employers so the availability of roles/companies who can offer these visas depend on the job market at the time – currently, SLT’S are in demand in Australia and it is possible to gain this offshore

The main fees you need to be aware of are for your Visa (above) and transferring your SLT licence which is AUD $700 (MRA) or AUD $1400 (if you are not eligible for MRA).

The yearly fee for certified status = AUD $557
We would suggest you have enough money to buy a car and a minimum of AUD $5k for your first month (deposit for rental/enough money to support yourself until you are paid).

We will secure you a full-time role for when you arrive which usually ranges from AUD $70-100k

It is often a requirement to be able to drive for almost all SLT roles in Australia and you will usually need to buy your own car.

The only position that sometimes does not require you to drive, is for paeds/private practice. It is highly preferred if you can drive so that you can complete home/school visits.

We have partnerships with employers all across Australia!
Once you have your Australian physio registration approved, we can help you choose a location which is a good fit for you – we can also provide you with location guides

Our team is from the UK and have lived in Australia so we can provide you with honest feedback and help you find the best fit!

Our suggested levels are just a suggestion! If you do not have this, we are still happy to see what roles we have available for you once you have your Australian registration approved.

If you are a junior SLT, we would highly recommend that you have your registration approved and interview in the Australian winter (May- August) as this is when the most job roles are available.

If you require a sponsorship visa, you will need 2 years SLT experience.

If you are looking to start work on the Working Holiday Visa/WHV, we would still recommend that you have minimum 1.5 years experience so that you are eligible to change to a sponsorship visa after this (employers like to have a long-term plan for you!)

You will also need to think about the experience required for the registration route you are looking to go down (MRA/QA) as this can be different for the experience suggested for the job roles

If you are applying for a sponsorship or skilled visa children/partners can be added to your visa/they can apply for subsequent visas based on your successful application – conditions apply.

If you are applying for a Working Holiday Visa – these are individual visas.

We work with employers who can offer a relocation allowance (e.g. upfront amount which can be used for flights/accommodation) for those who are moving on a long-term visa e.g. Sponsorship/Skilled Visa.

Yes, we do have adult community roles available

Once you have read through the role/visa eligibility information (available on the website/booklets) – please let us know which role/visa you are interested in and the university you attended/graduation year, we will then send through more information about the registration process

We will support you throughout the registration process including free guides and unlimited phone/email support, we are experts and here to help!

The time to gain Australian SLT registration varies depending on which registration route you are eligible for and if there are any additional tasks you need to complete e.g. courses/dysphagia training (we will send through more information once you have let us know what role/visa you are interested in)

Once your registration has been approved, we find 3-4 months is an ideal timeframe for the next steps – securing a role/visa, handing in your notice, and getting organised to leave!

Frequently Asked Questions

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