How long does the recruitment process take?

Our application process is moving rapidly once you progress through initial vetting, so you'll need to at, or near, the Physical Appraisal Test (PAT) fitness standards, and ready to complete the Online Testing when you apply. 

If you have just applied and are waiting for your initial vetting to be completed, please note that time frames are longer than usual due to the volume of applicants at this point in the process. We will be in contact within 4-8 weeks. Keep preparing for your Online Testing and PAT in the meantime. 

Changes to eligibility criteria

  1. From Wednesday 17 July 2024, people who hold a restricted licence are eligible to apply as a Police Recruit. You will need to obtain your full driver licence before being offered a place at Royal New Zealand Police College.

  2. From Wednesday 17 July 2024, people who hold NZ Residency are eligible to apply as a Police Recruit.

    Check out our full eligibility criteria here.

How do I apply?

To get started, complete our expression of interest form here. We’ll then let you know if you are eligible to apply. 

We are currently accepting applications for all Police Districts, except Canterbury, as we open applications in this areas we will update this information on this page. 

If you have any questions about applying, contact us.

Events

Curious about what policing in New Zealand is all about? Our recruitment events can help you understand what it’s like to be a Police Officer.

Hear from staff about their roles, find out more about the recruitment process and ask us any questions that you may have about joining.

When events are scheduled, these will be listed on our NZ Police Recruitment Facebook page (link is external).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you accept applicants with NZ work visas?

We are unable to accept applicants with NZ work visas. Only people who hold  NZ Residency or NZ Permanent Residency or NZ or Australian Citizenship are eligible to apply as a Police Recruit.  To find out more about your visa status please visit https://www.immigration.govt.nz/

When will you be accepting applications for my preferred district?

At the moment Canterbury is the only district that is not accepting applications.  We are continuously monitoring demand across the country. As we open applications, we will update the information on this page.

Can I still apply for another non-constabulary job at Police?

You sure can. You can find out more about the other exciting career opportunities across the country at New Zealand Police here. 

Are you accepting re-joins?

Yes, please refer to Rejoin Recruitment for information about rejoining if you are a former NZ Police officer. 

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