All successful applicants will undergo full reference checks before any offer of employment is made. You must complete a police check before you can start with NZDF.
The majority of Defence Force positions require that successful applicants have access to classified information from time to time. As a result of being an organisation with security requirements, a pre-employment drug screening test is required, prior to the successful applicant being provided with an offer of employment.
An offer of appointment to the New Zealand Defence Force will be subject to the approval of a National Security Clearance to the level appropriate to the position. Applicants must possess either NZ Citizenship or a New Zealand Residence class visa. To find out more about visas, please visit Immigration New Zealand.
The minimum citizenship and residency criteria for security clearances to be granted by the NZDF are as follows:
Low Level Security Clearance:
- Is a NZ citizen or NZ Residence class visa holder who has resided continuously in this country for the last 5 years, OR
- Is a NZ Residence class visa holder and has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last 5 years: either Australia, Canada, NZ, UK or the USA; and has a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the NZSIS towards a recommendation of suitability for a security clearance at a higher level.
Higher Level Security Clearance:
- Is a NZ citizen or NZ Residence class visa holder who has resided continuously in this country for the last 10 years, OR
- Is a NZ Residence class visa holder and has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last 10 years: either Australia, Canada, NZ, UK or the USA; and has a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the NZSIS towards a recommendation of suitability for a security clearance at a higher level.
If you do not meet these minimum criteria, we may not be able to accept your application. Criminal convictions are checked as part of the security clearance.
Please note that the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004, does not apply to employees who are involved in the national security of New Zealand (i.e. where a security clearance is required, convictions will not be hidden.) However, having a criminal conviction will not necessarily exclude you from obtaining a security clearance.