Moving to New Zealand

Moving Guide

Your Practical Guide to Relocating to Aotearoa (New Zealand)

1. Visa & Residence

Navigating the visa landscape for New Zealand is a crucial first step, and the requirements often depend on your nationality. For instance, citizens of certain countries may have different pathways compared to those from non-EU nations.

Typical routes for those looking to move to New Zealand include:

• **Work Visas:** These are often tied to specific job offers or skills in demand within New Zealand.
• **Family Visas:** If you have immediate family members who are New Zealand citizens or residents, you may be eligible for a family-sponsored visa.
• **Study Visas:** For those planning to undertake a course of study at an approved educational institution.
• **Residence Permits:** These are for individuals who intend to make New Zealand their permanent home and often have stricter criteria, sometimes involving points-based systems or significant investment.

It is absolutely essential to verify your specific eligibility and the most up-to-date requirements directly with official New Zealand government immigration sources. Visa regulations can change, and personal circumstances vary greatly.

2. Housing & Rental

Finding a place to live in New Zealand typically involves a few key steps, whether you're looking for temporary accommodation upon arrival or a long-term rental.

• **How to Find Housing:** Popular methods include searching online property portals, engaging with local real estate agents (often called 'property managers' for rentals), and sometimes community notice boards or social media groups. It's advisable to start your search before arriving, particularly for long-term options.
• **Typical Rental Process:** Once you find a property you're interested in, you'll usually need to complete an application form, providing references (previous landlords, employers) and proof of income. Viewings are common, and for competitive areas, it's wise to be prepared to apply quickly.
• **Deposits:** A bond (security deposit) is standard and is typically equivalent to three to four weeks' rent. This bond is held by the New Zealand Tenancy Services and returned to you at the end of your tenancy, provided the property is left in good condition. You will also usually pay one or two weeks' rent in advance.
• **Temporary vs. Long-Term:** Many new arrivals opt for temporary accommodation (hotels, motels, serviced apartments, or short-term rentals) for the first few weeks while they get settled and conduct in-person viewings for long-term rentals. This allows for flexibility and a better understanding of different neighbourhoods.

3. What Affects the Cost of Your Move

The total cost of relocating to New Zealand can vary significantly based on several factors. Understanding these can help you budget effectively:

• **Volume of Goods:** The more items you ship, the higher the cost. This includes furniture, personal belongings, and vehicles.
• **Distance:** As New Zealand is geographically remote, the distance of your move will naturally be a primary cost driver.
• **Seasonality:** Moving during peak seasons (e.g., summer months or end-of-year holidays) can sometimes lead to higher demand and potentially increased costs for shipping and related services.
• **Access at Origin and Destination:** Ease of access for loading and unloading at both your current home and your new home in New Zealand (e.g., stairs, narrow driveways, parking restrictions) can impact labour costs.
• **Extra Services:** Additional services such as professional packing and unpacking, specialized handling for fragile or valuable items, storage solutions, and customs clearance assistance will add to the overall expense.

For an accurate and personalized estimate, exact prices will come from a free, no-obligation quote tailored to your specific moving needs.

4. Timeline & Packing Tips

A well-organized timeline is key to a smooth relocation. Here’s a general checklist for 4-8 weeks out:

• **8 Weeks Out:**
  • **Declutter:** Start sorting through your belongings. Decide what to keep, sell, donate, or discard. This is the perfect time to downsize.
  • **Research:** Begin researching schools, neighbourhoods, and job opportunities if you haven't already.
  • **Documents:** Start gathering essential documents: passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, medical records, academic transcripts, and professional qualifications. Ensure they are valid and easily accessible.
• **6 Weeks Out:**
  • **Quotes:** Obtain quotes for your international move.
  • **Visa Status:** Reconfirm your visa status and any outstanding requirements.
  • **Medical Checks:** Arrange any necessary medical examinations for visa purposes.
  • **Utilities & Subscriptions:** Start making a list of utilities, subscriptions, and services to cancel or transfer.
• **4 Weeks Out:**
  • **Packing Supplies:** If self-packing, acquire boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and markers.
  • **Notifications:** Notify your bank, insurance providers, and other financial institutions of your move.
  • **Forwarding Address:** Set up mail forwarding.
  • **Pet Relocation:** If applicable, finalize arrangements for pet travel, including veterinary checks and documentation.
• **2 Weeks Out:**
  • **Begin Packing:** Start packing non-essential items. Label boxes clearly with contents and the room they belong to.
  • **Essentials Box:** Prepare an "essentials" box with items you'll need immediately upon arrival (toiletries, medications, important documents, a change of clothes).
  • **Utilities Disconnection:** Schedule disconnection dates for utilities at your current home.
• **1 Week Out:**
  • **Final Packing:** Finish packing all remaining items, except for your essentials box and items for your carry-on luggage.
  • **Clean-up:** Arrange for professional cleaning if required by your landlord.
  • **Confirm Travel:** Reconfirm flights and temporary accommodation.

Ready to make your move to New Zealand a reality? Request a free quote today on relocation123.com!

Visas, immigration & documents

Moving to this country often involves visas, residence permits, document translation/legalization and customs paperwork. Our verified partners handle the move itself; for visa or immigration help, send the request below and we'll point you the right way.

• Residence permit / visa (work, study, family)
• Document translation & apostille
• Customs clearance for personal effects
• Travel & goods insurance

Get help with your move →

Customs & Import Rules

Moving to New Zealand: Your Essential Customs & Import Guide

Relocating to New Zealand involves navigating specific customs and import regulations. This guide provides a clear overview to help ensure a smooth transition for your personal belongings and special items.

If you're relocating as a new resident

As a new resident, you may be eligible to import your personal and household effects duty and tax-free. This concession applies if you hold a valid New Zealand residence document, have lived outside New Zealand for at least 21 months before your arrival, and have owned and used the goods for personal use before your departure.

What you'll need

• MPI ‘Personal Effects – Supplementary Declaration’
• Inventory of goods
• Combined Customs and Quarantine declaration ‘Unaccompanied Personal Baggage Declaration’ (NZCS218) & Supplementary page (NZCS218A)
• Copy of passport (identification page and entry visa only)
• Documents authorizing residence in New Zealand, such as:
  • A New Zealand or Australian Passport
  • A current New Zealand Residence visa or permit or a current New Zealand returning residence visa or permit
  • A current permanent residence visa (including a residence return visa) issued by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia
  • A current New Zealand work visa or work permit issued for a minimum of twelve months
  • A current New Zealand work visa or work permit issued under the Work to Residence (Skilled Migrant Category) policy or the Long-Term Business Visa/Permit category
  • A current New Zealand visitor’s visa or permit issued for a minimum of three years (excludes visitor's visas allowing multiple visits up to six months)

Good to know

• Student visa holders generally do not qualify for the full concession but can import items necessary for their studies (e.g., desk, textbooks, computer).
• If household effects are imported more than 5 years after your arrival, the concession may require consent from a Customs Officer.
• Brand new or unused items must be declared and may be subject to duty and GST.
• Many standard household items, including foodstuffs, garden tools, outdoor furniture, and sporting equipment, are subject to inspection by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) due to potential biosecurity risks.
• All shipments, including FCL containers, must go through an MPI-approved transitional facility for unloading and final clearances; direct delivery to your residence in the shipping container is not permitted.

Diplomatic moves

Diplomatic shipments of personal and household effects are handled with specific protocols.

What you'll need

• Diplomatic declaration
• Inventory of goods
• Declaration signed by the Consulate

Good to know

• The owner must also complete a Customs and Quarantine declaration.
• Restrictions on quantities of duty-free or tax-exempt alcohol are not normally placed, provided they are for reasonable personal use or official use. However, the New Zealand Customs Service monitors these imports, and excessive quantities may require an explanation.

Moving after marriage (Wedding trousseaux)

Wedding trousseaux, when included with personal and household effects, are treated under the same concessionary rules as other personal belongings.

What you'll need

• Inventory

Good to know

• Wedding gifts are subject to the same conditions as general personal and household effects.

Inherited belongings

Goods received as an inheritance can be admitted free of duty.

What you'll need

• Death certificate
• Either a letter from the Executor or a copy of the Will

Good to know

• The name of the beneficiary and their legacy must be clearly specified in the documentation.

Bringing special items

Vehicles

Motor cars, motorcycles, motor scooters, caravans, trailers, and boats can be imported under concessionary entry (duty and/or tax-free) if you meet specific conditions, similar to those for household effects, including a New Zealand residence document and having resided outside NZ for 21 months. For vehicles, you must have personally owned and used the vehicle for at least 12 months before departure and not sell it within 24 months of importation.

What you'll need

• Copy of passport
• Original registration / ownership certificate and/or original deregistration certificate
• Purchase invoice
• Original compliance certificate issued by the manufacturer (if applicable/required)
• Documents authorizing residence in New Zealand (as listed for new residents)

Good to know

• Importers qualifying for concessionary entry must sign a ‘Deed of Undertaking’.
• Vehicles require a structural inspection and must be tested for certification to New Zealand Safety and Compliance Standards. It is crucial to check compliance before shipment.
• There is no duty on most vehicles imported into New Zealand, though GST at 15% of the CIF value (purchase price, freight, and marine insurance) applies to non-qualifying importers. Motor homes for non-qualifying migrants may incur duty.
• An allowance for depreciation may be made based on the length of overseas ownership.
• From April 1, 2022, the Clean Car Standard applies to newly registered vehicles, with costs based on CO2 emissions.
• Vehicles should be steam-cleaned and vacuumed prior to shipment, although this does not guarantee against further MPI inspection on arrival.
• Be aware of the brown marmorated stink bug season (September – April); containerized cargo from targeted risk countries must be treated before arriving in New Zealand to avoid re-shipment or destruction.
• Left-hand drive vehicles are restricted; owners should verify if their vehicle belongs to a permitted category or can be converted to right-hand drive.
• For boats, it is strongly recommended to contact NZ Customs for exact details.

Pets

Pets, specifically dogs and cats, can be imported into New Zealand.

What you'll need

• Health certificate
• Import Permit

Good to know

• Pets enter duty-free.
• They are subject to strict quarantine regulations.
• There are many restrictions on animal types and breeds prohibited from entering New Zealand.

Restricted & prohibited items

New Zealand has strict rules on what can and cannot be imported.

• Firearms: An import permit and firearms licence from NZ Police are required. Pistols, revolvers, and some rifles are prohibited. Used firearms are subject to conditions for removal goods. Firearms will be seized by NZ Customs pending production of a permit.
• Prescribed Medicines: A copy of the prescription or a letter from your doctor is needed. These are duty-free.
• Plants, Vegetable and animal products: Most plants and products are prohibited. Do not ship without checking if allowed entry, as regulations are very strict.
• New furniture, Household items, Presents and Souvenirs: If recently purchased prior to shipment, duty and GST may apply. Purchase invoices/receipts and a "Trade Single Window- Client Registration Application" (NZSC224) may be required.
• Jewellery: Included with personal/household effects, duty-free subject to the general conditions.
• Pianos with ivory keys: A Pre-Convention CITES permit is required. The original CITES permit must accompany the shipment and be surrendered to border officials in New Zealand.
• Prohibited items: Narcotics (drugs), pornographic material, certain types of weapons (e.g., flick knives, swordsticks, knuckle-dusters, disguised weapons), ivory, turtle and tortoise products, and other endangered species.

Alcohol & tobacco

When importing alcohol as part of diplomatic shipments, restrictions are not normally placed on quantities for reasonable personal or official use, though monitoring occurs.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay duty and tax on all my imported goods?
No, if you meet specific residency and ownership conditions, your personal and household effects can be imported duty and tax-free. However, new items or those not meeting conditions may incur duty and GST.

What is the "Personal Effects – Supplementary Declaration"?
This is a crucial document from MPI that must be completed by the importer at origin when your shipment is packed. It needs to be forwarded with other documentation for clearance.

Why are my household items subject to inspection by MPI?
Many common household items, especially those used outdoors or containing organic material, pose biosecurity risks. MPI inspects these to prevent the introduction of pests and diseases.

Can I import a left-hand drive vehicle into New Zealand?
Left-hand drive vehicles are restricted. You should check if your vehicle belongs to a permitted category or can be converted to right-hand drive before importing.

What happens if I don't declare new items or items that don't meet concession criteria?
You must declare all items, especially new or unused goods. Failure to declare could result in duty and GST being applied, and potentially penalties.

Are there any specific requirements for shipping containers?
All FCL containers and shipments must go via an MPI-approved transitional facility for unloading and final clearances. Direct delivery to your residence in the shipping container is not permitted.

For more detailed assistance with your move to New Zealand, please contact relocation123.com.

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