Relocating to New Zealand
Understand the country before you commit to the move.
47% verifiedNew Zealand is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, made up of two main islands (North and South Island) plus numerous smaller islands. English, Māori, and NZ Sign Language are all official languages, and the country uses the New Zealand Dollar.
Ask about moving to New Zealand
Answered only from Atlas's verified New Zealand guides — if it's not covered yet, we'll say so rather than guess.
Life in New Zealand
What will life actually be like?
Where should I live?
Living: Major Cities
What will daily life cost?
Living: Cost of Living
What is healthcare like?
Healthcare: Average Costs
What about schools?
Living: Education
How will I bank?
Banking: Best Banks
Cities
Where should I live?
New Zealand has 16 territorial authorities, with Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch being the most populous cities. Relocating to these cities may be ideal for job seekers and those seeking urban amenities, but options for rural living also exist. The cost of living varies by location, with larger cities like Auckland and Wellington having significantly higher costs than smaller places like Invercargill.
Read the cities guide →Residency
Find your residency route
Your best route depends on how you plan to live, work and invest. These are the guides Atlas currently holds for New Zealand.
How do you plan to support yourself in New Zealand?
Residency: Citizenship
New Zealand offers a path to citizenship through residency, and the process is relatively complex with specific requirements and exceptions.
Residency: Digital Nomad Visa
New Zealand has no digital nomad visa in the Immigration New Zealand official pages. A visitor visa lets you stay up to 6 or 9 months depending on your passp…
Residency: Permanent Residency
New Zealand's permanent residency process is complex and requires significant documentation. The application fee is NZD $315 with a processing time of typica…
Residency: Processing Times
Residency processing times for New Zealand can be uncertain and vary depending on the specific application and circumstances. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) d…
Residency: Required Documents
For residency in New Zealand, the required documents may vary depending on individual circumstances. Typically, applicants need to provide proof of identity,…
Residency: Retirement Visa
New Zealand has two retirement routes. The Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa is for applicants aged 66 or older: they need at least NZ$750,000 to invest in N…
Residency: Visa Overview
New Zealand's immigration system is complex, with various visa options for different purposes. This overview provides a general understanding of the visa cat…
Residency: Work Visa
New Zealand's work visa requirements can be complex, and this document aims to provide a general overview of the process. The Essential Skills Work Visa and …
Property
A home is a relocation decision
Taxes
Understand the cost of your move
Banking
Banking
Healthcare
Healthcare
Lifestyle
Lifestyle
Business
Business
From the Journal
Latest on New Zealand
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A Qantas aircraft en route from Queenstown to Sydney was forced to land in Christchurch after cre…Ready to turn this into a plan?
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