New Zealand is smaller, but no less fascinating than its neighbor Australia. For this reason, many foreigners think about moving to New Zealand.
New Zealand consists of an archipelago of countless islands, but the two main islands where most of the population lives are the North Island and the South Island. The area of New Zealand is slightly larger than that of the United Kingdom, but the population is less than 5 million.
The capital is Wellington, while the most populous city is Auckland. The currency is the New Zealand dollar and the official language is English. There are almost one million immigrants (25% of the population). New Zealand is one of the countries with the best quality of life.
Moving to New Zealand visas
To move to New Zealand, you must know English and apply for a visa:
Tourist visa, allows you to stay in the country for three months, which can be extended up to nine months. You must be able to prove that you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself for the duration of your stay. It is not possible to work, but you can find a sponsor.
Student visa, there are different types of student visas depending mainly on the type of school, the duration of the course and the age of the applicant. So you can choose the visa that best suits your needs. Remember that you can work part-time during your studies (with a salary of about $1,400 NZ), which will allow you to support yourself. The length of your visa will depend on the duration of your course. To obtain the visa, you must enroll in a New Zealand school and prove that you have sufficient funds to support yourself.
Work visa, to be able to work in New Zealand you need a work visa. There are different types of work visas issued to people who are in one of the following situations:
- You have received a job offer from a New Zealand company
- Your job is in short supply in New Zealand
- You have exceptional talents
Working Holiday Visa (WHV), can be applied for by citizens of selected countries who have not reached the age of 31. It allows you to stay in New Zealand for 12 months, which can be extended for another 11 months. In the meantime, it is possible to work, but only for a maximum of 12 months.
Moving to New Zealand useful resource
- Immigration, government website with all information about relocation to New Zealand
- Immigration Adviser Authority, website with information and you can check if an immigration agent is properly registered
- Relocating to New Zealand, a little guide
Move to New Zealand and find accommodation
Once you have spent the first time in a hostel or room (airbnb), you need to start looking for permanent accommodation and this is quite easy because there is a good availability of properties and rental costs are cheaper than in Australia. With the exception of Auckland, where prices are higher and the availability of apartments is lower. Most apartments are unfurnished. When signing a contract, you will need to pay a deposit (equal to one month’s rent) and agency fees (also equal to one month’s rent).
The most common choice to begin with is to rent a room. Depending on the city, a room NZ can cost $150 to $200 per week. This price usually includes all utilities such as electricity, water and internet. When you sign the contract, you will need to leave the equivalent of a few weeks as a deposit. Remember that many landlords do not rent rooms to couples.
Always follow the old rule: do not pay anything in advance and see the accommodation in person to avoid possible fraud. If you have problems with your landlord, I recommend you contact the Tenancy Services Center, which is responsible for resolving such disputes.
Here are the most popular real estate websites:
- Trademe, classifieds website
- Harcourts, real estate website
- Realestate, the most popular website for real estate ads
- NZflatmates, shared flats
- Rentaroom, rooms in Queenstown, Frankton and Wanaka
- Impression, Auckland real estate agency
- REA, Real Estate Authority, you can check if your agent has an active licence
Health System in New Zealand
The health system in New Zealand is a mixed public and private system. The public service does not cover all costs, so it is advisable to have health insurance.
