New Zealand – Visas
New Zealand operates a layered entry system: passport holders from visa-waiver nations can make short visits using a…
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Your life in New Zealand starts here
Make your move to New Zealand
Mountains, fiords and open coast define New Zealand, alongside strong healthcare and no general capital-gains tax. Skilled routes or a dedicated retirement route offer a welcoming way in.
New Zealand at a glance
Cost of living
High
Property
Very expensive
Healthcare
Strong
Safety
Safe
Climate
Mild (~15°C)
English
Native / official
Expat community
Very large
Where New Zealand is strongest: visa ease #7 of 81English-friendliness #11 of 81size of expat community #20 of 81
Worth weighing up: property affordability #74 of 75cost of living #68 of 77safety #46 of 78
TaxWorldwide; no general capital-gains tax
Visa / residencySkilled, or NZ$750k+ retirement visa
General information to compare destinations, not personal financial, tax or immigration advice.
Health insurance in New Zealand
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Your first steps to New Zealand
New Zealand – Residency
New Zealand provides multiple routes to residency for those born outside its borders, spanning skills-based, family, investment, and…
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Fresh from New Zealand
Latest articles
New Zealand’s Education System: Enrolling Your Child in Kiwi Schools
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Real people who made the move
Tania Davidson, New Zealand
Who are you? My name is Tania Davidson. Where, when and why did you move abroad? I’m a…
Read more →Simon, Napier
Who are you? I’m a languages teacher from the UK prone to wandering the globe rather than settling…
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Who are you? My name is Fady Magdy, I am an Egyptian civil engineer, I’m 37 years old.…
Read more →Joy, Auckland
Who are you? We are a mixed race family of 5. Andrew my husband is 36 and works…
Read more →Stephanie DeLaGarza, Hawke’s Bay
Who are you? I’m Stephanie DeLaGarza, a citizen of the United States having grown up in Northern Virginia…
Read more →Dawn and Isaac, Wellington
Who are you? Dawn and Isaac originally from Cornwall in England! We are very cornish but now live…
Read more →Hear it first hand
The Expat Focus Podcast on New Zealand
The complete picture
New Zealand moving guide
New Zealand – Air Travel
Flying plays a central role in everyday life across New Zealand, for long-term residents and newly arrived expats…
Read more →New Zealand – Animal Welfare and Cultural Issues
New Zealand is a country where love for animals runs deep, with dogs, cats, and livestock playing an…
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New Zealand’s banking sector is mature, reliable, and easy to navigate, with four dominant Australian-owned banks sitting alongside…
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Across New Zealand, buses form the foundation of the public transport network, serving every major city and the…
Read more →New Zealand – Buying or Importing a Car
Purchasing or importing a vehicle in New Zealand is open to foreign nationals and non-residents alike, as there…
Read more →New Zealand – Buying Property
Purchasing real estate in New Zealand as a foreign national involves navigating a notably restrictive legal framework. Since…
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For most international visitors, hiring a car in New Zealand is a relatively simple process. You must be…
Read more →New Zealand – Citizenship
New Zealand citizenship is accessible to most people who have held a resident visa and spent at least…
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Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) enjoys both broad availability and growing uptake across New Zealand (Aotearoa). The country…
Read more →New Zealand – Cost of Living
New Zealand is widely considered a costly place to live by global standards — broadly on a par…
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New Zealand boasts a vibrant cycling culture — though it leans far more towards recreation and sport than…
Read more →New Zealand – Dentists and Dental Treatment
For adults in New Zealand, dental care is largely privately funded — which means the majority of people,…
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