Moving to New Zealand from the UK: Complete guide

Considering making a new home in beautiful New Zealand? In this guide, we’ll cover what to know about moving to New Zealand from the UK, including visas, how to find a job, home and everything else to help you get settled.

We’ll also show you a cost-effective way to manage your money across borders with Wise. Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and New Zealand for low fees* and at the mid-market exchange rate.

Learn more about the Wise account

Want to take your savings with you? Wise can also help you with large transfers. Simply email our expert team or request a call back below.

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In this guide

Can you move to New Zealand from the UK? Moving to New Zealand from the UK How to get a New Zealander visa? How to move to New Zealand from the UK? What’s the cheapest way to get to New Zealand from the UK? How to transport your things Living in New Zealand - what you need to know Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to New Zealand? Opening a New Zealander bank account Finding a job in New Zealand Renting or buying property in New Zealand Healthcare system in New Zealand: How it works for UK expats Emigrating to New Zealand with a family Schools and education Having a baby in New Zealand Bringing your pets Retiring in New Zealand: What are your options? Retirement visas Transferring your pensions Checklist for moving to New Zealand from the UK Save on your relocation costs to New Zealand with Wise

Can you move to New Zealand from the UK?

Yes, but you’ll need to find a visa route that suits your circumstances and collect all the necessary documents. Getting a visa is usually easier if you plan to work, as the immigration system aims to attract people who’ll fill employment skills gaps in the country.

While you need a visa to live in New Zealand, you don’t need one to visit. In fact, you only need a New Zealand Travel Authority (NZeTA) and can stay for up to six months without a visa.¹

Moving to New Zealand from the UK

Nothing has changed for Brits moving to New Zealand post-Brexit, as the changes only affected the UK's relationship with the EU. While the process can still be challenging, speaking the same language as New Zealanders makes it easier for UK expats to settle in, find work and build a social life.

And since British citizens don’t need a visa to enter New Zealand, you can spend a few months here to get a real sense of whether this is the right place for you to move to.

How to get a New Zealander visa?

There are several possible routes into New Zealand for British citizens, including various temporary visas that can sometimes serve as a step towards gaining permanent residence. These include:

• Working holiday visa - if you’re a British citizen and aged between 18 and 35, you can travel and work in the country for 36 months on this visa.²
• Entrepreneur work visa - allows you to move to New Zealand for 12 months initially, to buy or establish a business, and work as self-employed for an additional 24 months.³

If you’re looking for a visa which lets you live in New Zealand indefinitely, then there are a few options:

• Work to residence visa - if you’re aged 55 or under, this visa allows you to live and work in New Zealand for 30 months. To meet the eligibility requirements you’ll need to have a long-term Green List Tier 2 in-demand job.⁴
• Skilled Migrant visa - available for those aged 55 and under, it lets you live, work and study in New Zealand permanently, and allows your partner and dependent children (aged 24 and under) to do the same. It’s a points-based visa, assessing your skills, work experience and whether you have a job offer.⁵
• Entrepreneur Residence category - gives successful entrepreneurs permanent residence. You may be eligible to apply if you’ve established a high-growth business in New Zealand, over the course of 2 years on an Entrepreneur work visa.⁶

These are just some examples, but you can also find details of other visas by visiting the New Zealand immigration website.

How to move to New Zealand from the UK?

The best way to move to New Zealand depends on what you plan on doing once you arrive there. If you want to work remotely from New Zealand, the working holiday visa is a good option.² And if you’d like to work long-term, consider the work to residence visa.⁴

If you’re looking to study in New Zealand, you can apply for the fee paying student visa. This visa lets you work, but you’ll need to enrol with an approved education provider.⁷

Whichever option you decide on, be sure to check for any updated information in case things change.

What’s the cheapest way to get to New Zealand from the UK?

The easiest way to get to New Zealand from the UK is by plane. Generally, the cheapest month to fly is March, with one-way tickets costing around £415.⁸

However, such a good deal isn’t always available. Typically, a one-way ticket to New Zealand will cost around £700-£800.⁹

Wise could help you save money on travel costs, especially if you’re paying in a foreign currency. With the mid-market exchange rate and no foreign transaction fees*, you’ll be able to make the most out of your money. With a Wise card you can buy flights to NZ, and start spending in New Zealand dollars as soon as you arrive, without having to worry about converting currency or getting caught out by unexpected fees.

📚 Travel to NZ from the UK

How to transport your things

The most affordable way to transport your belongings to New Zealand is by sea freight, although it can be slow. To speed things up, you might want to combine air freight with sea freight or ship everything by plane.¹⁰

Here are some companies you could consult for transporting your things:

• PSS Removals
• Anglo Pacific
• 1st Move International
• Pickfords

Having a Wise account could be very useful when paying for a moving company. It allows you to send, receive and spend in both British pounds and New Zealand dollars. With transparent, low fees* and transactions at the mid-market exchange rate, so no need to stress about surprise fees for currency conversion or added mark-up from banks or other providers.

Living in New Zealand - what you need to know

Here are some basic facts you should know about New Zealand if you’re considering moving there:

💰Currency:	New Zealand dollar (NZD)
🗣️Main language:	English, Māori
👥Population:	5,240,28611
🇬🇧 Number of British expats:	Around 210,915102
🧭Popular expat destinations:	Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Nelson

Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to New Zealand?

In general, the cost of living in New Zealand is lower than in the UK, but this depends on where exactly you live. Overall, rent is about 20% cheaper in New Zealand, while utilities cost more than half of what they do in the UK.¹³

Let’s take a look at a few average prices for common spending categories in New Zealand, compared with the UK:¹³

• A three-course meal for two people costs around £55 in New Zealand, while it’s £65 in the UK
• A monthly public transport pass is approx. £84, compared to £70 in the UK
• Rent for a one-bedroom city centre apartment is around £805, compared to £1,032 in the UK
• Utilities for a typical apartment are around £101 a month, compared to £239 in the UK

Opening a New Zealander bank account

Opening a New Zealand bank account will make life much easier as a new arrival, helping you pay rent, manage everyday expenses and get paid.

Most British expats will find it relatively easy to open a New Zealand bank account as a non-citizen. Some major New Zealand banks, such as ANZ, even allow you to set up an account online before you leave the UK.¹⁴

In any case, contact the bank you choose in advance to ask which documents you’ll need. And whether you’ll be able to keep your UK bank account after moving depends on your bank. For example, Barclays closes your account once you move abroad.¹⁵

And, as an alternative to a bank account, check out the Wise account. You can use it to send, receive and spend in multiple currencies, including British pounds and NZD. Opening the account is pretty straightforward and you can open it before you even leave the UK.

Finding a job in New Zealand

You need a visa to work in New Zealand, whether you’re self-employed or working for someone else. For example, the entrepreneur work visa allows you to establish your own business.³

To find a job, it’s best to use the ‘Green List’ for roles in demand as a guide to find a job that can help secure you a visa. Once you’ve decided on a suitable career, it’s time to update your CV and begin your search.

A good place to start is the job websites and recruitment agency listings on careers.govt.nz, which can help you get a foot in the door of the New Zealand jobs market. The website is also full of useful tips and advice for your job search.

Renting or buying property in New Zealand

If possible, it’s a good idea to visit New Zealand before your move, to get a sense of different places and communities. Doing this should give you a better idea of where you might want to live. You can start by browsing online, so here are some helpful websites:

• OneRoof
• Real Estate NZ
• Barfoot & Thompson
• Ray White

When renting in New Zealand, a tenancy agreement is required. Rent is typically listed weekly rather than monthly in ads, and landlords can only ask for one or two weeks' rent in advance.¹⁶

Looking to buy property in NZ? In order to buy property in New Zealand, you’ll need to become a permanent resident or a citizen. If you have a residence-class visa, but you’re not ordinarily resident yet, you’ll need permission from Toitū Te Whenua. This process can last up to a year.¹⁷

Being ordinarily resident in this case means meeting the following criteria:

• Having a residence class visa
• Having lived in New Zealand for at least the last 12 months
• Having been physically present in New Zealand for at least 183 days of the last 12 months
• Being a tax resident of New Zealand¹⁷

📚 Buying property in NZ

Given the high costs involved in renting or buying abroad, it makes sense to find a provider with low fees* and transparent pricing. Wise may save you money, especially on currency conversion fees on larger amounts. Our dedicated team of experts can help assist you with every step of your transfer. Simply email us or request a call back below.

Ask for a call back

Healthcare system in New Zealand: How it works for UK expats

New Zealand has a publicly funded healthcare system, which is available to permanent residents, or those with a work visa for 2 years or more.¹⁸

If you’re not a resident yet, you can access public healthcare, but you’ll be charged for it. One exception is costs of injuries from accidents, which are covered by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) scheme, available to citizens and visitors alike.¹⁸

Emigrating to New Zealand with a family

Here’s what you should know when moving to New Zealand with a family:

Schools and education

New Zealand’s education system is made up of primary, intermediary and secondary schools. Both schools and universities offer high-quality education, with New Zealand universities ranking among the top 2% globally.¹⁹

New Zealand has eight state-funded universities, as well as numerous institutes and private training establishments.¹⁹

Having a baby in New Zealand

All permanent residents are entitled to free pregnancy care, and temporary residents may also be eligible. Once your pregnancy is confirmed, you'll need to choose a lead maternity carer (LMC), which could be a midwife, a family doctor offering maternity care or an obstetrician.²⁰

Bringing your pets

New Zealand is quite strict when it comes to pet import, so consider hiring a professional to help you. Here are some of the requirements:²¹

• An import permit
• Ten days of quarantine
• Must not be a hybrid
• Must not be on the forbidden breed list
• Must be over nine months old

Retiring in New Zealand: What are your options?

New Zealand can be a great destination for UK retirees, so let’s go through your options.

Retirement visas

New Zealand welcomes retirees on a number of visas, including the Temporary Retirement visa. This visa allows you to stay up to 2 years in New Zealand, before renewal. To be eligible you’ll need to invest 750,000 NZD in New Zealand for the 2 years and meet income requirements.²²

📚 Retiring in New Zealand

Transferring your pensions

If you manage to retire in New Zealand, you can also claim your UK state pension there. It can be paid into a UK or New Zealand bank account, in which case you’ll be paid in the local currency. You can choose how often you’ll get paid - anywhere from 4 to 13 weeks. Contact the International Pension Centre to get the most recent information.²³

📚 Transferring pension to NZ

Checklist for moving to New Zealand from the UK

Here are the key steps to take when moving from the UK to New Zealand:

• Explore visa options, gather the necessary documents and apply
• Find accommodation online or with an agent
• Get an estimate for shipping your belongings
• Compare banks and see if you can open an account before arriving
• Look into private health insurance
• Notify HMRC you’re leaving the UK
• Book your flight

Save on your relocation costs to New Zealand with Wise

Moving to a new country comes with a range of costs, some of which will need to be paid internationally. This includes real estate fees, visa application charges and rental deposits,

Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and New Zealand for low, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rate. It’s not a bank account but offers many similar features.

You can also use Wise once you arrive in your new home. You can spend in NZD from the moment you step off the plane using your Wise card. It works in 150+ countries and automatically converts your pounds to the local currency, only adding a tiny, upfront currency conversion fee*.

Remember, if you’re moving to New Zealand or anywhere else in the world, Wise can help with sending or receiving large amounts, our dedicated team of experts are ready to help with every step of your transfer. Simply email us or request a call back below.

Ask for a call back

Sources used:

1. Gov.uk - New Zealand entry requirements
2. Immigration New Zealand - working holiday visa
3. Immigration New Zealand - entrepreneur visa
4. Immigration New Zealand - work to residence visa
5. Immigration New Zealand - skilled worker visa
6. Immigration New Zealand - entrepreneur resident visa
7. Immigrant New Zealand - fee paying student visa
8. Skyscanner - UK to New Zealand
9. Skyscanner - London to Wellington flights
10. PSS Removals - shipping to New Zealand
11. Worldometers - New Zealand population
12. Compare My Move - moving to New Zealand
13. Numbeo - cost of living in New Zealand compared to the UK
14. ANZ - moving to New Zealand
15. Barclays - living outside the UK
16. Live and Work New Zealand - renting
17. Toitū Te Whenua - buying residential property
18. Allianz - healthcare in New Zealand
19. Study with New Zealand - education
20. New Zealand Government - pregnancy
21. Pet Traveller - importing pets
22. Immigration New Zealand - temporary retirement visa
23. Gov.uk - State Pension if you retire abroad

Sources last checked on date: 11-Mar-2025