Emigrating to New Zealand
About 173,000 people emigrated to New Zealand in 2023 – and many others dream of following suit. But New Zealand has strict immigration policies.
Why do so many people want to move to New Zealand in the first place? When do you qualify for a permanent resident visa? Which jobs are sought after in New Zealand? In this article, we answer these questions and more.
Why emigrate to New Zealand?
Luscious landscapes
New Zealand is known for its greenery. It offers a wide range of beautiful landscapes – from beaches, forests, lakes and fjords to volcanoes and snow-capped mountains. New Zealand is an island state made up of one main island and several small ones. The country spans 268,021 square kilometres, making it slightly smaller than Germany, but only 5.1 million people live in this area, 87 per cent of them in cities.
Mild climate
Because of New Zealand’s location on the southern hemisphere, its seasons are “the other way around”. Spring lasts from September to November, summer from December to February, autumn from March to May and winter form July to August. New Zealand’s temperatures usually range from around 12 to 25 degrees Celsius. Its overall climate is mild, especially along the coasts. However, temperatures can drop all the way down to -10 degrees in the Southern Alps of New Zealand.
European influence
New Zealand used to be part of the British Empire and is still part of the British Commonwealth of Nations, making King Charles III its official head of state. To this day, New Zealand remains an independent parliamentary monarchy. The British Empire has left its mark on the country: 67 per cent of New Zealand’s population is of European descent, while only 14.6 per cent are indigenous Māori.
General information about New Zealand
New Zealand is generally considered a safe country with an excellent school system. The capital of New Zealand is Wellington. Although Auckland is more well-known – and the largest – city in the country, it is not the country’s capital. New Zealand has 16 regions. Its currency is the New Zealand Dollar, also known as Kiwi dollar. That is because the people of New Zealand are colloquially known as “Kiwis”. New Zealand mostly uses the metric system (metres, kilometres, etc.). However, because the metric system was only introduced later on, some people still use the imperial system for measurements. Cars drive on the left side of the road, but speeds are still stated in kilometres per hour. New Zealand’s strongest economic sectors are agriculture and forestry, food, and tourism.
What to consider before moving to New Zealand
There is a lot to consider before emigrating to the other side of the world, such as:
- Do I have the financial means to make a fresh start in New Zealand?
- Do I speak English well enough? Do my children speak English?
- How much does it cost to live in New Zealand?
- How long would I like to stay?
- Shall I test the waters first (work and travel, etc.)?
- How likely am I to get a permanent resident visa for New Zealand?
- Which region would I like to live in?
- Which school can my children go to? Would they have to go back by a school grade?
- Am I familiar with the risks and challenges that come with emigrating to New Zealand?
Emigrating to New Zealand: your emigration checklist
Have you carefully considered your decision to move to New Zealand?
Use our checklist to find out:
1. Research
Find out what to expect from living in New Zealand. How much money would you need? Which region or city suits you best? What is New Zealand’s health and education system like? Which type of visa do you qualify for? Find out more in our article “Living in New Zealand”.
2. Finding a job
Do you qualify for a work visa? Your best bet is to start your job search from Germany.
Do you qualify for a work visa? Your best bet is to start your job search from Germany. Read our article “Working in New Zealand” to find out what you need to apply for a job in New Zealand and which professions are in high demand.
3. Checking your finances
Please make sure you have enough money to cover your living expenses in New Zealand. You will need to pay for your visa, relocation and document translation fees.
4. Visa
Do you know which type of work visa you qualify for? Then you can go ahead and start your application process!
Do you know which type of work visa you qualify for? Then you can go ahead and start your application process! Our article “Visas for New Zealand” will tell you everything you need to know.
5. Documents
Please have your visa-related documents translated into English and certified well ahead of time.
6. Health check-up
Find out if you need a health check-up before immigrating to New Zealand. This is especially relevant for professions with close contact with others (working with the elderly, children, etc.).
7. Language skills
You will need solid English skills before emigrating to New Zealand. To brush up on your language skills, you may want to consider attending a language course, reading books or watching films in English.
8. Finding a place to live
It is never too soon to consider your living arrangements, especially if you have already been to New Zealand and know which area(s) you like best. But make sure to only sign a rental contract after your visa application has been approved.
Having your documents translated
To emigrate to New Zealand, you need to have your visa-related documents (except for your passport) translated into English. This is so the local authorities can understand them and verify that you meet all the necessary criteria.
Please have your documents translated and certified well ahead of time. Also, find out if you need an apostille for your documents. Please note that having your documents translated and certified may take up to five working days.
FAQs: Emigrating to New Zealand
Like many other countries, New Zealand has a skilled labour shortage.
The following jobs are particularly sought after:
- doctors, nurses and carers
- teachers and social workers
- tradespeople
- IT specialists and engineers
- construction managers
- scientists
Moving to New Zealand requires you to meet certain immigration criteria. You are more likely to get a permanent residence permit as a skilled worker. Find out which visa you could qualify for here.
Even as a German citizen, you should qualify as a “skilled worker” to increase your chances of getting a permanent visa in New Zealand. Find out if your occupation is on the country’s “Green List”.
The costs of living in New Zealand are around NZD 70-100 (€40-56) per week. The average monthly rent is NZD 1.600-2.400 (€900-1,350), plus electricity and utilities.
Around 67 per cent of New Zealand’s population is of European descent. Only some 14 per cent are Māori; 9.6 per cent are Asian, and 6.7 per cent are Pacific Islanders, mostly from Samoa, the Cook Islands or Tonga.
You can emigrate to New Zealand if you have a permanent residence visa. These are the most common permanent visa types:
- Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa: visa by points system
- Straight to Residence Visa: visa for Tier 1 category roles (Green List)
- Work to Residence Visa: visa for Tier 2 category roles (Green List) with additional work experience in New Zealand
Author
Katharina Weckend, Content & SEO Manager
Katharina joined lingoking as a Content and SEO Manager in 2024. She handles our content and SEO strategy and writes texts for our website, guide and other lingoking media. “I am happy I get to pass on knowledge in our lingoking guide and help break down language barriers.”
Translation
Belinda Grace
Belinda has been working with the lingoking marketing team since early 2022. She’s in charge of translating blogs and guides as well as writing social media posts. Her motto: “Begin each day as if it were on purpose”.
