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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

Have you carefully considered your decision to move to New Zealand?

Use our checklist to find out:

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”.

Do you qualify for a work visa? Your best bet is to start your job search from Germany.

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.

Do you know which type of work visa you qualify for? Then you can go ahead and start your application process!

Please have your visa-related documents translated into English and certified well ahead of time.

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.).

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.

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.