Registration, banking and utilities in Auckland

Visas

Most working arrivals hold an Accredited Employer Work Visa. The employer must be accredited and pass a job check for the role, the pay must meet the market rate, and you need either two years' relevant experience or a qualification at level 4 or above. Residence usually follows through the Skilled Migrant Category or the Green List. There are also working holiday schemes for 18 to 30-year-olds (35 for some countries), student and partner visas, and Australians can simply arrive and live here. Immigration New Zealand's settings change, sometimes materially, so confirm the current criteria on its site rather than in a forum.

• The AEWV depends on the employer's accreditation and job check, not just your role.
• Fee from NZ$1,540; up to five years, or three for lower-skilled roles; 30 hours a week minimum. Processing times vary through the year.
• Visitors may work remotely for an overseas employer during a visit, but that is not a route to living here.
• Most short-stay visitors need an NZeTA and pay the international visitor levy before travelling.

IRD number and tax

Apply for an IRD number online as soon as you can; without one your employer must deduct tax at the no-declaration rate of 45%. You generally become tax resident after 183 days here in any twelve months, and residents are taxed on worldwide income. New arrivals who have not been resident for the previous ten years can usually claim the transitional resident's exemption, which shelters most foreign investment income for up to four years — worth understanding early rather than late.

• IRD number before your first payday if at all possible; it is free.
• Choose the correct tax code; the wrong one costs you cash flow.
• Transitional resident's exemption: up to four years on most foreign investment income.
• KiwiSaver: many new employees are enrolled automatically, and you can opt out between the second and eighth week. The default rate rose to 3.5% from employee and employer on 1 April 2026.

Banking and driving

Banks will often let you begin an account application from overseas before arrival, which is worth doing. A current overseas driving licence, with an approved English translation if needed, lets you drive for up to twelve months from your arrival, after which you must convert it through the NZ Transport Agency. Holders from a list of recognised countries, including the UK, Australia and much of Europe, convert without tests; others sit theory and practical tests. EFTPOS is ubiquitous and cash is rarely necessary.

• Start the bank application before you fly where the bank allows it.
• Overseas licence: up to twelve months from arrival, then convert.
• Conversion is by application at an agent such as AA or VTNZ, with an eyesight check and a fee.
• EFTPOS and contactless are near-universal; surcharges on card payments are common in small shops.

In order

1. 1Confirm your visa category with Immigration New Zealand before committing.
2. 2Have the employer complete accreditation and job check where relevant.
3. 3Start a bank account application before arrival if possible.
4. 4Apply for an IRD number immediately on arrival.
5. 5Set the correct tax code and check your KiwiSaver position.
6. 6Convert your driving licence before the grace period expires.