Your UK to New Zealand Relocation Toolkit
Brits are one of New Zealand's largest migrant communities — drawn by the space, the outdoors, and the easier pace. Visas, jobs, housing, healthcare, schools, pets, and moving your money, all in one place.
It looks like a lot — but you've already taken the hardest step by deciding to go. We'll walk you through it section by section.
Free to use · No sign-up · Checklist saves in your browser
UK citizens, up to ~23 months
6 points / fast-track list
anchors SMC points
on a 2-year+ work visa
family of 4, main cities
11–13 hrs ahead of the UK
Last updated: June 2026. We keep this guide regularly updated, but immigration rules, fees, and costs change — always confirm the final figures with the official source linked in each section before you rely on them.
Brits have strong access to NZ visas — a Working Holiday visa is the easy first step, and the Skilled Migrant Category, Green List, or Accredited Employer Work Visa are the main permanent routes.
Working Holiday visa
UK citizens (typically aged 18–30, with a longer duration than most nationalities) can live, work, and travel in NZ for up to around 23 months. A popular way to test NZ before committing, and a common bridge into a skilled or employer-sponsored visa.
Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)
NZ's points-based resident visa. Requires 6 points, earned by being paid at or above the median wage of NZD $35.00/hour. No ballot — meeting the threshold triggers processing.
Green List & Accredited Employer Work Visa
Green List occupations (around 205 occupations) get a fast-track to residence (Tier 1 straight to residence; Tier 2 work-to-residence). The AEWV is the main work visa where an INZ-accredited employer sponsors you.
Where Brits settle
Brits spread across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Tauranga, plus smaller towns for lifestyle. Median Auckland rent is NZD $675/week; Christchurch and the regions are cheaper. NZ homes can be colder and less insulated than newer UK builds — check heating and insulation when renting.
🗺️ Explore Auckland, New Zealand
Use the map to explore neighbourhoods, distances, and key areas before you arrive.
⚠ Figures marked here change frequently — confirm the current amount with the official source before relying.
High-demand sectors
Healthcare, engineering and construction, ICT and software, teaching, and trades are all on the Green List. UK qualifications and experience are well recognised. Seek.co.nz and Trade Me Jobs are the main boards; many Brits line up a role 3–6 months before moving.
Auckland ranks #5 globally in Mercer's 2024 Quality of Living survey. Everyday costs are broadly comparable to the UK outside London — groceries and fuel can feel pricier, but space, housing, and quality of life often improve markedly, especially compared with London and the South East.
Cross-check with the calculator below and verify current rents.
💰 Monthly Budget Estimator
Enter your details to get a personalised monthly cost breakdown.
Monthly budget — family of 4, main NZ city
Rent (3-bed): NZD $2,500–3,700/month · Groceries $700–900 · Transport $400–700 · Utilities $200–350 · Healthcare (GP co-pays + optional private) $250–500 · Eating out $300–500. Rough total: NZD $4,500–7,000/month. Christchurch and the regions trim 15–30%.
Open an NZ account before you arrive
All major NZ banks let you open online before arrival (ANZ up to 90 days, Westpac up to 180), so your salary lands from day one; verify ID at a branch after you land. There's no UK exit tax, but get advice on your UK pension and the timing of large GBP→NZD transfers.
Moving money abroad? Don’t lose it in the exchange rate.
Banks and high-street transfer services often bury a 3–5% markup in the exchange rate — on top of any upfront fee, and easy to miss because it hides inside a worse rate. On a large transfer — moving your savings across, or sending money home — that quietly costs hundreds to thousands, for nothing.
The mid-market rate is the one you see on Google. We earn a commission if you open a Wise account through our link — it never affects your rate.
Public healthcare and ACC
Publicly funded healthcare is available to holders of work visas of 2 years or longer, on the same terms as residents. GP fees are set by each practice — budget NZD $20–60 for an enrolled adult (a co-payment, unlike the NHS). ACC covers injury (not illness) treatment from day one, automatically for everyone in NZ. Many keep private cover (Southern Cross, nib) for faster elective access, as public waits can be long.
⚠ Figures marked here change frequently — confirm the current amount with the official source before relying.
Zone-based state schools
NZ schools run Year 1–13 on a January–December calendar. State schools are free and zone-based — your address determines eligibility, so check zones before signing a lease. Integrated (Catholic/character) schools charge small fees; private schools NZD $15,000–30,000/year. British children transition easily; review ERO reports before choosing an area.
One of NZ's largest communities
Brits are among the largest overseas-born groups in New Zealand, so integration is smooth — shared language, similar institutions, and a familiar culture. You'll notice the differences soon enough: an outdoor, sport-centred social life, earlier days, and a markedly more relaxed pace. Facebook groups and city networks are active for practical advice, and rugby and cricket give plenty of common ground.
The UK is a rabies-free country for MPI purposes, so the pathway for cats and dogs is relatively straightforward — but biosecurity is strict and timing windows matter. Plan several months ahead and follow the MPI guide exactly.
An ISO microchip and an MPI import permit, applied for well in advance.
Vaccinations and any required tests to MPI's schedule for the UK — start early, as windows are strict.
An official vet completes the health certification close to departure, exactly to MPI requirements.
Cats and dogs from approved rabies-free countries like the UK usually avoid quarantine, but confirm current rules on the MPI step-by-step guide.
📅 Your Move Timeline
Relocation feels overwhelming when you look at it all at once. Break it into stages — tick things off as you go. Your progress saves automatically in your browser.
Was this checklist helpful?
Once your visa and housing are sorted, the last big job is shipping your life over. International moving quotes for the same route can vary by thousands — so it pays to compare a few movers before you book.
📦 Compare International Movers — UK to NZ
Sea freight UK → New Zealand — quotes for the same container vary by thousands of pounds. Get matched with vetted movers and compare. Free, no obligation.
Form provided by Sirelo. We may earn a small commission if you book with one of their movers — never affects your price.
Services our readers find genuinely useful. We may earn a small commission if you sign up — never affects your price.