custaılo
Get the arrival guide
Home  /  Cost of living  /  Pre-departure checklist

Guide · Before you fly

The pre-departure checklist.

Every task from three months out to your first week on the ground, roughly in the order they unblock each other. Nothing fancy, no account needed, just the list. Print it and tick things off on paper.

By Raj, Custailo

Keep a copy. This page has no save button by design. Print it (Ctrl+P / Cmd+P) and tick items off as you go. The order matters more than the dates: each phase unblocks the next.

3 months before you leave

  • Visa applications are made through immigration.govt.nz; requirements differ by visa type and are published there
  • Read your visa conditions carefully: work rights, study rights, how long you can stay
  • Book flights, and build in flexibility while your visa is being processed
  • Start looking at accommodation in your NZ city (TradeMe Property is the main listings site for flatting)
  • Sort health insurance: check what your visa requires and what's available
  • Tell your employer or university when you're planning to arrive
  • Start your NZ bank account online: several major banks take applications from overseas (see the banking guide)
  • Get certified translations of any key documents that aren't in English
  • Check whether your home country driving licence is valid in NZ and for how long

1 month before you leave

  • Lock in accommodation, and get written confirmation of your address
  • Pack your document folder: passport, visa, birth certificate, qualification certificates, employment references
  • Apply for your IRD number once your bank account is active. You'll want both sorted before you start work (see the IRD number guide)
  • Let your home bank know you're moving, and ask about international fees and whether to keep the account open
  • Compare NZ phone plans: Spark, One NZ and 2degrees all offer prepay and monthly options
  • Get an international driving permit from your home country if required
  • Sell, store, or ship larger belongings; check Biosecurity NZ rules before packing food, wood, or plant matter
  • Give your referees a heads up that you're job hunting in NZ
  • Reformat your CV to NZ style: two pages, no photo, reverse chronological (see the NZ CV guide)
  • Look up public transport in your NZ city: AT HOP card (Auckland), Snapper (Wellington), Bee card (Dunedin)

1 week before you leave

  • Check in with your bank; if the account isn't active yet, call them now
  • Download the apps you'll want on arrival day: your bank's app, offline maps, your airline's app
  • Keep certified document copies separate from originals when you pack
  • Confirm your accommodation booking and check-in time
  • Sort airport transport: research the bus or shuttle from your arrival airport
  • Share your travel details and NZ contact plan with family or friends at home
  • Read NZ Customs rules: declare all food, plant material, and wooden items on your arrival card
  • Set up a travel SIM or check roaming rates; you'll want data on arrival day

Your first week in New Zealand

  • Head to your bank branch with original documents, and activate your account in person
  • Pick up a local SIM card (Spark, One NZ, or 2degrees; available at dairies, supermarkets, and phone shops)
  • Register with a local GP (doctor); don't wait until you're sick to find one
  • Check how long your home country licence is valid for driving in NZ
  • Check myIR to see if your IRD number has come through, or watch the post
  • Fill in KiwiSaver enrolment paperwork when you start work; your employer will give you the forms
  • Register with your institution: student ID, enrolment, orientation, library card
  • Walk your neighbourhood: find the supermarket (Pak'nSave for cheap, Woolworths for convenience), pharmacy, and bus stop
  • Find your local community: groups for migrants, meetup events, community centres
  • Confirm your address with your bank in-branch if they need it for account setup
What we can't tell you. Which visa to apply for, whether your application would succeed, or what any rule means for your situation. Immigration questions go to a licensed adviser or an exempt person such as an NZ lawyer. This list describes the general process only.
Written by Custailo. The underlying rules come from Immigration NZ, Inland Revenue, NZ Customs, Biosecurity NZ and NZTA. Always check the current requirements on the agency's own site.
This is general information, not advice for your situation. Custailo is not licensed to give immigration, legal, financial or tax advice. Always check anything important against the official source before you rely on it. Read the full disclaimer.