Moving to New Zealand 101

A relocation is often viewed as an embarking to a momentous and life-changing journey fraught with changes. Sure, you will easily cringe at the thought of all the hassles and emotional stress a move can bring, but it can also mean looking forward to living to a beautiful country, such as New Zealand.

Most of your apprehensions would probably be if how different it would be from home, or what adjustments will you have to make in terms of cultural differences as well as what activities you can do during your free time. Well, here are some helpful facts that you might want to known when moving to New Zealand.

Getting started

If you plan on bringing along some of your household goods to your move, duty free entry is actually granted in New Zealand, provided that you are to take up residency in the country for the first time. For the returning citizens, you need to be away from the home country for at least 21 months to be granted a duty free admission. Just in case you plan to send your possessions ahead of time, you can nominate a third party to clear the items in your behalf. The nominated consignee should pay a financial deposit which will be refunded upon your arrival to the country and upon presentation of the passport. You also need to know that all personal effects and household products are required to be subjected to physical examination. So you need to make sure that all items are clean and free of any traces of dirt and soil.

Be sure to check the validity of your passport as well as your family members. Applying for a visa would usually take several months, so make sure not to take this for granted. Find out if all of your companions have been secured with a visa so you can make the necessary applications ahead of time.

Getting ready to go

Of course, once you have pinned down the date of your trip, you will need to secure tickets. You will also need to check if you also need to secure an international driving license. This is usually valid for one year, so be sure to check the validity date. If you are bringing along your pets, make sure it has all the required vaccines for the travel abroad. A travel insurance and health insurance are also needed for the trip.

It’s true that preparing for a move to another country involves more than a simple routine packing. But making plans and preparations in advanced can help ensure a hassle free move.