Moving to New Zealand
New Zealand country facts, largest cities, hub labels and reports.
Do I need a visa for New Zealand?
Across 198 passports, 2 passports enter visa-free and 60 passports need an ETA for New Zealand, while 136 passports are not yet officially determined. Check your passport below.
From the accepted entry-rules ledger (198 passport rules, tourism purpose). Sources checked as of 2026-07-14.
- Per-passport answers with official sources: short-stay entry rules for this country
Visa and entry rules
Sources checked through 7 Aug 2026.
Work and income
What is the unemployment rate in New Zealand?
The national unemployment rate was about 5.1 % in 2025.
This is the World Bank / ILO modelled estimate series used as the canonical national answer. Other published definitions exist and are shown in the table below.
- National unemployment rate: 5.08 % · Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate), 202530
What is the median gross salary in New Zealand?
The median gross salary was about 3,128 EUR/month in 2025-Q2.
Half of employees earn less than this. Mean gross and national-accounts averages use different definitions and are shown in the table below. national-accounts average — shown in the table below.
What is the minimum wage in New Zealand?
The statutory minimum wage is 10.77 EUR/hour, gross (as of 2026-04). Source: Employment New Zealand2
National statutory floor, gross, before tax and social contributions.
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross salary, monthly | 3,128 EUR/month | 30 Jun 2025 | Labour market statistics (income): June 2025 quarter9Official · national figure |
| National unemployment rate | 5.08 % | 31 Dec 2025 | Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate), 202530Official · national figure |
| Minimum gross hourly wage | 10.77 EUR/hour | 27 Aug 2026 | Employment New Zealand2Official · national figure |
Public employment service in New Zealand
Official job-search, registration, counselling and training routes. Private recruitment agencies are not included.
Work and Income employment service — Public employment service
A national service does not prove that an office exists in every city. City pages show an office only after an exact address is linked to that city. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.
Taxes in New Zealand
National rates and comparable published scenarios. Personal tax depends on income, household and residence circumstances.
Benefits newcomers may qualify for in New Zealand
Public schemes where an official source defines an eligible migration or residence status. Amounts and conditions are kept in their native terms.
| Programme | Published amount | Source and application |
|---|---|---|
Accommodation Supplement — Housing support | 70–305 NZD / Weekly | |
Eligibility and amount detailsMaximum weekly Accommodation Supplement varies by area and household category; the 1 April 2026 table ranges from NZD 70 to NZD 305. Work and Income states that an applicant must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay there, in addition to meeting the accommodation-cost and means conditions. | ||
Emergency Benefit — Arrival and reception support | Amount varies | |
Eligibility and amount detailsThe current Work and Income Emergency Benefit page says the payment is available where a person cannot support themselves and does not qualify for another payment. The amount varies with the person's assessed circumstances and the source-defined hardship rules; no fixed national NZD figure is asserted on the current page. The official MSD material states that a person who has made a claim for refugee or protected person status (also known as an asylum seeker), is waiting for or appealing a decline decision to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, and has a valid visa or permit to be lawfully present in New Zealand may be entitled to the Emergency Benefit, subject to hardship and the other source-defined conditions. it does not generalise entitlement to every asylum seeker or every temporary visa holder. | ||
Jobseeker Support — Unemployment support | Amount varies / Weekly | |
Eligibility and amount detailsThe 1 April 2026 table gives category-specific Jobseeker Support gross weekly rates from NZD 309.65 for a single 18–19-year-old at home to NZD 760.48 for a couple with children; after-tax rates are also published. The official Work and Income Jobseeker Support page states under ‘Residency status’ that a claimant must be a New Zealand citizen or have a residence class visa, must have lived continuously in New Zealand for at least two years since becoming a citizen or getting a residence class visa, and must be ordinarily resident in New Zealand. The benefit retains the age, work-capacity, income and ordinary-residence conditions; it does not publish a generic permanent_resident or lawful_resident label. | ||
Minimum Family Tax Credit (MFTC) — Minimum-income support | Amount set per household by formula / Weekly | |
Eligibility and amount detailsTop-up formula: where the qualifying family meets the work and Working for Families conditions, MFTC brings family income up to the stated after-tax threshold of NZD 36,604 per year (NZD 43,044 gross threshold in the official 2026 material); the payment is the difference after other relevant income and credits, not a fixed universal amount. Minimum Family Tax Credit is a Working for Families payment. The official Inland Revenue residency page says a claimant qualifies when the claimant is a New Zealand resident, has lived in New Zealand for 12 months in a row at any time, and is a New Zealand tax resident and remains so during the entitlement period. It separately says that the child route is available when the child is a New Zealand resident and present in New Zealand. The page also states that Australian citizens and residents qualify immediately when they are New Zealand tax residents and normally live in New Zealand, while a person holding only a temporary permit or visa is not entitled. These are the source-defined public profiles; the MFTC dependent-child, principal-caregiver, minimum-hours, income and tax conditions also apply. | ||
Working for Families — Family Tax Credit — Family and child support | 123.78–151.91 NZD / Weekly | |
Eligibility and amount detailsFamily Tax Credit rate per child, non-taxable: NZD 151.91 for the first or only child and NZD 123.78 for each second or subsequent child. The official Inland Revenue residency page says a claimant qualifies when the claimant is a New Zealand resident, has lived in New Zealand for 12 months in a row at any time, and is a New Zealand tax resident and remains so during the entitlement period. It separately says that the child route is available when the child is a New Zealand resident and present in New Zealand. The page also states that Australian citizens and residents qualify immediately when they are New Zealand tax residents and normally live in New Zealand, while a person holding only a temporary permit or visa is not entitled. These are the source-defined public profiles; principal-caregiver, dependent-child, income and tax conditions also apply. | ||
ImmigrationDB shows published rules; it does not decide personal eligibility. Confirm your status, contribution record and household circumstances with the responsible authority before applying. Sources checked through 12 Aug 2026.
Can migrants receive medical care in New Zealand?
Yes — migrants can receive medical care in New Zealand when the official insurance or residence conditions are met.
Language courses and integration in New Zealand
Government programmes, public integration services and exact provider records. The section expands only from fields present in the source; missing prices, refunds or contacts are not replaced with estimates.
English Language Teaching — Intensive Literacy and Numeracy Fund — State Language Course
Tertiary Education Commission
For adult migrants, refugees, adult speakers of other languages.
New Zealand settlement services — Newcomer Adaptation
Immigration New Zealand
For migrants, refugees, newcomers.
Provision of English Language Training (PELT) — State Language Course
Tertiary Education Commission
For eligible migrants.
Welcoming Communities — Welcome Program
Immigration New Zealand
For migrants, refugees, local communities.
Private and nonprofit providers
These records come from the provider's own website. They are useful leads, but are not counted as government-verified or complete.
Provider-supplied record · supplemental Languages International Auckland
27 Princes Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
+64 (9) 309 0615 · info@languages.ac.nz
Open provider websiteLiving and moving context for New Zealand
New Zealand had GDP per capita of US$49,432 and life expectancy of 82.0 years. Average gross salary was €3,807 per month in 2025. National median net income was €2,802 per month in 2022. There were 3.611 doctors per 1,000 people.
New Zealand cities by population
The largest published cities appear first. Population is taken from the reusable official city layer; hub labels come from the existing city taxonomy.
All published cities in New Zealand
Reports with this country
Accepted report pages with a row for this country.
New Zealand facts
Current source-backed observations, grouped the way the city pages are, with geographic scope and observation periods.
Population and profile
How many people live in New Zealand?
The published population was 5,290,000 people in 2024. Source: World Bank33
National, resident population scope. Foreign-resident and migration-background figures are separate metrics in the table below.
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,290,000 people | 31 Dec 2024 | World Bank33Official · national figure |
Legal, tax and other context
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public healthcare access for foreign residents | Conditional | 3 Aug 2026 | Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora5Official · national figure |
| Area | 267,710 km² | 31 Dec 2023 | World Bank34Official · national figure |
| Gross-to-net pay for a sample household | single person no children — 83,073 gross → 65,781 net a year (2025, national currency) | 31 Dec 2025 | Taxing Wages 2026 — labour taxation decomposition28Official · country household scenario |
| Population by year | 5,081,700 people (2022) | 1 Jul 2022 | Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL)26Official · country annual series |
| Salary by profession | Unit: NZD/week · Amount: 1,726 · Period: 2024-Q2 · Status: accepted_official_source · Locator: Stats NZ official report, Figure 7, page 28: HLFS wages and salaries bar; median weekly earnings by occupation · Currency: NZD · Isco Code: Not stated · Source Id: statsnz:hlfs-income:2024-q2:occupation-median-weekly · Derivation: No currency conversion. Source weekly amount retained; monthly comparison, if later required, must use weekly × 52 ÷ 12 and preserve this original value. · Source Url: https://www.stats.govt.nz/assets/Research/Evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-Household-Labour-Force-Survey-income-variables/evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-household-labour-force-survey-income-variables.pdf · Gross Or Net: gross · Retrieved At: 2026-08-01 · Source Grade: A · Original Unit: NZD/week · Original Value: 1,726 · Observed Period: 2024-Q2 · Occupation Label: Managers · Original Currency: NZD · Unit: NZD/week · Amount: 1,726 · Period: 2024-Q2 · Status: accepted_official_source · Locator: Stats NZ official report, Figure 7, page 28: HLFS wages and salaries bar; median weekly earnings by occupation · Currency: NZD · Isco Code: Not stated · Source Id: statsnz:hlfs-income:2024-q2:occupation-median-weekly · Derivation: No currency conversion. Source weekly amount retained; monthly comparison, if later required, must use weekly × 52 ÷ 12 and preserve this original value. · Source Url: https://www.stats.govt.nz/assets/Research/Evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-Household-Labour-Force-Survey-income-variables/evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-household-labour-force-survey-income-variables.pdf · Gross Or Net: gross · Retrieved At: 2026-08-01 · Source Grade: A · Original Unit: NZD/week · Original Value: 1,726 · Observed Period: 2024-Q2 · Occupation Label: Professionals · Original Currency: NZD · Unit: NZD/week · Amount: 1,283 · Period: 2024-Q2 · Status: accepted_official_source · Locator: Stats NZ official report, Figure 7, page 28: HLFS wages and salaries bar; median weekly earnings by occupation · Currency: NZD · Isco Code: Not stated · Source Id: statsnz:hlfs-income:2024-q2:occupation-median-weekly · Derivation: No currency conversion. Source weekly amount retained; monthly comparison, if later required, must use weekly × 52 ÷ 12 and preserve this original value. · Source Url: https://www.stats.govt.nz/assets/Research/Evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-Household-Labour-Force-Survey-income-variables/evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-household-labour-force-survey-income-variables.pdf · Gross Or Net: gross · Retrieved At: 2026-08-01 · Source Grade: A · Original Unit: NZD/week · Original Value: 1,283 · Observed Period: 2024-Q2 · Occupation Label: Technicians and Trades Workers · Original Currency: NZD · Unit: NZD/week · Amount: 1,000 · Period: 2024-Q2 · Status: accepted_official_source · Locator: Stats NZ official report, Figure 7, page 28: HLFS wages and salaries bar; median weekly earnings by occupation · Currency: NZD · Isco Code: Not stated · Source Id: statsnz:hlfs-income:2024-q2:occupation-median-weekly · Derivation: No currency conversion. Source weekly amount retained; monthly comparison, if later required, must use weekly × 52 ÷ 12 and preserve this original value. · Source Url: https://www.stats.govt.nz/assets/Research/Evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-Household-Labour-Force-Survey-income-variables/evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-household-labour-force-survey-income-variables.pdf · Gross Or Net: gross · Retrieved At: 2026-08-01 · Source Grade: A · Original Unit: NZD/week · Original Value: 1,000 · Observed Period: 2024-Q2 · Occupation Label: Community and Personal Service Workers · Original Currency: NZD · Unit: NZD/week · Amount: 1,247 · Period: 2024-Q2 · Status: accepted_official_source · Locator: Stats NZ official report, Figure 7, page 28: HLFS wages and salaries bar; median weekly earnings by occupation · Currency: NZD · Isco Code: Not stated · Source Id: statsnz:hlfs-income:2024-q2:occupation-median-weekly · Derivation: No currency conversion. Source weekly amount retained; monthly comparison, if later required, must use weekly × 52 ÷ 12 and preserve this original value. · Source Url: https://www.stats.govt.nz/assets/Research/Evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-Household-Labour-Force-Survey-income-variables/evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-household-labour-force-survey-income-variables.pdf · Gross Or Net: gross · Retrieved At: 2026-08-01 · Source Grade: A · Original Unit: NZD/week · Original Value: 1,247 · Observed Period: 2024-Q2 · Occupation Label: Clerical and Administrative Workers · Original Currency: NZD · Unit: NZD/week · Amount: 959 · Period: 2024-Q2 · Status: accepted_official_source · Locator: Stats NZ official report, Figure 7, page 28: HLFS wages and salaries bar; median weekly earnings by occupation · Currency: NZD · Isco Code: Not stated · Source Id: statsnz:hlfs-income:2024-q2:occupation-median-weekly · Derivation: No currency conversion. Source weekly amount retained; monthly comparison, if later required, must use weekly × 52 ÷ 12 and preserve this original value. · Source Url: https://www.stats.govt.nz/assets/Research/Evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-Household-Labour-Force-Survey-income-variables/evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-household-labour-force-survey-income-variables.pdf · Gross Or Net: gross · Retrieved At: 2026-08-01 · Source Grade: A · Original Unit: NZD/week · Original Value: 959 · Observed Period: 2024-Q2 · Occupation Label: Sales Workers · Original Currency: NZD · Unit: NZD/week · Amount: 1,260 · Period: 2024-Q2 · Status: accepted_official_source · Locator: Stats NZ official report, Figure 7, page 28: HLFS wages and salaries bar; median weekly earnings by occupation · Currency: NZD · Isco Code: Not stated · Source Id: statsnz:hlfs-income:2024-q2:occupation-median-weekly · Derivation: No currency conversion. Source weekly amount retained; monthly comparison, if later required, must use weekly × 52 ÷ 12 and preserve this original value. · Source Url: https://www.stats.govt.nz/assets/Research/Evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-Household-Labour-Force-Survey-income-variables/evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-household-labour-force-survey-income-variables.pdf · Gross Or Net: gross · Retrieved At: 2026-08-01 · Source Grade: A · Original Unit: NZD/week · Original Value: 1,260 · Observed Period: 2024-Q2 · Occupation Label: Machinery Operators and Drivers · Original Currency: NZD · Unit: NZD/week · Amount: 1,000 · Period: 2024-Q2 · Status: accepted_official_source · Locator: Stats NZ official report, Figure 7, page 28: HLFS wages and salaries bar; median weekly earnings by occupation · Currency: NZD · Isco Code: Not stated · Source Id: statsnz:hlfs-income:2024-q2:occupation-median-weekly · Derivation: No currency conversion. Source weekly amount retained; monthly comparison, if later required, must use weekly × 52 ÷ 12 and preserve this original value. · Source Url: https://www.stats.govt.nz/assets/Research/Evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-Household-Labour-Force-Survey-income-variables/evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-household-labour-force-survey-income-variables.pdf · Gross Or Net: gross · Retrieved At: 2026-08-01 · Source Grade: A · Original Unit: NZD/week · Original Value: 1,000 · Observed Period: 2024-Q2 · Occupation Label: Labourers · Original Currency: NZD | 31 Dec 2024 | www.stats.govt.nz38Official · national figure |
| Doctors per 1,000 residents | 3.61 per 1,000 | Not stated | Physicians (per 1,000 people), World Development Indicators25Official · national figure |
| Employed women | 1,256,832 people | 2023 | tools.summaries.stats.govt.nz29Official · national figure |
| Employment Full Time Count | 2,077,071 people | 2023 | tools.summaries.stats.govt.nz29Official · national figure |
| Employed men | 1,354,854 people | 2023 | tools.summaries.stats.govt.nz29Official · national figure |
| People employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing | 162,000 people | 2023 | sdmx.oecd.org27Official · national figure |
| People employed in mining and quarrying | 6,000 people | 2023 | sdmx.oecd.org27Official · national figure |
| People employed in manufacturing | 259,000 people | 2023 | sdmx.oecd.org27Official · national figure |
| People employed in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning | 18,000 people | 2023 | sdmx.oecd.org27Official · national figure |
| People employed in water supply, sewerage and waste management | 16,000 people | 2023 | sdmx.oecd.org27Official · national figure |
| People employed in construction | 307,000 people | 2023 | sdmx.oecd.org27Official · national figure |
| People employed in wholesale and retail trade; motor vehicle and motorcycle repair | 384,000 people | 2023 | sdmx.oecd.org27Official · national figure |
| People employed in transportation and storage | 129,000 people | 2023 | sdmx.oecd.org27Official · national figure |
| People employed in accommodation and food services | 154,000 people | 2023 | sdmx.oecd.org27Official · national figure |
| People employed in information and communication | 104,000 people | 2023 | sdmx.oecd.org27Official · national figure |
| People employed in finance and insurance | 96,000 people | 2023 | sdmx.oecd.org27Official · national figure |
| People employed in real estate | 49,000 people | 2023 | sdmx.oecd.org27Official · national figure |
| People employed in professional, scientific and technical services | 210,000 people | 2023 | sdmx.oecd.org27Official · national figure |
| People employed in administrative and support services | 134,000 people | 2023 | sdmx.oecd.org27Official · national figure |
| People employed in public administration, defence and compulsory social security | 183,000 people | 2023 | sdmx.oecd.org27Official · national figure |
Typical city (median): about 3.2%
Unemployment rate (%)
Common questions
Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.
What is the unemployment rate in New Zealand?
The national unemployment rate was about 5.1 % in 2025. Source: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate), 2025.
How many people live in New Zealand?
The published population was 5,290,000 people in 2024. Source: World Bank.
What is the median gross salary in New Zealand?
The median gross salary was about 3,128 EUR/month in 2025-Q2. Source: Labour market statistics (income): June 2025 quarter.
What is the minimum wage in New Zealand?
The statutory minimum wage is 10.77 EUR/hour, gross (as of 2026-04). Source: Employment New Zealand.
Cite this page
Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.
APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, September 12). Moving to New Zealand: salary, jobs, safety [ImmigrationDB compilation; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/countries/new-zealand/ Retrieved 2026-09-12. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_moving-to-new-zealand-salary-jobs-safety_ea27ccb21fbc,
author = {ImmigrationDB},
title = {Moving to New Zealand: salary, jobs, safety},
publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-09-12},
version = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
snapshot = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
url = {https://immigrationdb.com/countries/new-zealand/},
note = {Retrieved 2026-09-12. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}Markdown citation
[Moving to New Zealand: salary, jobs, safety](https://immigrationdb.com/countries/new-zealand/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; retrieved 2026-09-12; built 2026-09-12.This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.
Sources
Every number above comes from one of these records. Open the original source for its geographic scope and publication date.
- Average annual wages stats.oecd.org · checked 2026-07-26
- Employment New Zealand employment.govt.nz · checked 2026-08-27
- GDP per capita (current US$), World Development Indicators api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-07-14
- Globalization and World Cities (GaWC), Loughborough University gawc.lboro.ac.uk · checked 2026-08-03
- Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora healthnz.govt.nz · checked 2026-08-03
- Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) data.worldbank.org · checked 2026-08-13
- Inland Revenue (ird.govt.nz) ird.govt.nz · checked 2026-08-03
- Inland Revenue Department, New Zealand ird.govt.nz · checked 2026-08-03
- Labour market statistics (income): June 2025 quarter stats.govt.nz · checked 2026-09-11
- Life expectancy at birth, total (years), World Development Indicators api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-07-14
Show 28 more sources
- MIPEX mirovni-institut.si · checked 2026-08-03
- New Zealand Government govt.nz · checked 2026-08-02
- NZ Police Historical Murder Rate Report 1926-2023 police.govt.nz · checked 2026-09-05
- OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration sdmx.oecd.org · checked 2026-08-03
- OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation sdmx.oecd.org · checked 2026-08-07
- OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation sdmx.oecd.org · checked 2026-08-07
- OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation sdmx.oecd.org · checked 2026-08-07
- OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation sdmx.oecd.org · checked 2026-08-07
- OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation sdmx.oecd.org · checked 2026-08-05
- OECD Income Distribution Database: median equivalised disposable household income sdmx.oecd.org · checked 2026-07-26
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development sdmx.oecd.org · checked 2026-08-05
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development sdmx.oecd.org · checked 2026-08-05
- Our World in Data (UNODC-backed grapher export) ourworldindata.org · checked 2026-08-03
- Physicians (per 1,000 people) data.worldbank.org · checked 2026-08-13
- Physicians (per 1,000 people), World Development Indicators api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-07-14
- Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL) api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-07-29
- sdmx.oecd.org sdmx.oecd.org · checked 2026-08-12
- Taxing Wages 2026 — labour taxation decomposition Taxing Wages 2026 · sdmx.oecd.org · checked 2026-07-29
- tools.summaries.stats.govt.nz tools.summaries.stats.govt.nz · checked 2026-08-12
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate), 2025 api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-09-11
- WHO GHO RS_196/RS_198 ghoapi.azureedge.net · checked 2026-09-05
- WHO GHO RS_196/RS_198 ghoapi.azureedge.net · checked 2026-09-05
- World Bank api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-08-02
- World Bank api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-08-02
- World Bank Open Data api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-08-07
- World Bank Open Data api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-08-07
- World Bank SP.POP.TOTL api.worldbank.org · checked 2026-09-05
- www.stats.govt.nz stats.govt.nz · checked 2026-08-02