IRD Number, Bank Account and Phone in New Zealand

We did every bit of this ourselves. No relocation agent, no fixer, just the two of us working through forms in an order that made sense at the time and probably wasn’t the most efficient one. We got our IRD numbers sorted, opened a bank account, bought a SIM at the airport and eventually queued to swap our UK licences for New Zealand ones. It took longer than we expected and was less complicated than we feared, which is roughly how most of this admin goes.

This guide covers the five jobs that matter most in your first fortnight: your IRD number, your bank account, your phone and broadband, your tax code and KiwiSaver, and your driving licence. We’ve checked the current process against Inland Revenue, Immigration New Zealand, the banks and NZTA Waka Kotahi as of July 2026, but rules and provider deals shift, so treat the official links along the way as the final word.

Getting your IRD number

Your IRD number is New Zealand’s version of a National Insurance or Social Security number: a nine-digit tag that follows every dollar you earn. You need one for a job, for bank interest to be taxed correctly, and for KiwiSaver, so it’s worth doing first.

New arrivals get a shortcut. Inland Revenue can check your identity against your Immigration New Zealand visa record instead of asking you to post in certified documents, so the “new arrival” application is faster than the standard route. You’ll need your passport details and your Immigration New Zealand application number, from your visa approval letter, plus your most recent overseas tax number if you’re on a student or work visa and have one. Apply online through ird.govt.nz, and Inland Revenue says you’ll typically get your number by text or email within two working days, or by post within ten.

Timing matters. Australian passport holders generally have four to six weeks after arrival to use the fast-track process; on any other visa, the cut-off is the final arrival date printed on it. Miss it and you’ll need the standard, slower “living in New Zealand” process instead.

When we did this ourselves, years ago, the whole thing went through the post and felt like it vanished for weeks. It’s quicker today: most people we’ve spoken to had a number well before their first payday, some before they’d found a flat.

Opening a New Zealand bank account

You don’t strictly need an IRD number to open an account, but you will need one before your bank pays interest without deducting tax at the highest rate, so it’s worth having both early. New Zealand banking runs on EFTPOS and internet banking rather than cash and cheques, and a working NZ account before you land makes it far easier to give your new employer somewhere to pay you.

Whether you can open one from overseas depends on which bank you pick. ASB has the most straightforward remote process of the big four: apply online, and if you’re coming from Australia, the UK or the EU you can fast-track identity verification through the ASB ID app, with a specialist in touch within two business days. ANZ runs a Migrant Banking package for people with a valid resident or work visa arriving within 90 days (working holiday visas don’t qualify). Westpac and BNZ consider pre-arrival applications case by case rather than running a standalone online product, so it’s worth calling ahead. Kiwibank, being New Zealand Post owned, currently asks you to be on the ground first; once you have a passport, visa, NZ address and NZ mobile number, its online application takes about ten minutes and accounts are often live within a day.

Whichever bank you choose, accounts opened from overseas are usually deposit only until you verify your identity and address in person, so money can move before you fly but you can’t withdraw it until you’ve shown up somewhere with your passport. Bring proof of your credit history too, since New Zealand banks can’t see your UK or US file. There’s no limit on foreign currency you can bring in, though carrying more than NZD $10,000 in cash through an airport means filing a Border Cash Report.

Getting a mobile plan and sorting broadband

New Zealand has three real mobile networks: One NZ, Spark and 2degrees. One NZ is the old Vodafone New Zealand, rebranded in 2022 after Vodafone Group sold the business, so if an older guide or a Kiwi friend mentions “Vodafone,” they mean the same network. Spark generally has the strongest rural and South Island coverage, One NZ has pushed 5G hardest in the main centres, and 2degrees is usually the value option in town. All three sell prepaid SIMs at airports and supermarkets, the easiest way to get connected on day one before committing to anything longer.

Pricing moves constantly, so treat this as a snapshot: NZD $1 was worth about GBP $0.43 or USD $0.58 at the mid July 2026 rate (rates move daily, check a live converter before you budget). Spark’s Endless plans currently run from NZD $43 a month for 3GB up to NZD $95 for unlimited data with Netflix, roughly GBP $18 to $41 or USD $25 to $56, with a price rise flagged across several plans from 31 July 2026. One NZ’s Pay Monthly plans sit at NZD $73 for its Endless Plus tier and NZD $88 for genuinely unlimited data. 2degrees tends to undercut both, from around NZD $35 up to roughly NZD $80 for endless data, though check its site directly since aggregator pricing dates fast. Current plans live on each provider’s own site: one.nz, spark.co.nz and 2degrees.nz.

Broadband is its own small project. Most towns and cities have fibre available, and you can check what’s live at a specific address through Chorus’s coverage map before committing to a rental. If fibre is already connected, activating a plan can happen within days; if the address needs a fresh connection, or you’re rural, budget several weeks and order as soon as you have a signed lease. All three providers sell broadband alongside mobile, and bundling is usually a little cheaper.

Your tax code and KiwiSaver

Before your first day of work, your employer needs a completed IR330 Tax Code Declaration. Skip it, and your employer must deduct tax at 45%, the “no notification” rate, until you sort it out. Most people starting a single, full-time job with no student loan tick M. Repaying a student loan, add SL. A second job on top of another income uses S, SH or ST depending on combined earnings, never M, which is reserved for your main job. Inland Revenue’s tax code guidance has a short flowchart if you’re unsure, and you can change your code any time with a new IR330.

KiwiSaver is New Zealand’s workplace retirement savings scheme, and whether you can join depends on your visa. You’re eligible as a New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder entitled to stay indefinitely, or if you’re genuinely settling here long term on what Inland Revenue treats as “normally resident,” broadly a work visa of two years or more with intent to stay. Shorter work, student or visitor visas generally can’t join yet, though that changes the moment your visa status does.

The scheme has just changed. From 1 April 2026, the default employee and matching employer contribution rate rose from 3% to 3.5% of gross pay, stepping up to 4% from 1 April 2028. If that’s a stretch while covering moving costs, you can apply for a temporary reduction back to 3% for three to twelve months. The government top-up shrank the other way: since 1 July 2025 it pays 25 cents per dollar you contribute, up to NZD $260.72 a year (roughly GBP $111 or USD $152), down from 50 cents previously, and it stops once taxable income passes NZD $180,000. Our guide to the pros and cons of KiwiSaver goes into whether it’s worth it.

Converting your driving licence

New Zealand drives on the left, same as the UK. Whether you need to convert your licence, and how much hassle it is, depends on where it’s from.

The UK, with other countries with broadly similar driving systems, is classed by NZTA Waka Kotahi as an exempt country. Your licence needs to be current, or expired for less than 12 months, and not suspended, disqualified or revoked. Held it two years or more, and you can convert straight to the equivalent New Zealand car licence without a theory or practical test; under two years, you’ll need a practical test. Licences from non-exempt countries face a longer road: usually both tests, sometimes a full graduated licensing process.

You don’t have to convert the moment you land. As of July 2026, NZTA has temporarily extended how long you can drive on a valid overseas car licence from 12 to 18 months from arrival, a change confirmed to end on 31 October 2026, when the limit reverts to 12 months. Motorcycle and truck licences stay at the original 12-month limit. Since the extension is time limited, confirm the current rule on nzta.govt.nz before relying on it.

Conversions are handled at specialist overseas conversion driver licensing agents, not a standard AA or VTNZ counter. Bring your passport, current overseas licence, and a translation if it isn’t in English (not an issue from the UK). NZTA lists a fee of around NZD $52.10 for an exempt-country car conversion (roughly GBP $22 or USD $30), plus a test fee if needed, with processing up to 20 working days. Full fees are on NZTA’s licensing fees page. Most insurers also want a New Zealand licence, or a firm conversion date, before they’ll quote properly, covered in our guide to New Zealand car insurance.

A setting-up checklist

Task	When to do it	What you need
Apply for your IRD number	Before your visa’s final arrival date, or within 4 to 6 weeks of landing on an Australian passport	Passport, Immigration NZ application number, overseas tax number if you have one
Open a bank account	Before you fly, if your bank offers it, or in your first few days	Passport, visa, proof of overseas address, evidence of credit history
Buy a SIM card	On arrival, or order an eSIM before you fly	Passport for identity checks on some plans
Order broadband	As soon as you have a signed lease or sale agreement	NZ address, confirmation fibre or another connection is available
Complete your IR330 tax code declaration	Before your first day at work	Employer’s form, your IRD number, your visa or citizenship status
Decide on KiwiSaver	Once you know your visa category and have started work	IRD number, confirmation of your visa’s eligibility
Convert your driving licence	Within the current overseas licence window, don’t leave it to the last month	Passport, current overseas licence, translation if not in English, conversion fee

Your questions answered

Do I need an IRD number before I arrive in New Zealand?

Apply as soon as you have your visa approval and Immigration New Zealand application number, ideally before you fly using the new arrival process. You don’t legally need it to land, but you’ll want it sorted before your first payday.

Can I open a New Zealand bank account before I land?

Often, yes. ASB and ANZ both offer some form of remote application for eligible visa holders, though the account usually stays deposit only until you verify your identity in person after arrival. Kiwibank currently requires you to be in the country first.

Which is the best mobile network in New Zealand, One NZ, Spark or 2degrees?

There isn’t a single winner. Spark tends to lead on rural and South Island coverage, One NZ has pushed 5G hardest in the cities, and 2degrees is often the cheapest for similar data. One NZ is simply the rebranded Vodafone New Zealand.

What tax code should I use in my first New Zealand job?

Most people in a single full-time job with no student loan use code M. Add SL if you’re repaying a student loan, and never use M for a second job, use S, SH or ST instead. Submit your IR330 before your first day, or your employer must deduct tax at 45%.

Can I join KiwiSaver on a work visa?

Only if your visa entitles you to stay indefinitely, or you’re on a long-term work visa Inland Revenue treats as making you “normally resident,” broadly two years or more with genuine intent to settle. Short-term work, student and visitor visas generally aren’t eligible.

How long can I drive on my UK licence in New Zealand?

As of July 2026, a temporary extension lets you drive on a valid overseas car licence for up to 18 months from arrival, up from 12, though the extension ends on 31 October 2026 (reverting to 12 months), so check the current limit on NZTA’s website before relying on it.

Do I need a New Zealand driving licence to insure a car?

Most insurers want a New Zealand licence, or clear evidence you’re in the conversion process, before offering a full quote. Start the conversion early rather than leaving it until you need to buy a car.

Get the rest of the move sorted

IRD number, bank account, phone and licence are the unglamorous paperwork end of moving to New Zealand, and it has to happen before life here feels normal. For the wider picture, from visas to shipping, our complete guide to moving to New Zealand is the place to start, and coming from the UK specifically, our guide to moving to New Zealand from the UK covers the bits unique to that route. We’re not financial, tax or immigration advisers, so lean on Inland Revenue, NZTA or a licensed adviser rather than a blog for anything specific to your situation. Got a question about your own move? Get in touch through our contact page.

IRD Number, Bank Account and Phone in New Zealand: Setting Up in 2026

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