What makes New Zealand so popular among expats?

New Zealand has always been a popular destination for UK expats, with over 250,000 Brits currently calling it home. Of course, factors like the shared language, great weather and amazing landscapes play a role in its popularity, but its characteristics such as the great work-life balance (ranking 2nd in the world), the progressive political climate (including subsidised healthcare!), outdoor lifestyle and the amazing work opportunities in high-skilled sectors such as finance and engineering that make New Zealand somewhere people want to call home rather than just visit on holiday.

It’s a lot easier to move there than some of the other popular places too, especially after Brexit introduced new barriers when moving to EU countries. Compared to its neighbour Australia’s harsh restrictions, moving to New Zealand is relatively painless. Expats still need to find work and obtain a specific visa to become a Permanent Resident, but there are also working holiday visas, which allow individuals to stay up to 23 months, or work visas which last for a pre-arranged amount of time, for those who want to test the water before a permanent move.

Once these formalities are out of the way, arranging finances and finding accommodation are the next priority. A key consideration will be converting any money from pounds into New Zealand Dollars (NZD). The currency is relatively stable, but small fluctuations can still have a big impact when transferring large sums, such as to purchase property, so it’s worth working with a foreign exchange specialist in order to ensure that any money is made the most of as it moves across borders. So what is the best way to transfer money from the UK to New Zealand?

Depending on the expat’s situation, Currency UK can provide different arrangements to suit any need. If you are looking to purchase a home in New Zealand are team can help you make your international payments as efficient and cost-effective as possible.

If an expat is still earning money or receiving a pension based in the UK, but renting or paying a mortgage in New Zealand, this money can be hit by bank charges and fluctuations in exchange rate that can have a big impact on its overall value once it reaches the expat, especially over the multiple transactions as the charges will also be multiplied. Currency UK can offer a recurring payment at a fixed rate, providing some much-needed certainty when managing finances month to month.

To find out more about how we help those looking to move to New Zealand and to get a quote for a Pounds to New Zealand Dollar transfer, call a member of our team today on +44 (0) 20 7738 0777.