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New Zealand Guide

First Weeks in New Zealand: IRD Number, Bank Account and Driving

New Zealand's arrival admin is refreshingly fast compared with most countries: an IRD number arrives in days, banks open accounts with standard documents, and you can drive on your overseas licence for a year. Doing the steps in the right order, address, bank, IRD, gets you work-ready within the first week or two.

Quick checklist

  • Get a local SIM at the airport or any supermarket; you need an NZ number for everything else.
  • Open a bank account with passport, visa and proof of address; the big four are ANZ, ASB, BNZ and Westpac.
  • Apply for your IRD number online as a new arrival; without it you are taxed at the highest non-declaration rate.
  • Give your employer your IRD number and tax code before your first payday.
  • You can drive on your overseas licence for up to 12 months; plan the NZ licence conversion within that window.
  • Save 111 as the emergency number for police, fire and ambulance, and Healthline 0800 611 116 for medical advice.

IRD number: the key to being paid properly

The IRD number is your tax identity. Without one, employers must deduct tax at the highest non-declaration rate, and bank interest is over-taxed too. New arrivals apply online through Inland Revenue's "new arrival" process once they have an NZ bank account (or use the fully-functional account route), and numbers typically arrive within about two working days by text or email, up to ten by post. Do this in week one; it is free and everything financial depends on it.

Banking and proving your address

The main banks open accounts for new migrants with a passport, visa and proof of NZ address, and several let you start the application online before arrival and verify in a branch afterwards. Proof of address is the usual sticking point in the first days: a rental agreement, a letter from your accommodation provider or an employer letter generally works. Once open, get the account fully activated for deposits, since your IRD application and salary both hang off it.

Driving and getting around

You can legally drive for up to 12 months on a valid overseas licence, carrying an approved English translation if the licence is not in English. After that you must convert to a New Zealand licence; drivers from Pakistan, India and most non-exempt countries sit a theory test and often a practical test. New Zealand drives on the left, and rural roads are narrower and slower than the distances suggest. In Auckland and Wellington, get the local transport card (AT HOP, Snapper) early; cash fares are being phased out on most networks.

Common questions

First Weeks FAQs

How long does it take to get an IRD number?

Usually around two working days for online applications with notification by text or email, or up to ten working days by post. Apply as soon as you have your bank account details, and give the number to your employer before the first pay run to avoid the punitive no-declaration tax rate.

Can I use my Pakistani or Indian driving licence in New Zealand?

Yes, for up to 12 months from arrival, provided the licence is current and you carry an approved English translation if needed. To keep driving after 12 months you must convert to an NZ licence, which for most South Asian licences means passing the theory test and a practical driving test.

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

Several major banks let you begin the application online from overseas and complete identity verification in a branch after landing. This speeds up your first week, since your IRD number application and salary payments both need the account to be active.

How to use this page

  1. Read the checklist first to see what needs preparing.
  2. Use the sections below for the reasoning behind each step.
  3. Check the FAQs for common edge cases.
  4. Confirm current rules on immigration.govt.nz before you apply or accept any offer.

Related New Zealand guide topics

Full guide
Visa TypesA plain-language overview of New Zealand visa categories: visitor, student, Accredited Employer Work Visa, Skilled Migrant residence and family routes.Skilled MigrantHow the Skilled Migrant Category residence visa works, the points system, the 2026 changes adding new skilled pathways, and how applicants should prepare.Work Visa (AEWV)How the AEWV works, what accredited employers and job checks are, the salary and skill conditions, and how to avoid the job-offer scams targeting South Asian workers.Student VisaWhat South Asian students need for a New Zealand student visa: offer of place, proof of funds, genuine student assessment, work rights and post-study options.