How to Transfer Money from Canada to New Zealand
Canada to New Zealand Guide
Summary
As members of the British Commonwealth, Canada and New Zealand share a commitment to multilateralism. In addition to Australia, the countries maintain an informal alliance (Canada-Australia-New Zealand alliance, CANZ) within the United Nations. The two countries enjoy solid trade and investment relationships, as well. Currently, there are no restrictions for Canadian citizens who wish to transfer money from Canada to New Zealand.
Visas, work permits and residency
Canadian citizens planning to visit New Zealand for less than three months do not need a visa to do so. If planning to work in New Zealand either temporarily or permanently, a work visa is required. There are several types of work visas, including the Skilled Migrant visa and the Residence from Work visa. Both of these visas allow the holder to live and work in New Zealand for a set period of time.
Canadian citizens who wish to apply for permanent residency in New Zealand must apply for the “citizenship by grant” program, and must meet specific requirements to qualify, including planning to stay in New Zealand if granted citizenship. They also must have lived in New Zealand for at least five years with resident status before applying for permanent residency. For more information, please visit the New Zealand Government immigration website.
Buying property in New Zealand
Purchasing real estate in New Zealand is relatively straightforward and can often be accomplished in a matter of weeks. However, there are a few important things to take note of before transferring money to New Zealand for your property purchase. Working with a real estate agent is often the quickest and easiest way to find real estate in New Zealand. Choose an agent registered with the Real Estate Agents Licensing Board to ensure they are reputable and licensed. An agent will provide a list of properties to choose from and will then work with the buyer to identify an acceptable offer. In New Zealand, agents receive their commission from the seller of the property, not the buyer.
Once a property is agreed upon, the real estate agent will provide the buyer with a standard sales contract to sign. The buyer must also submit their offer formally in writing. This formal offer is conditional and is often based upon standard agreements, such as an independent property evaluation or the approval of financing for the purchase.
Taxation
Canadian residents living abroad must declare their earnings and file tax forms annually. They must pay Canadian taxes on their worldwide earned income. Currently, Canada and New Zealand have a double taxation agreement, meaning Canadian citizens will receive credit via a foreign income tax offset for any taxes paid in New Zealand. This agreement helps citizens of both countries to avoid double taxation. If you plan to transfer money from Canada to New Zealand to pay for taxes, there are no restrictions on an international funds transfer.
Voting
To vote in a Canadian Federal Election requires, you must be a Canadian citizen 18 years or older. Canadian citizens living abroad were granted voting rights in 1993, but there is a five-year time limit to these voting rights. To renew an expired voting status after five years, a citizen must return and resume residency within Canada before being permitted to vote again in Canadian Federal Elections.
Canadians studying in New Zealand
Canadian citizens planning to study full-time in New Zealand for less than three months do not require a visa. For study programs that last longer than three months, Canadian students will need to apply for a student visa. New Zealand and Canada currently have a student work agreement in place, allowing a Canadian citizen to take one or more courses at an accredited New Zealand school while also working, as long as the total duration of the courses does not exceed six months. For more information, please visit the New Zealand Government’s immigration website.
Healthcare
New Zealand has a state-run, publicly-funded healthcare system that is available to citizens and permanent residents of the country. Permanent residents are defined as an individual who owns a Returning Resident’s visa, or who holds a current Residence permit and has lived in the country for at least two years. Private health insurance is recommended for those who do not meet these requirements, as well as a supplement for those who are eligible for the state-run system. Canadian citizens who are temporarily traveling in New Zealand are strongly recommended to take out travel insurance before visiting New Zealand.
Importing from New Zealand to Canada
Canada and New Zealand are close partners in multilateral trade negotiations as well as the Cairns group of agricultural exporters. Bilateral merchandise trade accounted for just over C$900 million in 2013. New Zealand imports to Canada were worth C$513.5 million during that time, with meat products, wine, and machinery topping the list. The two countries share similar goals on a number of issues, from international trade, education and culture, to security, counter-terrorism, human rights and humanitarian policy. Both countries share a strong commitment to multilateralism and economic cooperation. Their ties are further strengthened by their participation in the Canada-Australia-New Zealand (CANZ) co-operation within the UN.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the money transfer companies shown above safe to use?
Yes, all the companies are safe and fully-regulated money transfer services.
Each are authorised and regulated by the relevant authority such as the Financial
Conduct Authority(FCA) in the UK, FinCEN in the US, FinTRAC in Canada or ASIC in Australia.
How long does an international money transfer take?
The speed of delivery will depend on where the money is being from and to and how
you are sending and receiving the money. Transfers sent using bank to bank transfers
can depend take anywhere from minutes to days and you should check the time estimates
from the relevant provider. Debit and credit card payments sometimes allow for faster
transfers for smaller amounts.
How do I use FXcompared?
First review the comparison results (such as for a table above) for a given amount
of money sending from Canada to New Zealand. Then select a provider based on
factors such as price, speed, their rating and click the green button to be taken to
their website. From there, you can register and sign up for an account. Once you have
done that and the provider has verified your identity to ensure the money can be send
safely, you will be ready to transfer money.
What payments methods can I use to send money overseas?
The results shown above are typically for bank to bank transfers. It is possible
via some providers to pay in your funds for the transfer via cash, debit or credit
cards as well but this is usually reserved for smaller amounts. Some providers also
give you different options for how the money will be received - to a bank account
(most common), to a debit card, to cash or to a digital or mobile wallet.
What if the price shown above isn’t exactly what I am offered when I try to transfer money?
There can be a number of reasons why the final price you are offered may be different
to that shown in the table above. Exchange rates between two currencies change all
the time and is the most common reason. Additionally, some providers offer different
pricing depending what method you are using to send funds or how the funds will be
received. Others may offer you a premium service for faster payments. In some cases
FXcompared has a special rate with a provider and this is reserved for first time
customers who sign up to the provider starting from FXcompared’s website.
As prices do change often, be sure to confirm the total cost with the provider
before transferring money.
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