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Entry Of Cars Into New Zealand For Immigrants

In order to qualify for concessionary entry, the following conditions must be met in full:

  • You must have one of the following relevant visas in your passport BEFORE YOUR VEHICLE ARRIVES in New Zealand.
  • Or returning New Zealanders must have resided outside or have been domiciled outside New Zealand for 21 months or more.
    Brief holidays or exploratory visits do not exclude a person from qualifying for this concession.
  • You must have personally owned and used the vehicle for at least 12 months prior to your departure for New Zealand, or the date on which the vehicle is surrendered for shipping, whichever is earlier; and
  • the vehicle is being imported for your own personal use and not for sale, gift or disposal in any other way.
  • The Completion of a Deed of covenant

Document authorising residence in New Zealand

  • a New Zealand Passport
  • an Australian Passport
  • a current New Zealand Residence visa or permit or a current New Zealand returning resident's visa or permit
  • a current permanent residence visa issued by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia
  • a current New Zealand work visa or work permit that was issued for a minimum of twelve months
  • a current New Zealand work visa or permit issued under the LTBV (Long Term Business Visa), that was issued for a minimum of 9 months or more
  • a current New Zealand visitor's visa or permit that was issued for a minimum of 3 years

Also if you are planning to arrive into New Zealand after your vehicle, you will be required to assign a friend or relative to act as your power of attorney. The nominee must provide a letter of authority, copy of your photo page, copy of your visa and a copy of an airline ticket or other proof that the immigrant is due to arrive into the country on a date stated. Normally your arrival would need to be within 6 months from export, but we recommend that you always check with New Zealand Customs.

The above conditions are strictly applied and if not met your vehicle would be considered as a non-concessionary import and GST or Duty Tax may apply.

Deed of Covenant

If a vehicle is imported to New Zealand under the Concessionary Entry method the importer would be required to complete a legal agreement called a Deed Of Covenant. The Deed Of Covenant stipulates that a vehicle cannot be sold or otherwise disposed of within two years of its importation.

Period of Ownership and Actual Use

Vehicles will not qualify for concessionary entry if the owner surrenders them for shipping to New Zealand before the anniversary of the day on which original delivery was taken. For example, if you purchase and take delivery of a vehicle on 10 April, you must not hand it over to be shipped before 10 April of the following year.

Lifestyle and work requirements may dictate that the owner is not in a position to use the vehicle on a daily basis. This will not necessarily disqualify a vehicle from concessionary entry providing you are able to satisfy the New Zealand Customs Service that the vehicle in question was available for use at all times if required. The key element is that the periods of actual use, if not continuous, should span a full 12 months.

Documentary Evidence for GST FREE Concession

Documentary evidence of personal ownership and use of a vehicle must be produced to the Collector of Customs as follows:

  • Dated Receipt covering purchase and showing the actual date of delivery of the vehicle.
  • Registration papers or copies certified by the appropriate Authority.
  • Evidence of the date on which the vehicle was surrendered and the date on which it was loaded on the Vessel for shipment to New Zealand
  • Passport showing your visa and the date of entering New Zealand.

Left Hand Drive Vehicles

Most left-hand drive vehicles have to be converted to right-hand drive (RHD) before they can be driven on New Zealand roads. For modern vehicles, this is either very expensive or impractical - especially if the vehicle has a modern frontal impact protection system (eg, airbags and crumple zones).

The only vehicles that can be registered as LHD and driven on New Zealand roads are vehicles considered exempt from the law. Before going to the expense of importing a LHD vehicle, you should check very carefully that your vehicle is either exempt or is capable of being converted to RHD. Otherwise, you may find it impossible to use the vehicle on New Zealand roads. Please check with LTSA (Land Transport Safety Authority) before you export your vehicle.

This information is meant as a guide only and is correct at the time of writing however, PSS cannot accept liability for any inaccuracies in this information and we always advise our clients to check with the appropriate government departments listed on our website.

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