Moving to New Zealand from Democratic Republic of the Congo

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Democratic Republic of the Congo to New Zealand — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Democratic Republic of the Congo to New Zealand, and you’d need to navigate life in English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Democratic Republic of the Congo to New Zealand, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
135 ↑ 12% vs 2022

people moved from Democratic Republic of the Congo to New Zealand · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to New Zealand?

Top countries of origin for New Zealand's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Democratic Republic of the Congo to New Zealand.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CD
16.3
NZ
6.6

New Zealand performs significantly better than Democratic Republic of the Congo across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

CD
$58
NZ
$5,576
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CD
1.9
NZ
35.7

Democratic Republic of the Congo generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CD
72.0
NZ
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CD
0.1t
NZ
6.0t

Democratic Republic of the Congo generally does better on environment, though New Zealand leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CD
0.0
NZ
35.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CD
0.2%
NZ
8.1%

New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Democratic Republic of the Congo leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CD
4.5%
NZ
3.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CD
$1,500
NZ
$48,800

New Zealand performs significantly better than Democratic Republic of the Congo across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CD
61.8 yrs
NZ
82.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CD
60.9
NZ
3.4

New Zealand performs significantly better than Democratic Republic of the Congo across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Democratic Republic of the Congo and New Zealand. To live, work, or study long-term in New Zealand, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check New Zealand's immigration authority.

Democratic Republic of the Congo passport

Democratic Republic of the Congo passport holder visiting New Zealand

Visa Required
Democratic Republic of the Congo passport holders need a visa to enter New Zealand.
New Zealand passport

New Zealand passport holder visiting Democratic Republic of the Congo

Visa Online (e-Visa)
New Zealand passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from New Zealand?

Internet is rarely the blocker — New Zealand has 35.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is New Zealand safe for expats?

New Zealand performs significantly better than Democratic Republic of the Congo across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Democratic Republic of the Congo generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 35.7 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 1.9 in Democratic Republic of the Congo. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Democratic Republic of the Congo: 42).

What language do they speak in New Zealand?

The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Democratic Republic of the Congo, the official languages are French, Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili and Tshiluba.

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At a Glance

CD NZ
Population 108,407,721 5,053,004
Currency Congolese Franc (CDF) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages French, Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili, Tshiluba English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +243 +64
Time zones 2 5
Emergency number 111