Moving to New Zealand from Laos
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Laos to New Zealand — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Laos 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Wellington averages 62°F vs 88°F in Vientiane, making it significantly cooler.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Laos to New Zealand, based on official data.
people moved from Laos to New Zealand · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to New Zealand?
Top countries of origin for New Zealand's foreign-born residents.
- 286,746
- 144,207
- 122,506
- 85,289
- 73,846
- 70,412
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Laos to New Zealand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs significantly better than Laos across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Laos generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Laos generally does better on environment, though New Zealand leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Laos leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Laos generally does better on employment & economy, though New Zealand leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
New Zealand performs significantly better than Laos across all family life metrics.
Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Vientiane | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 87°/66°F (31°/19°C) | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 85°/67°F (30°/20°C) | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) |
View all months
| Month | Vientiane | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C) | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) |
| Feb | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C) | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) |
| Mar | 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C) | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) |
| Apr | 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C) | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) |
| May | 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C) | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) |
| Jun | 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C) | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) |
| Jul | 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C) | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) |
| Aug | 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C) | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) |
| Sep | 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C) | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) |
| Oct | 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) |
| Nov | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) |
| Dec | 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C) | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) |
Data:
Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR,
New Zealand National Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Laos 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.
Laos passport holder visiting New Zealand
Visa Required
New Zealand passport holder visiting Laos
Visa on ArrivalData: 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 Laos across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Laos?
Laos 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 3.3 in Laos. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Laos: 52).
What's the weather like in New Zealand compared to Laos?
The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 88°F in Vientiane. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while Vientiane gets 65.4 in.
What language do they speak in New Zealand?
The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Laos, the official language is Lao.
