Moving to New Zealand from Timor-Leste
What to Expect
Considering a move from Timor-Leste to New Zealand? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Timor-Leste to New Zealand, and you’d need to navigate life in English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Timor-Leste to New Zealand.
people moved from Timor-Leste 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
The numbers behind daily life in New Zealand compared to Timor-Leste.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs significantly better than Timor-Leste 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Timor-Leste 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
Timor-Leste 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
share of households with internet
New Zealand performs significantly better than Timor-Leste across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Timor-Leste 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 Timor-Leste across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Timor-Leste 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.
Timor-Leste passport holder visiting New Zealand
Visa Required
New Zealand passport holder visiting Timor-Leste
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?
Connectivity is usually fine (New Zealand: 35.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does New Zealand offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is New Zealand safe for expats?
New Zealand performs significantly better than Timor-Leste across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.1 in Timor-Leste.
How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Timor-Leste?
Timor-Leste 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 7.7 in Timor-Leste. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Timor-Leste: 52).
What language do they speak in New Zealand?
The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Timor-Leste, the official languages are Portuguese and Tetum.
