Moving to New Zealand from Tuvalu

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Tuvalu to New Zealand — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Tuvalu to New Zealand.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Tuvalu to New Zealand, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
351 ↑ 95% vs 2022

people moved from Tuvalu 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 Tuvalu to New Zealand.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TV
0.0
NZ
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TV
17.9
NZ
6.6

Tuvalu generally does better on safety, though New Zealand leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

TV
$1,671
NZ
$5,576
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

TV
12.6
NZ
35.7

New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Tuvalu leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

TV
0.0t
NZ
6.0t

Tuvalu performs better than New Zealand across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

TV
4.0
NZ
35.9
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

TV
49.0%
NZ
96.0%

New Zealand performs significantly better than Tuvalu across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

TV
$5,200
NZ
$48,800

New Zealand performs significantly better than Tuvalu across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

TV
68.4 yrs
NZ
82.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TV
28.9
NZ
3.4

New Zealand performs significantly better than Tuvalu across all family life metrics.

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Tuvalu 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.

Tuvalu passport

Tuvalu passport holder visiting New Zealand

Visa Required
Tuvalu passport holders need a visa to enter New Zealand.
New Zealand passport

New Zealand passport holder visiting Tuvalu

Visa on Arrival
New Zealand passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Tuvalu.

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?

Tuvalu generally does better on safety, though New Zealand leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.0 in Tuvalu.

How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Tuvalu?

New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Tuvalu leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 35.7 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 12.6 in Tuvalu. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Tuvalu: 52).

What language do they speak in New Zealand?

The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Tuvalu, the official languages are English and Tuvaluan.

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At a Glance

TV NZ
Population 11,544 5,053,004
Currency Australian Dollar (A$) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages English, Tuvaluan English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +688 +64
Time zones 1 5
Emergency number 111