Moving to Spain from New Zealand — a Kiwi's guide to living in Spain

New Zealanders make up one of the most well-travelled nationalities in the world relative to population, and the OE (overseas experience) is deeply embedded in Kiwi culture. Yet despite this tradition of living abroad, the legal pathway for New Zealanders wanting to settle in Spain — as opposed to passing through on a tourist trip — is not always well understood.

This guide covers everything New Zealanders need to know about moving to Spain in 2026: the visa landscape, the specific documents NZ applicants require, tax obligations on both sides of the world, KiwiSaver considerations, and the very real time zone challenge of working for New Zealand clients from Spain.

No Working Holiday Visa between New Zealand and Spain

This is the first thing to know: unlike Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and many other countries, there is no Working Holiday Visa arrangement between New Zealand and Spain. Kiwis under 30 who had hoped to use a working holiday agreement to spend a year in Spain will find this option simply does not exist.

New Zealanders who want to live and work in Spain must obtain a proper long-stay national visa before arriving. For remote workers and freelancers, the Digital Nomad Visa is far and away the best route.

The 90-day Schengen rule for New Zealanders

New Zealand passport holders can enter Spain (and all Schengen Area countries) without a visa for short stays. The limit is 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across all 26 Schengen countries combined. This is not 90 days in Spain alone — any time spent in France, Italy, Greece, or any other Schengen country in the same 180-day window counts against the allowance.

For Kiwis who want to explore Europe on a tourist trip before deciding where to settle, this 90-day window is useful. But it is not a basis for long-term living in Spain. Once you decide to stay, you need a visa.

Visa options for New Zealanders moving to Spain

Spain Digital Nomad Visa (DNV)

The DNV is Spain's purpose-built visa for remote workers and freelancers who earn their income from outside Spain. Introduced in 2023 under the Startups Law, it is designed for precisely the profile of many Kiwis considering Spain: skilled professionals working for international clients or companies, earning in foreign currency.

The DNV provides an initial one-year visa, which converts to a three-year residence permit on arrival in Spain, renewable for a further two years. In 2026, the income requirement is €2,849 per month for a single applicant. If you are bringing dependants, the requirement rises by 75% of this base figure per dependant. Employed workers on the DNV may qualify for Beckham Law — Spain's 24% flat income tax rate — which can provide substantial savings for higher-earning Kiwis in employment.

Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)

The NLV is appropriate for New Zealanders with passive income sufficient to live in Spain without working at all — such as retirees or those with significant investment income. No employment or freelance work is permitted on this visa. The income threshold is higher than the DNV.

Required documents — NZ Police Vetting Report and MFAT Apostille

Spain requires a criminal record check from your country of residence as part of the DNV application. For New Zealanders, this is the New Zealand Police Vetting Report — also known as a Criminal History Report or Police Certificate — issued by the New Zealand Police.

Obtaining the NZ Police Vetting Report

The NZ Police vetting service is available online at the New Zealand Police website. You complete the online form, verify your identity, and the report is issued electronically or by post depending on the option selected. Allow 1–3 weeks for the report. Note that you need the full criminal history report, not a summary — consulates require the full version for visa applications.

The Hague Apostille from MFAT

Once you have the NZ Police Vetting Report, it must have a Hague Apostille attached to it to authenticate it for use in Spain. New Zealand is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostilles for New Zealand public documents are issued by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).

The MFAT legalisation service handles Apostilles for NZ documents. You submit the original NZ Police report to MFAT with the relevant fee and form, and MFAT attaches the Apostille. Allow 2–3 weeks for the MFAT Apostille process. An expedited service is available for an additional fee.

Sworn Spanish translation

All documents not in Spanish must be accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation (traducción jurada) by a translator certified by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. New Zealand-based translators who hold this certification are available, as are international services.

Full document checklist for New Zealanders

• Valid New Zealand passport (minimum 6 months validity beyond intended stay)
• Completed DNV application form
• NZ Police Vetting Report (full criminal history) with MFAT Hague Apostille
• Medical certificate confirming absence of notifiable conditions, with Hague Apostille
• Sworn Spanish translation of all documents
• Proof of income: employment contract, payslips, or certified accounts showing at least €2,849/month
• Private health insurance covering Spain (minimum €30,000 coverage)
• Proof of accommodation in Spain
• Passport photographs to Spanish specifications

New Zealand-Spain tax treaty and Inland Revenue obligations

New Zealand and Spain have a Double Tax Agreement (DTA) which allocates taxing rights between the two countries and provides relief from double taxation. For Kiwis moving to Spain, the treaty is relevant for any ongoing NZ-source income — such as rental income from a New Zealand property, NZ investment income, or NZ superannuation payments.

New Zealand's Inland Revenue (IR) determines tax residency using a combination of a day-count test (you are tax resident if you are in NZ for more than 183 days in any 12-month period) and a permanent place of abode test. Ceasing NZ tax residency requires both: being absent from New Zealand for a continuous period of more than 325 days in a 12-month period AND not having a permanent place of abode in New Zealand.

KiwiSaver when living abroad

KiwiSaver is New Zealand's voluntary workplace retirement savings scheme. When you move overseas permanently, your options for your KiwiSaver balance include:

• Leaving it invested — your KiwiSaver account continues to grow (though employer contributions and government contributions stop when you are no longer an NZ employee)
• Withdrawing on permanent emigration — if you are permanently emigrating and have been living outside NZ for at least 12 months, you can apply to withdraw your accumulated balance (excluding any Crown-contributed HomeStart grant funds, which must be repaid)

The emigration withdrawal is generally not subject to New Zealand tax on withdrawal. However, the timing and mechanics of the process should be confirmed with your KiwiSaver provider and a New Zealand financial adviser before proceeding. Spanish tax implications of receiving a lump sum should also be considered.

Time zones — the honest picture

The time zone gap between Spain and New Zealand is one of the most practically significant challenges for Kiwis working for NZ clients from Spain. Spain is typically 11–13 hours behind New Zealand, depending on the time of year and the respective daylight saving periods.

In practical terms: a morning standup meeting at 9am in Auckland requires you to be available at 9–10pm the previous evening in Spain. A 5pm meeting in Auckland means 5–6am in Spain. This is challenging. It is doable for those with strong client relationships and flexibility on both sides, but it requires a very deliberately adjusted schedule — working evenings in Spain and enjoying mornings and afternoons for Spanish life.

Many Kiwis in this situation either shift their client base to UK or European clients over time, or accept an evening-heavy work schedule as the price of the lifestyle. Those who serve Australian clients have a marginally better situation — Australia is typically 9–11 hours ahead of Spain, still difficult but somewhat more workable.

Driving licence exchange

New Zealand and Spain do not have a bilateral driving licence exchange agreement. This means NZ licence holders who become Spanish residents cannot simply swap their NZ licence for a Spanish one. You will need to pass the Spanish theory and practical driving test to obtain a Spanish licence.

During the transitional period after becoming a Spanish resident, you can drive in Spain with your valid NZ licence alongside an International Driving Permit. Check the current DGT (Spanish traffic authority) guidance for the grace period in force, as this is updated periodically.

Healthcare transition

When you become a Spanish resident, you are no longer covered by New Zealand's public health system for care received in Spain. The DNV requires private health insurance as a condition of application. Spanish private health insurance is affordable — budget €80–200 per month depending on age and level of cover — and the Spanish healthcare system, both public and private, is of a high standard.

New Zealand has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the United Kingdom, Australia, and several other countries — but not with Spain. Once you are resident in Spain, any medical treatment needed in Spain is covered by your Spanish private health insurance, not by any NZ arrangement.

Popular Spanish cities for Kiwis

The New Zealand community in Spain is smaller than the British, South African, or American communities, but it is growing. Most Kiwis in Spain end up in:

• Barcelona — the most internationally connected Spanish city, with a vibrant expat community and a startup and tech scene that attracts Kiwi professionals
• Valencia — increasingly popular for its lower cost of living and high quality of life, with a significant English-speaking community
• Madrid — the capital, with the broadest professional network and the most international airport connections (including the best options for the very long haul back to New Zealand)
• Málaga and the Costa del Sol — warmer, slower-paced, and popular with Kiwis seeking a genuine lifestyle change rather than a city base

Kiwis typically find the Spanish character — warm, social, outdoor-focused, food-obsessed — surprisingly familiar. The late dinners take some adjusting to, but most Kiwis adapt quickly and genuinely embrace Spanish social culture.