Moving to Cyprus from New Zealand

Why Kiwis look at Cyprus

New Zealand's 39% top rate isn't Europe's worst, but the combination of distance from everywhere, a small market, and dividends topped up to personal rates sends a steady trickle of Kiwi founders and remote workers looking for a northern-hemisphere base. Cyprus offers the familiar template — island, beaches, left-hand drive, English everywhere — three hours from most of Europe, with the non-dom regime attached.

The tax comparison in plain numbers

NZ taxes residents on worldwide income at up to 39%, with imputation credits meaning dividends from your own company effectively top up to your personal rate, and the FIF rules taxing offshore portfolios on a deemed-return basis even when nothing is sold. There's no general capital gains tax, which softens the comparison — but a Cyprus non-dom pays 0% on dividends and interest for 17 years plus the capped 2.65% GHS contribution, and Cyprus has no FIF-style deemed taxation of portfolios. The mechanics are in the non-dom guide; company running costs in the company cost guide.

Leaving New Zealand: one of the cleaner exits

New Zealand has no exit tax on individuals, which puts it among the cleanest countries on this site to leave. Residency ends when you've been away 325 days in a rolling year and no longer have a "permanent place of abode" in NZ — a facts test where a house kept available to you, family remaining, and ongoing NZ ties all count against you. Get the abode question wrong and IRD keeps taxing your worldwide income, so wind up or rent out the family home properly. One bonus for eventual returners: NZ's transitional resident regime can give returning long-term expats a multi-year exemption on foreign income later.

Getting the right to live here

New Zealanders are non-EU, so you need a route: employment through a Cyprus company (including your own under the foreign-interest scheme), permanent residency via qualifying property investment, the digital nomad visa, or the passive-income visitor permit — see the residency permits page.

The practical side

It's the longest move on this site — 24+ hours via the Gulf or Singapore. Cyprus drives on the left like home, but non-EU car imports carry duty and VAT, so buy locally (car guide). Seasons flip: Cyprus summer is NZ winter, which some Kiwis exploit for a permanent endless summer. See where to live and what it costs.