New Zealand is a diverse nation, having a 4.75 million population. It is one of the most peaceful countries in the World. People are quite friendly and easy-going, comes from different cultures and backgrounds. If you are planning to live in New Zealand, then go through this article till the end.

New Zealand has plenty of natural resources with much less pressure on space.

New Zealanders enjoy a well-balanced life with countless career opportunities and having plenty of time for recreational activities, with ample outdoor activities, including water sports, snow sports, extreme sports. Also, you can enjoy live musical events, theatre, film and comedy, dance, and much more. Hang out with your friends and relatives at a cafe, restaurant, or bar. Kiwis enjoying access to some of the world’s famous food and wine. In New Zealand, you will find some of the most beautiful walks in the world.

Which are the best cities to Live in New Zealand?

New Zealand is good for both visitors and expats. It offers an ample amount of career opportunities with a stress-free lifestyle. The relaxing atmosphere is one of the salient features of this country. New Zealand is a great place for different cultures people who enjoy the environment with numerous opportunities.

There are many cities in New Zealand where you can live, cities like Auckland and Wellington are best for the people who are looking for jobs. Though, smaller cities are equally good to offer good job opportunities in the country. The whole country is quite safe to live in, you can comfortably live in New Zealand, regardless of the big or small city.

The country has very low crime rates and offers the best security to the visitors as well as to the residents. You will definitely be going to feel safe while visiting or living in New Zealand.

So, to decide which city is the best to live in depends upon what you are looking for, are you looking for a job, or live with your family, or are you looking for a perfect climate. Many cities offer all these benefits combined.

Auckland

Auckland is one of the best and the largest city in New Zealand. For people who come to New Zealand for a job, this city offers them an exciting career opportunity.

It is the first choice for many who is planning to relocate to New Zealand, Auckland is full of excitement with adventure, it has something to offer for everyone who is looking to start a new life in New Zealand. At the same time, Auckland has been ranked as one of the cities having the best quality of life in the world.

Christchurch

Christchurch is also one of the best cities in New Zealand for immigrants. This largest city of South Island has many opportunities to offer, whether you are seeking a job, or looking for a home to settle down.

You will see huge buildings within the city, it is situated in a flat region, and hence straight roads and huge infrastructure are found here. You will get a high chance to build and grow your career in a much quicker way, as a city is having an ample number of opportunities for job seekers.

One of the drawbacks of this city is an unexpected earthquake.

Wellington

Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand located on the North Island, it is one of the greatest choices for migrants and families alike.

Wellington offers an excellent education with the best job opportunities. It is one of the popular destination cities of New Zealand to live in, be it single or with a family. Wellington is quite affordable when it comes to housing, comparing with other major cities of the country. Many people choose Wellington to live in New Zealand.

Hamilton

Hamilton has everything that you need to live in New Zealand. Renowned institutions to raise your children with excellent education, good job opportunity in the city. Hamilton is going through massive development and growth in the recent past, and therefore it is becoming a popular choice for the people who are planning to relocate themselves to New Zealand.

The city is also known for its diversity of multiple cultural demographics with a great atmosphere for the families.

Dunedin

If you are looking to settle down in a relatively cheap city in New Zealand, then Dunedin is the city that you might be looking for. The city is quite peaceful with very relaxing surroundings, the crime level is also quite low in this place, which makes Dunedin a very attractive destination for those who wish to relocate to New Zealand with their family.

Affordable housing is a benefit for those who look for a low cost of living. In fact, if you are planning to purchase land in New Zealand, then Dunedin is the best option within the country.

Queenstown

Queenstown is not only popular among tourists, but you can also plan to settle down here. The city is among the top five friendliest cities in the world. The city has many restaurants and bars to have a great time.

People are quite helpful and easy-going, locals are very much friendly with the visitors, eager to help them up to an extent.

New Plymouth

New Plymouth offers budget housing with good security, though the crime rate is also quite low in the city. It is quite popular for families who want to relocate to New Zealand.

Enough job opportunities as well, which makes this city the first choice among those who look for a job in New Zealand.

New Plymouth is full of beaches and mountain landscapes. Schooling is quite good in the city, and your kids will get a great education in New Plymouth.

Benefits of living in New Zealand

Weather is amazing throughout the Year

The weather in New Zealand is good all the year, the mild climate ensures more days of sunshine than rain. During winter, the North Island stays warm whereas the sunny in the South Island is covered with snow. All nature lovers will definitely be going to enjoy the endless outdoor activities within the country.

Skiing down a mountain in the morning and surfing in the afternoon is definitely possible in New Zealand.

An untouched Nature

You will find some untouched sea beaches, deserts, rainforests, glaciers, and mountains in New Zealand. You are never far away from the beach regardless of where ever you move in the country.

You will be in love with the diverse landscapes of New Zealand.

You will be in nature’s hands as soon as you go outside of the big cities. There are plenty of things to explore in the country, and you will feel like you are the first one who ever walks on this land. The mountains, beaches are simply amazing.

Balance with Peace and Working life

New Zealand is a peaceful, quiet, and relaxed country. Even the big cities are not overcrowded. The population density in New Zealand is 18 people per square kilometer (47 people per square mile). In comparison, India has a population density of 464 inhabitants per square kilometer (1,202 per square mile).

Though life is quiet and cool in New Zealand, there is a healthy balance between work and play, which you will rarely find over time in New Zealand. But it doesn’t mean that New Zealanders are lazy or unsuccessful by any means.

The fact of the matter is that New Zealanders treat everyone with equality regardless of their profession and wealth.

Citizenship for New Zealand

The law of New Zealand describes very little difference between being a permanent resident and having citizenship.

Permanent residents have a right to vote, they can leave and re-enter the country multiple times, they can have access to state-subsidized healthcare and education.

Excellent Healthcare & Education system

New Zealand government offers government-subsidized healthcare to everyone, regardless of their residency status. Even if you are a non-resident, and just visit New Zealand on a temporary visa, you will be entitled to have access to the country’s excellent healthcare facilities, though sometimes you have to pay an extra fee.

Concerning the education system, it is one of the best worldwide. The public education system in New Zealand is known for being one of the best all over the world. Normally, it is free of charge, but you have to pay for uniforms, books, and meals.

Some schools also demand annual donation fees from the students though.

Job Opportunities

Due to the low population density in New Zealand, the economic market of the country always experiencing a shortage of skilled workers in various fields. There is a great job opportunity for the people who come from the background of Information Technology, Finance, Healthcare, Tourism, etc. To fill vacancies of these positions, New Zealand relaxed its immigration rules and welcome people who are seeking jobs in New Zealand.

Low Crime rate

When it comes to crime and security, New Zealand is one of the safest countries in the world for migrants and residents. The crime rate is extremely low in New Zealand compared to elsewhere in the world.

New Zealand ranked second in the 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index and the 2019 Global Peace Index.

A drawback of living in New Zealand

 Isolated Country

New Zealand is a very isolated country. Auckland is almost 1,400 miles away from Sydney, and around 5,700 miles from Hong Kong. Also, there is a huge time difference (GMT+12) that also makes it very hard to stay in touch with your loved ones. The long-distance flights are quite expensive and make travel to New Zealand very rare.

Expensive

Being a small and isolated country, essential items and other products are quite expensive since it has to be imported from far countries, whether it is food, electronics items, furniture, etc.

If you are looking for specific brands in New Zealand, it is likely they won’t be available in the country. You might have to import from other countries and pay heavy custom duty and other miscellaneous charges.

On the other hand, living costs in the major cities are very expensive too. Rents are increasing day by day since the number of people relocating to the big cities looking for better career prospects.

A Travel Agency is an individual, group of people, or a company providing and organizes services related to travel and tours. The travel agency is an organization that provides services for tours and travel by either of the modes, i.e. Sea, Air, or Road. The transport companies that provide transport and cargo services are excluded and not be considered as Travel agencies in Singapore. In this article, you will get to know how to set up a travel agency in Singapore.

In Singapore, travel agents fall under regulations of the Travel Agent’s Act and are required to acquire a license with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

How to set up a Travel Agency in Singapore

A Person(s) or a Company(s) in the business of organizing travel arrangements or conducting tours and travels packages within or outside of Singapore are required to apply for a Travel Agent Licence. ​

Before applying for a Travel Agent’s license, one should fulfill the following conditions:

• You should register with the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) to conduct the travel agent business. You have to approach to Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to know the process how to apply for a travel agent license.

• The Registered Business must have a minimum paid-up capital of S$50,000 (for Niche Licences) and S$100,000 (for General Licences), along with a net value of the same amount.

• All applicants must appoint a Key Executive, who will be capable to handle the day-to-day administration and operations of the travel agency. Preferably, he should be a director of the business (as listed in ACRA) with a managerial level of experience in the travel business.

• Email id for the operation of travel agency business.

• Set up an office that to be used for conducting travel agency business.

How to apply

An online application to be made to Travel Agents and Tourist Guides Licensing System (TRUST). The application fee of $200 has to be paid to Singapore Tourism Board (STB) while applying.

License Fees

After successful processing of the application, a license fee of $400 has to be paid to Singapore Tourism Board (STB) for the issuance of the license with a validity period of two years. That’s it, the applicant’s travel agency is listed on the Travel Agent Directory of TRUST.

Enquiries

In case of any enquiries regarding licensing matters, you can visit the TRUST website or email the relevant department in STB at – stb_ta@stb.gov.sg

Ready to apply for a Travel Agent License, Click here

Types of Travel Agent License in Singapore

Singapore Tourism Board (STB) currently offers two types of travel agent licenses. Do check the below information to see which type of license you have to apply for.

Niche Licence

The Niche license is for travel agents who are planning to sell, arrange or advertise tours packages only within Singapore, and provide conveyance to the participants but without any right of accommodation.

The minimum financial requirement for a Niche Licence is $50,000.

General Licence

Travel agents who conduct any other activity that is described under Niche Licence may apply for a General Licence.

The minimum financial requirement for a General Licence is $100,000.

Who needs a Travel Agent License?

A travel agent license is required to conduct business as a travel agent in Singapore.

The government body that is responsible to issue the Travel Agent License is Singapore Tourism Board (STB). STB has defined a travel agent who provides the following services under Section 4 of the Travel Agent’s Act.

• Sell tickets to an individual who travels to any destination.
• Provides services that assist travelers’ transportation, accommodation, and visa requirements when they travel outside Singapore,
• Advertises the services it offers.
• Organizes tours, excursions, sightseeing.
• Buy the right to resell certain Tour packages.

The above definitions cover companies that provide tour and travel services, outings, sightseeing, tourist services, and ticketing agents for airlines, tourist buses, and voyage ships.

Rejected Applications

There is no reason to reject your application if you have submitted all the necessary documents along with correct information in an application for your travel agency license. However, if your application is rejected by the authorities, you may file a review within one month of the rejection, and the review process will take up to two weeks.

Renewals

The Singapore travel agency license issued and valid for two years, and it expires on the 31^st of December of the following year regardless of the month in which you initially applied for an application.

The Travel Agent has to renew their license before one month it expires.