[shagen]

We have'n't got our residence permit yet but is it possible to open a bank account in NZ before you get the residence permit?

Most of the bank websites says they will open it for you provided you have a resident permit or a work permit.

[veronica]

No you don't need a residents permit or anything like that to open up an account, a lot of the travellers who backpack around for the 6 months they are here open them.

[shagen]

Thanks.

I perhaps need to write to them. Their website says otherwise.

[veronica]

what bank are you looking at, try the others

[shagen]

Tried 3 so far.

ASB, ANZ and National Bank.

Do you know of any in particular that will open an account?

Thanks
Shagen

[veronica]

It doesn't make sense to say that you have to have a visa to have abank account because anyone overseas can own property for holiday homes etc in NZ. While they wouldn't need a visa to buy property they would need a bank account to manage their finances on the property and pay bills etc. Just try emailling them and say you want to open an account. We use the Westpac and ANZ, but there is the BNZ and others. Try finding out if the bank you use at home has a affiliated (or whatever) bank in NZ .

[shagen]

This is what the banks want, without which they can't open an account.

1. A copy of your passport

2. Confirmation of your current home address, such as a copy of a bank statement or recent utility bill addressed to you

3. A copy of any one of the following: immigration documents confirming your travel to New Zealand; your work visa; a letter of offer addressed to you from a potential New Zealand employer, or a letter from your New Zealand employer if employment is arranged.

Anyone has any experience in opening an account without an immigration document?

[AliJax]

Shagen, we've opened an account with The National Bank from the UK over the phone, they sent us some stuff and we then had to go to the bank in NZ with a few items of ID & Bank Statements.

We sent some GBP form the UK via telex but the operator didnt do it properly so we were short for a couple of days but no stress at all!

Althought Lindas head spun for several hours!!! :yes

Well recomended - you get your cheque book, EFTpos card & pin on the day and your off!

[Diny]

Wow Ali .....EFTPOS ... you're picking up the lingo already :nice1

Good to hear you arrived safely. Looking forward to getting more updates.

Lucy will settle don't worry. She'll soon get hungry, tempt her with some hokey pokey ice cream.

All the best.

Diny

[shagen]

Instead of using their websites, I wrote to each of the banks and only HSBC and Westpac had postive responses.

HSBC has no branches outside Auckland so we chose Westpac. They were willing to open an account despite us not having any immigration papers but we will be charged a non-resident tax on all interest earned!

[upandrunning]

Shagen
We arrived on a visitor permit. Opened bank accouny with ASB no problems, just neededd IRD number and ID. They will only open one type of account though, savings, however you get an ethpos card to use.

If you have any problems pm me and I will tell you details of the branch and person etc. We find that when you phone banks scallcentres give varying and often erroneous info.