[feeble]

Since most of you are from an English speaking country this isn't an issue for you, but being from a non-english speaking country myself I was wondering if I need to have documents such as degree, police certificate, etc...translated. I didn't do this for my Visa application because they were able to check it there, but what about my arrival in NZ?
If those documents need to be translated, does this have to be done by a certified translator? And does it have to be someone from NZ (embassy or consulate??) or is a translator from my home country OK?

Next thing, I won't ship all of my personal belongings to NZ but sell them here, although I will probably need more then 1 bag. Now I can send this with a special service provided by the post (up to 30kgs), but this probably needs clearance through NZ customs. On their website I found a 'unaccompanied personal baggage declaration' I guess this needs to be included? And how do I send the form together with my bag???

Ooooohhhh still so many things to think about :roll:

[wilson182]

Hi

I needed to send an extra box over from England, 33kgs, and used the same carrier that had organised my other shipment. They helped me with all the documentation needed from England, and when the box arrived in nz, their agent this side contacted me. Before I could collect the box I had to go to MAF, and fill out their clearance/declaration form ($28). They were happy that there was nothing they needed to see, and from there I had to go to customs. Once they were happy and had stamped the forms, I was able to go down to the agents and collect my box.

[Tash]

Hi feeble.
Wilson's given you some good info on baggage. Regarding your certificates, I assume you mean when you apply for residency. This is from the Guide for Applying for Residence in New Zealand (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/EFA678B7-EDE5-49CA-A8FE-74BD75CA30DE/0/1002May21.pdf)
Translations
If any of your documents are not in English, you must have them translated into English by a person familiar with both English and the language in which the documents are written. Any translation provided must:
•not be made by an applicant’s family member or a person with an interest in the outcome of the application;
•be certified as a correct translation made by a person familiar with both languages and competent in translation work;
•be prepared and certified by a recognised private official translation service;
•be on the official letterhead of the translation service;
•bear the stamp or signature of the translator;
•be accompanied by the original documents or certified copies;
•be paid for by the applicant.
Translations may be prepared by:
•The Translation Service of the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs;
•language departments of secondary schools or universities;
•reputable people within the community who are knownto translate documents accurately;
•embassies (if the translation is endorsed with the appropriate embassy seal);
•any other recognised private or official translation service.
Please note: should you be considering applying for New Zealand citizenship at a later date you may want to have your documents translated by a provider approved by the Department of Internal Affairs (www.dia.govt.nz)

[shagen]

Hi Feeble,

We hail from Malaysia, a non-English speaking country, at least officially. We enquired from the NZ High Commission here and were asked to translate all documents not in English into English. Some of our older documents, especially mine and my wife's birth certificates are in both English and Malay but were advised to translate them just the same.

The NZ High Commission here in Malaysia told us that not all translations will be accepted by NZIS. However, they did tell us which translators had no problems in the past. So we took our queue from there.

Perhaps it is wise for you to check with the NZ High Commission or Embassy in Belgium. Otherwise, you may have to re-do the translation bit if it was not accepted. The translations cost money.

Am not able to help on the baggage issue.

Cheers,

[Babette & Andy]

Hi Feeble,
I seem to remember that when my family emigrated from Holland in Sep'03, the migration agent they used to obtain their Business Visa (Buysse Visa Specialist in Culemborg) took care of this for them. Things like birth certificates etc need certifying anyway, and translated at the same time. I'd definately get some sound advice from NZIS, local in Antwerpen if possible.

Babette

[feeble]

Thanks everyone. Seems you're all right about these things.
I will need to have the documents translated and certified by the appropriate instances.
More running around to do... :eek

[Simakra]

Feeble,

I got my documents translated in NZ, as this was much cheaper than the quotes I was given here in the UK. I paid 395 NZ dollar for all my documents.

SIM

[shagen]

Wow! I thought what we were being charged was expensive...

In Malaysia, the translations costs about US$15 per document. Certification costs about US$3 per document.

Cheers,

[Simakra]

Shagen,

I think I had 20 pages, so I don't think it was that expensive


SIM

[xanctus]

Thanks everyone. Seems you're all right about these things.
I will need to have the documents translated and certified by the appropriate instances.
More running around to do... :eek

Good luck feeble,
whereas myself also have some difficulties later on to get a police certf. The reason is that I am overseas as well from my country of origins. :no

[shagen]

I am having difficulty in getting police certs in Indonesia especially for my family who lived here with me for more than a year but do not live here anymore.

I tried calling the NZIS in Jakarta for help but was quite dissapointed.

Has anyone lived in Indonesia that required you to obtain a police cert?

Cheers,