Overseas buyer FAQ: common questions
Short pointers for overseas buyers on consent, tax, money transfers, costs and insurance.
- Whether you need overseas investment consent depends on your status and the property. Check with LINZ before you make an offer.
- Selling a residential property within the bright-line period can be taxed, whatever your residency.What does Bright-line test mean?The bright-line test can make you pay income tax when you sell a home within the bright-line period, which IRD says is 2 years for property sold on or after 1 July 2024. Inland Revenue (IRD): The bright-line test
- Money normally goes to your NZ lawyer's trust account. Allow time for funds to clear and compare transfer providers.
- You may pay tax in NZ and at home. Ask a tax adviser in each country, and plan any change of residency.
- You can usually buy without visiting using a power of attorney, but check this with your lawyer.
Check the details. Check consent with LINZ, tax with IRD and your home-country adviser, and the purchase steps with a NZ lawyer.
Facts we checked
- IRD says the bright-line period is 2 years for property sold on or after 1 July 2024.IRD · accessed 2026-10-29
Official pages
Shortened from a Berry article first written 2026-05-16. Figures we could not check against a public source were taken out. This is general information, not advice.