Moving from New Zealand to Italy
A long voyage from the South Pacific to the Mediterranean, plus the transfer of residence paperwork that lets your furniture land free of duty. Here is the honest brief on costs in New Zealand dollars, customs at the Italian end, the realistic visa routes, and a timeline you can plan around.
A long ship and a paperwork heavy landing, where residence registration matters more than the miles.
New Zealand to Italy is one of the longer household corridors on the planet, and almost all of it travels by sea. Your goods leave a port such as Auckland or Tauranga and sail to an Italian Mediterranean gateway like Genoa or Livorno, typically via the Suez Canal. Plan for six to eight weeks port to port once the box is at sea, plus collection in New Zealand and clearance and delivery in Italy. Door to door, nine to twelve weeks is realistic, so this is a move you begin months in advance.
The part that catches New Zealanders out is the Italian customs and residence sequence. Italy lets people transferring their residence import used household goods free of duty, but only if you register your residence with the local municipality, the iscrizione anagrafica, before the shipment arrives, and the goods clear within twelve months of that registration. Since late 2024 Italy also requires an EORI number on household goods shipments, including private moves, so your mover will arrange that.
Prices below are indicative ranges for 2026 in New Zealand dollars. Italy runs on the euro, so budget for currency on arrival, from a rental deposit to the cost of replacing anything you decide not to ship across the world.
What it costs in 2026, by home size and method.
Across this distance the choice that drives your bill is a shared container versus a full container, not the route. The figures below are indicative ranges for 2026 in New Zealand dollars.
Indicative 2026 ranges in New Zealand dollars, port to port by sea to a Mediterranean port. Volume, season, the long Suez routing and final delivery distance in Italy move the figure. Clearance handling is extra.
- +Best value for a typical home, you pay for the space you use
- +Operators run the Oceania to Mediterranean lane year round
- −Sailing and consolidation dates flex around other shipments
- +Your goods alone, sealed at your door in New Zealand
- +Faster clearance, nothing waits on a co loader
- −Wasted money unless you fill most of it
- +Right for documents and what you need first
- +Beats sea by more than a month
- −Many times the cost of sea for the same volume
Get moving quotes for New Zealand to Italy.
Tell us your home size and timing and we will put your New Zealand to Italy move in front of vetted movers who run this long lane.
A realistic schedule for this route.
A move from New Zealand to Italy rewards early booking and early residence registration. Both take lead time. Here is a realistic schedule.
Book and survey
Arrange a video or in home survey so your volume is measured. Decide on a shared or full container and confirm a sailing from Auckland or Tauranga.
Pack and load
Professional packing for a long ocean voyage with a detailed, valued inventory. That inventory underpins your Italian customs declaration, so it must be accurate.
Ocean transit
Your container sails to a Mediterranean port such as Genoa or Livorno, usually via Suez. Six to eight weeks port to port is realistic. Keep your passport and visa ready.
Register residence
Complete your iscrizione anagrafica with the local municipality and obtain your codice fiscale so the transfer of residence relief and customs clearance can proceed.
Customs and delivery
Your agent presents the declaration with your EORI number and inventory to Italian customs. Used effects of a new resident clear free of duty when conditions are met, then delivery follows.
Used household goods clear duty free for new residents, with paperwork to match.
Italy lets people transferring their residence import used household goods free of duty and tax, but the conditions are specific. You must have owned and used the goods for at least six months, have lived outside the EU for at least twelve months, and have applied to register your residence with the local municipality, the iscrizione anagrafica, before the shipment arrives. The import must take place within twelve months of that residence registration.
Two identifiers matter. The codice fiscale is the Italian tax code you need for almost any official transaction, and you will want it early. Since the first of December 2024, Italy also requires an EORI number on household goods shipments, including private moves, where previously the tax code alone was often accepted. Your mover can obtain or validate the EORI so the entry is formatted correctly.
A detailed, signed and valued inventory is essential, and the change of residence can often be supported by a self declaration rather than a consular stamp. Note that consumable goods, new furniture and certain electronics can attract duty or need permits, so keep your shipment to genuinely used personal effects. After landing, registering at the municipality and applying for your permesso di soggiorno at the questura complete your legal setup.
The routes in for this corridor.
New Zealanders moving to Italy choose from a few realistic routes. These are the common ones, in brief.
For people who can support themselves from stable passive income without working in Italy, such as retirees. It requires proof of sufficient means and suitable accommodation.
Employment in Italy generally runs through the decreto flussi quota system and an employer sponsored permit, which can be competitive and timing sensitive.
Italy offers routes for remote workers and highly skilled digital professionals who meet income and qualification thresholds while working for clients or an employer outside Italy.
Family reunification and, for some, recognition of Italian citizenship by descent can be the simplest path. Many New Zealanders have eligible Italian ancestry worth checking.
How to pick a mover for this route, without the guesswork.
We do not rank or recommend individual companies. We teach you the criteria that separate a safe international move from an expensive mistake, then put your request in front of vetted movers who run this lane.
Check the trade affiliation. Look for membership of FIDI or IAM, the international moving networks audited for quality and financial stability. A mover that ships Oceania to the Mediterranean regularly will handle the Suez routing and Italian customs, including the EORI step, without drama.
Insist on a binding pre move survey. A real video or in home survey of your volume is the only honest basis for a price. A quote given without one is a guess that tends to grow on moving day.
Compare like for like. Read what each quote includes: packing, materials, customs clearance, destination delivery, stair or long carry charges, and insurance. The cheapest headline number is rarely the cheapest move.
Understand the insurance terms. Ask whether cover is full replacement value or depreciated, what the excess is, and how claims are handled. Read the valuation clause before you sign.
Read recent reviews for this corridor. Read recent reviews from people who shipped from New Zealand or Australia to Europe, not just local moves. Long ocean corridors test a mover differently, and the useful reviews describe Italian customs and delivery at the far end.
Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from New Zealand to Italy?
As an indicative 2026 range, a two to three bedroom home in a shared container runs about NZ$8,000 to 15,000, with a full container higher. Volume, season and the long Suez routing drive the final number, so get a surveyed quote.
How long does shipping from New Zealand to Italy take?
Plan for six to eight weeks at sea once the container sails, plus collection in New Zealand and Italian clearance. Door to door, nine to twelve weeks is realistic.
Do I pay duty on my furniture in Italy?
People transferring residence import used household goods free of duty when they meet the conditions, including registering residence before arrival and clearing within twelve months. New goods and consumables can attract duty.
What is the codice fiscale and EORI number?
The codice fiscale is the Italian tax code needed for official transactions. Since December 2024 an EORI number is also required on household goods shipments, including private moves, which your mover can arrange.
Can I bring my car from New Zealand to Italy?
It is possible but complex, with registration, type approval and possible duty and tax. Most movers ship a car only after the owner has confirmed eligibility, given the distance and cost.
Do I need to register my residence before my goods arrive?
Yes, for the duty free transfer of residence relief you generally must have applied for the iscrizione anagrafica with your municipality before the shipment arrives in Italy.
Last reviewed: 2 April 2026. We refresh this guide as costs, customs, and visa rules change.