New Zealand and the Netherlands at a glance
- Stamp
- Apostille, Hague Convention in force for New Zealand since 22 November 2001
- Issued by
- Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit (Wellington), by post or as an e-apostille sent by email
- Language
- English, accepted as it is
- Register
- Companies Office (online)
- Tax treaty
- Signed 1980, in force 1981 (Rijksoverheid, 1 October 2026)
- EU trade
- Free Trade Agreement, 2024
- In the Netherlands
- 30 companies controlled from New Zealand in 2024, 25 in 2021 (+20%) (CBS, 9 October 2026)
- Moving here
- Residence permit needed
Documents from New Zealand
Passport copy, certified by a notary in New Zealand.
Proof of address in New Zealand, at most three months old.
Power of attorney. Sign the power of attorney before a New Zealand notary public. Documents certified by a justice of the peace or a solicitor are ineligible for an apostille.
Ownership statement, one page from us.
The apostille. Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit (Wellington), by post or as an e-apostille sent by email. The e-apostille is a secure PDF.
Official page: https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/proving-and-protecting-your-identity/use-your-nz-documents-overseas/
Good to know. For use abroad, only a certification by a notary public is accepted. The Authentication Unit refuses a certification by a justice of the peace. Ask for the e-apostille, the PDF version. This way, you avoid sending documents by courier.
If a company from New Zealand becomes a shareholder
Register extract, at most three months old: Companies Office. Order a certificate of incorporation and the company extract showing directors and shareholders. The Authentication Unit apostilles both. Plus articles, signing authority and ownership chart.
Trade between New Zealand and the EU
Trade in goods between the EU and New Zealand came to €8.4 billion in 2025, with an EU surplus of €1.6 billion. In 2025, the EU was New Zealand's second-largest trading partner after China, with 14.2% of its goods trade.
EU imports from New Zealand are mainly agricultural products, and EU exports mainly machinery and appliances, transport equipment and chemicals. Trade in services came to €6.3 billion in 2024, with an EU surplus of €2.1 billion.
The stock of EU foreign direct investment in New Zealand reached €9.9 billion in 2024, and New Zealand's investment stock in the EU €1.7 billion.
The EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, signed on 9 July 2023, entered into force on 1 May 2024 and was then expected to cut €140 million a year in duties for EU companies. Its first Trade Committee met on 25 October 2025.
Import duties: Access2Markets.
Sources: European Commission [1].
Your next step from New Zealand
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