Getting Your IRD Number in New Zealand: A Guide for Canadians

26 August 2026

Your IRD number is New Zealand's equivalent of a Canadian SIN, and it's one of the first things to sort after you arrive. Without it, you can't be paid correctly, open certain accounts, or join KiwiSaver.

What is an IRD number?

An IRD number is your unique identifier with Inland Revenue (IRD), New Zealand's tax authority. You need it to work, to be taxed at the correct rate rather than a higher default rate, to open interest-bearing bank accounts, and to enrol in KiwiSaver, New Zealand's workplace retirement savings scheme.

How to apply as a new arrival

New arrivals get a streamlined path through myIR (myir.ird.govt.nz) that uses your Immigration New Zealand visa details to confirm your identity, so you don't need to send in separate ID documents. What you need depends on your visa: Australian passport holders provide passport details only; resident visa holders provide passport details plus their Immigration New Zealand application number; work and student visa holders provide the same, plus, in some cases, their most recent overseas tax number. Confirmed against IRD's published new-arrival process as at 26 Aug 2026.

1
Apply online through myIR
Use the new arrival pathway, which draws on your Immigration New Zealand visa details instead of requiring separate identity documents.
2
Provide your visa and passport details
What else you need depends on your visa type. Work and student visa holders may also need their most recent overseas tax number.
3
Wait for your number
IRD typically sends your number by text or email within about 2 working days, or by post within about 10 working days.
4
Give it to your employer and bank
Provide your IRD number on your Tax Code Declaration (IR330) so your employer withholds the correct amount, and to your bank if you open an account that earns interest.

What your IRD number looks like and how to protect it

Your IRD number is an eight or nine-digit number. Treat it the same way you'd treat your SIN: only give it to your employer, your bank, IRD itself, and government agencies processing an application. If a landlord, retailer or non-government service asks for it, you're not obliged to hand it over.

What to do once you have it

Give it to your employer straight away so payroll withholds the right amount from your first payslip. If your bank asks for it when opening an account, provide it then, since interest-bearing accounts need it to apply the correct resident withholding tax rate. Once you've got both an IRD number and a job, check your KiwiSaver eligibility, most residence-class visa holders can join, most temporary visa holders can't, and consider registering for a myIR account online, which gives you access to your tax summary and any Working for Families or other entitlements you may qualify for.

Key Takeaways

An IRD number is New Zealand's equivalent of a Canadian SIN, needed for work, tax and KiwiSaver.
New arrivals get a streamlined myIR application using visa details instead of separate ID documents.
Processing takes about 2 working days by text or email, or about 10 days by post.
The streamlined process has a deadline tied to your visa; apply early rather than risk falling back to the slower standard process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee to apply for an IRD number?

No, applying for an IRD number is free.

Can my employer pay me before I have an IRD number?

Yes, but you'll be taxed at a higher no-notification rate until you provide one, and you'll need to reclaim any overpaid tax when you file a return, so it's worth applying before your first payslip if you can.

Sorting out your first weeks in New Zealand?

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