Adapted from KanNZ and checked against bank guidance on 12 October 2026.
Before booking a branch visit, open your chosen bank’s current identification page. Banks have different document combinations and application routes, so a checklist from one bank should not be treated as a rule for all of them.
Start with the application route
Are you applying after arriving in New Zealand, using an online identity check, or arranging migrant banking before arrival? Tell the bank which situation applies. BNZ says it needs to verify identity, residence and, where required, tax-residency status. It may also ask how you intend to use the account.
Write down the documents requested for your route, whether you need an appointment and which originals to bring. Do this before paying for certification or translations.
Identity: an overseas passport can be an option
ANZ’s September 2026 guide accepts a current overseas passport as primary photo identification. Other combinations are available, including a New Zealand driver licence plus an approved supporting document.
BNZ also lists an overseas passport among its primary photo-ID options. Its alternative combinations have their own requirements. A licence alone should not be assumed sufficient for every application.
Check expiry dates and spelling. ANZ asks for evidence of a name change where documents use different names, and an independently translated copy when a document is not in English.
Address: ask what your bank accepts
ANZ says it may request residential-address evidence in some cases. Its examples include a utility bill, government-agency document, signed tenancy or subletting agreement, and an education-provider letter on letterhead. For informal housing, it provides a host-letter process.
BNZ’s online application guidance says it may request an uploaded address document if automatic verification fails. Examples include a bank statement, employer or education-provider letter, or a bill.
There is no sound basis for a blanket rule that every bank rejects electronic documents or requires a posted paper letter. Ask about the specific document and its permitted age. A screenshot and an official downloadable statement may be treated differently.
A checklist before your appointment
- Confirm the exact account and application route.
- Prepare the accepted identity combination, with current documents.
- Check whether address evidence is required and whether yours meets the bank’s list.
- Prepare any requested tax-residency information.
- Confirm whether originals, certified copies or a branch identity check are needed.
If you have just arrived and do not yet have bills in your name, explain that before visiting. Ask which alternatives apply to your accommodation. Do not substitute a friend’s document without the bank’s approved process.
