New Zealand couple moves to Europe for aviation jobs

A New Zealand couple relocated to Europe's aviation hub for career opportunity—here's what drew them and what the move involved.

By Matt at Seasoned Expat · Sep 1, 2026

A New Zealand couple recently made the leap to Europe after landing jobs in aviation, moving to what's known as the aviation capital of Europe. The move required visa sponsorship, relocation logistics, and a complete reset of their professional and personal lives.

For skilled workers in specialized fields like aviation, aerospace, or engineering, Europe offers job opportunities and salaries that can justify the move. The key is having an employer willing to sponsor a work visa—without that, the door stays closed. In this case, the job came first, and the visa followed.

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The job came first, and the visa followed—that's the path for most skilled workers moving to Europe.

The logistics of moving from New Zealand to Europe are substantial. Shipping household goods takes 6-8 weeks and costs €3,000 to €8,000 depending on volume. Flights for two people run €1,500 to €2,500 each. Finding housing before arrival is nearly impossible, so most expats plan to stay in temporary accommodation for the first month while apartment hunting. Budget €2,000 to €3,000 for that transition period.

Once settled, the couple faces the standard expat hurdles: opening a bank account, registering with tax authorities, finding healthcare, and building a social circle. The advantage of being in an aviation hub is that there's already an expat community—other workers from Australia, Canada, and the UK who've made the same move. That network matters more than most people realize.

Source: original report ↗

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