Visitor and Traveller Information

Updated 2012-05-09

Reciprocal Licensing Bureau

NZ Amateur Radio Operators Operating Outside of NZ? See below

New Zealand welcomes visiting licensed radio amateurs

Bring a rig with you

The New Zealand Administration, the Ministry of Economic Development, Radio Spectrum Management group (MED: RSM), has provided a "General User Radio Licence" (GURL) for short-term visiting (90 days) amateur radio operators.

Paragraph 4 states:

Terms, conditions and restrictions applying to visiting amateur operators

Persons visiting New Zealand who hold a current amateur certificate of competency, authorisation or licence issued by another administration, may operate an amateur station in New Zealand for a period not exceeding 90 days, provided the certificate, authorisation or licence meets the requirements of Recommendation ITU-R M.1544 or CEPT T/R 61-01 or CEPT T/R 61-02 and is produced at the request of the chief executive.

The call sign must be the national call sign allocated by the other administration to that person, in conjunction with the prefix or suffix """ZL" which is to be separated from the national call sign by the character "/" (telegraphy), or the word "stroke" (telephony).

No application need be made

You must have your home licence with you and it must be current for the time of your visit

No fee is charged (it's FREE!)

What do I need?

A copy of the New Zealand licensing conditions.

The Ministry of Economic Development, Radio Spectrum Management group (MED: RSM), has provided a "General User Radio Licence" (GURL) for short-term visiting amateur radio operators.

You can find it at the Ministry's web site:

http://www.rsm.govt.nz/cms/licensees/types-of-licence/amateur-licences/ (Checked and updated 11-JUNE-2010)

Download the PDF version (approx. 26 kb) from there and print it out. It gives you the licence requirements and the operating information you need. Read it carefully and please make sure that your home licence complies.

You are recommended to obtain a copy of the NZART Callbook. This gives amateur frequencies, band plans, repeater locations, branch information, and much other information specific to New Zealand. The Callbook is of immeasurable assistance to amateur radio visitors traveling in our country. To purchase a copy, contact our National Office - Details here.

Visiting New Zealand For Over 90 Days

Visiting radio amateurs wishing to operate for a longer periods may need to obtain a New Zealand licence.

Details on how to obtain an amateur licence are available on the Ministry's web site (URL Given above) by searching on amateur.

Further enquiries can be made to the Licensing Authority at e-mail: rsmlicensing@med.govt.nz

NZ Amateur Radio Operators Operating Outside of NZ? 

Two websites would be of particular interest to you:

Americal Radio Relay League

http://www.arrl.org/reciprocal-permit

Worldwide Information on Licensing for Radio Amateurs by OH2MCN

http://www.qsl.net/oh2mcn/license.htm