Apply for your licence

You need to have a licence to work in real estate in New Zealand. This page outlines the pre-application requirements and the online application process.

Types of real estate licence

There are three types of real estate licences for individuals.

Salesperson’s licence

You can carry out real estate work for or on behalf of a licensed agent. You need to be supervised by an agent or branch manager.

Branch manager's licence

You can carry out real estate work for or on behalf of a licensed agent. You can also supervise salespeople.

Agent's licence

In addition to the roles of salesperson and branch manager, you can carry out real estate work on your own or in a partnership or be the eligible officer for a company. You can also employ real estate salespeople.

Pre-application requirements

Before you apply for a licence, you must be 18 years old, have the required qualifications and experience, and you need to meet specific criteria.

Qualifications and experience

Different types of licences require different qualifications and levels of experience.

Find out about the qualifications and experience required

Meet certain criteria

Anyone carrying out real estate work in New Zealand, whether as an individual or for a company, must meet specific criteria and be a fit and proper person.

Learn about the criteria you must meet

Individual application

Individual licence applications are made online in the REA licensee portal. Before applying, you will need to have all the required documents, understand the fees and levies and create a RealMe account.

Required documentation
  • A New Zealand passport or driver licence.
  • If you are an international applicant, you need to supply a copy of your passport. Your passport must be certified by a justice of the peace, solicitor, notary public, registrar or deputy registrar of the High Court or any District Court, authorised officer in the service of the Crown or any Member of Parliament.
  • Evidence of your qualification.
  • Evidence of your three years' real estate work experience if applying for a branch manager's or agent's licence.
  • A complete and certified REA Form 5: Declaration in support of application (PDF 75KB)
  • A copy of your most recent work history (CV) in .pdf format.
  • Contact details for two referees.
  • Evidence of change of name if your qualification is issued in a different name to that shown on your driver licence or passport where applicable.
Fees and levies

You pay a one-off application fee when you apply for a licence.

You also pay annual levies. You can pay by credit card (we accept Visa or MasterCard) or internet banking. You’ll be prompted to pay your fee and levies as part of your online application.

Find out how much your licence costs

Conviction history check

All applicants need to consent to a conviction history check so we can ask New Zealand Police Vetting Service for information about you.

You’ll be prompted to give consent as part of your online application.

RealMe account

To gain access to the licensee portal to apply for a licence, you will need to create a RealMe account.

Find out more about creating your RealMe account

 

Apply for a licence

If you have an Australian licence

If you have an Australian real estate licence and want to work in New Zealand, you need to apply for a New Zealand licence.

Read more about Australian real estate licences

Company application

To apply for a licence as a company, one of the company’s officers should complete the application form.

All officers of the company must be proper persons to be officers of a licensee company by reason of personal character and financial position. Each officer of the company must consent to a conviction history check so we can ask New Zealand Police Vetting Service for information. This consent form is included in the application pack.

Read more about getting a real estate company licence

You pay a one-off application fee when you apply for a licence. You also pay annual levies. You can pay by credit card (we accept Visa or MasterCard) or internet banking. You’ll be prompted to pay your fee and levies as part of your application.

Find out how much your licence costs

Download the Company licence application pack (DOCX 337KB)

Application approval

There are a number of steps before we can approve your application.

We’ll advertise your application details on our website for 14 days. During this period, anyone can object to your application. We'll let you know if there is an objection and will invite you to respond. We’ll then consider the objection and your response. This may take up to 2 months.

If there are no objections, we then need to wait for the results of your criminal history check. This can take up to 28 days.

  • If your application is approved, we will:

    • add your details to our public register
    • email you a letter of approval
    • email you an evidence of licence certificate (which shows all the details of your licence)
    • email you a copy of your invoice.
  • If your application is declined, we will:

    • write to tell you why
    • tell you about your right to have the decision reviewed
    • refund your levies but not your application fee.

Exemptions

Exemption for lawyers and conveyancers

A lawyer or conveyancer may carry out real estate agency work but in respect of the sale or other disposal of any land or business is not entitled to be remunerated for that work by commission in addition to or instead of the professional charges of that lawyer or conveyancing practitioner.

Read section 7 of the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

Exemption for licensed auctioneers

A person registered as an auctioneer under the Auctioneers Act 2013 may sell or offer to sell any land by auction.

 Read section 8 of the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

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Last updated 2 August 2022