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.
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, 75 KB]
- 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(external link)
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 [PDF, 1 MB]
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.
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.
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If your application is approved, we will:
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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(external link)
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(external link)
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Last updated 2 August 2022