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How to get licensed: New Zealand

Official procedure

  1. Arrange the amateur operator examination with an Approved Radio Examiner (ARX) and obtain a General Amateur Operator's Certificate of Competency and callsign. Certificate and callsign guide [7]
  2. Operate under Radio Spectrum Management's General User Radio Licence for amateur radio after checking its conditions; ordinary operators do not apply for an individual spectrum licence. Amateur radio operator rules [1]
Licensing authority
Radio Spectrum Management (RSM)
Cost
The General User Radio Licence is free. Exam and callsign fees are set by each Approved Radio Examiner: NZART charges NZ$80 for a new callsign, and a 2026 Manawatu HamCram course costs NZ$125 including exam fee, callsign and a year of NZART membership. [8] [9] [1] [10]
Processing time
A current processing time could not be verified from the linked sources; ask the authority before applying.

No qualifying applicant report was found.

Additional requirements
  • A current General Amateur Operator's Certificate of Competency and callsign are required; New Zealand certificates are available to citizens or residents. [1]
  • Read and follow the current General User Radio Licence conditions before transmitting. [1]
National amateur radio organization
New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART)

CEPT and visiting operators

This is not a CEPT member, but it implements T/R 61-01 for eligible visiting operators. Check the licence class and host rules; residents still follow the local licensing steps above. [6] [5]

Sources

  1. Radio Spectrum Management (RSM)
  2. New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART)
  3. IARU
  4. CEPT
  5. CEPT T/R 61-01
  6. CEPT T/R 61-01
  7. Certificate and callsign guide
  8. nzart.org.nz
  9. www.zl2ko.org.nz
  10. www.rsm.govt.nz