The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced that the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement will come into effect on 20 October 2026. The agreement was signed in April 2026 and has now completed parliamentary approval in both countries. It will eliminate tariffs on all of India’s exports to New Zealand from day one.
What the agreement covers
Starting 20 October 2026, Indian goods will enter New Zealand with zero duty across all product categories. This immediately benefits sectors including textiles, leather, footwear, gems and jewellery, engineering goods and processed foods, where New Zealand currently charges tariffs up to 10 percent.
Indian manufacturers will also gain tariff-free access to key raw materials like wooden logs, coking coal and metal scrap.
However, India has protected its own farmers by keeping certain products outside the agreement. Dairy, meat (except sheep), sugar, edible oils and several agricultural commodities remain excluded. New Zealand’s apples, kiwifruit and Manuka honey will have limited market access through a quota system with minimum import prices and seasonal windows.
The agreement includes an Agriculture Productivity Partnership under which New Zealand will establish centres of excellence in India for orchard management, post-harvest practices and sustainable beekeeping to improve farmer incomes.
For investment, New Zealand has committed to facilitate USD 20 billion flowing into India across agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure and start-ups.
India’s services sector gains access to about 118 sectors in New Zealand, including IT, professional services, construction and tourism. The agreement offers 5,000 temporary employment visas yearly for skilled Indians and 1,000 working holiday visas for young Indians. Students can study without visa caps and work for up to three years after graduation (four years for doctoral graduates) in STEM fields.
Indian pharmaceutical and medical device companies will benefit as New Zealand begins accepting inspection approvals from the US FDA, European Medicines Agency and UK regulators, reducing delays in market entry.
What this means for you
If you work in textiles, leather, gems, engineering or food processing, your industry gains a major new market with zero import duties. If you are a farmer, your domestic market remains protected while new knowledge and technology reach you through partnership programmes. Young professionals and students gain clearer pathways to work and study in New Zealand. Small businesses and startups have fresh opportunities for investment and expansion.