Te Pūtea Hanga Kiriata o Aotearoa
Rebate For International Productions
Are you a New Zealand production or official co-production?
New Zealand Rebate
Updates to the International Screen Production Rebate
On 7 November 2025, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis announced changes to International Rebate settings to take effect from 1 January 2026.
© Avatar: The Way of Water
New Zealand offers everything you need to bring your vision to life: world-class production and post-production facilities, diverse and accessible locations and experienced, highly-skilled crews who know how to deliver exceptional results.
The International Rebate offers a baseline 20% cash rebate on eligible spend and is administered by the NZFC on behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Overview
New Zealand Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR) for International Productions
Cash Rebate
20%
of your Qualifying New Zealand Production Expenditure (QNZPE).
Eligibility
To qualify for the International Rebate, your project must meet the following criteria:
Minimum spending requirements
*Pre January 1st expenditure threshold
The expenditure threshold for theatrically released feature films starting principal photography before 1 January 2026 is NZ$15 million.
What counts as qualifying spend?
Your Qualifying New Zealand Production Expenditure (QNZPE) includes money you spend on your production in New Zealand. This covers:
- Services provided here in New Zealand
- Using land located in New Zealand
- Goods you buy, hire or lease in New Zealand (as long as they're sourced locally)
- Goods sourced from overseas, provided those goods are not otherwise available in New Zealand, are located here during the making of the production and are purchased, hired or leased from a New Zealand Resident who typically supplies that type of good.
You can also include fees and expenses for non-New Zealand residents working on your production in Aotearoa New Zealand. For non-cast members, they need to work on your production for at least 14 days total.
For complete details, check Section 3 of the Criteria document.
QNZPE for PDV Productions includes, but is not limited to:
- Fees and expenses for personnel working on PDV activity.
- Hiring studio and office space for PDV activity.
- Buying and hiring equipment used for PDV activity.
- Depreciation of assets used for PDV activity.
© Predator: Badlands
5% Uplift
Productions eligible for the 20% Rebate may be able to apply for a 5% Uplift if additional criteria are met.
From 1 January 2026 a 5% Uplift for PDV Productions will be available.
How to apply
One
Registration
You must register with us:
- Before you start principal photography, or
- For PDV productions: within 20 working days of accepting a qualifying bid for PDV work
Two
Provisional Certification
- Once you’ve registered, you can choose to apply for a Provisional Certificate. This gives you a non-binding opinion on whether you’re eligible for the International Rebate.
- Provisional Certification becomes mandatory if you’re applying for the Production Rebate 5% Uplift. The Provisional application must be submitted before the start of principal photography.
- Provisional Certification remains optional if you’re applying for the PDV Rebate 5% Uplift.
Three
Final Certification
- Submit your final application within six months of completion.
- Include an independent auditor's report from one of our approved providers.
- We'll review your claim with an external consultant to confirm eligibility.
- Once your QNZPE reaches NZ$50 million, you can apply for an interim payment.
You'll find the full criteria, application forms, templates, and other resources below to guide you through the process.