US-listed · NASDAQ · FIF-eligible (above NZ$50K)
Vanguard VXUS Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Tracks the FTSE Global All Cap ex-US Index — ~8,000 stocks across developed + emerging markets outside the US.
Updated Reviewed quarterly
About this fund
What is VXUS?
VXUS is the US-listed ticker for Vanguard Total International Stock ETF, issued by Vanguard. Tracks the FTSE Global All Cap ex-US Index — ~8,000 stocks across developed + emerging markets outside the US. TER is 0.05% per year, with a trailing 12-month distribution yield of approximately 3.2%. Distributions are paid quarterly.
How to buy
Where can I buy VXUS from New Zealand?
Hatch NZ-built. US$3 flat per trade, ~0.5% FX.
Stake Commission-free US shares; ~0.7% FX.
Sharesies NZ + AU + US in one account; tiered subscription pricing.
Interactive Brokers Tiered commissions; FX margin ~0.002% (lowest published of platforms reviewed).
See the full platform comparison for fees, minimums, and supported markets across all 11 NZ-accessible brokers.
NZ tax
How is VXUS taxed for NZ investors?
VXUS is US-listed, so it sits in the Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) regime once your overseas-share holdings exceed NZ$50,000 cost basis. Below that threshold, the FIF regime does not apply and you pay tax on dividends only.
Above NZ$50K cost basis, most NZ retail investors use the Fair Dividend Rate (FDR) method — deemed income = 5% × opening market value × your marginal tax rate. FDR vs CV method →
US dividends carry 15% US withholding tax under the NZ–US tax treaty (file a W-8BEN with your broker; without it, the rate is 30%). The 15% can be claimed as a foreign tax credit on your IR3.
Tax outcomes depend on your portfolio size, marginal rate, and FDR-vs-CV election. See PIE vs FIF for the full comparison and consult a registered NZ tax adviser for personalised guidance.
FAQ
Common questions about VXUS
What is the VXUS ETF? ⌄
VXUS is the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF — it tracks the FTSE Global All Cap ex-US Index, holding ~8,000 stocks across developed (Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia) and emerging markets (China, India, Brazil, Korea, etc) outside the US. TER is 0.05%, distributions paid quarterly. Yield ~3.2%. The "completion" fund for VTI to give global equity exposure.
VXUS vs VEU — what's the difference? ⌄
Both are Vanguard ex-US equity funds. VXUS (Total International) tracks ~8,000 stocks across all market caps (large + mid + small). VEU (FTSE All-World ex-US) tracks ~3,500 stocks across large + mid only — no small-caps. Holdings overlap heavily on the large-cap side. VXUS has slightly broader coverage at marginally higher TER. Performance is typically within 0.1-0.3% over multi-year periods.
Can NZ residents buy VXUS? ⌄
Yes. VXUS is available via Hatch, Stake, Sharesies (US market), and Interactive Brokers. Above NZ$50,000 cost basis FIF rules apply (FDR method most common). The fund itself sits in the FIF regime as a US-domiciled ETF, even though its underlying holdings are non-US.
Why hold VXUS alongside VTI or VOO? ⌄
Holding VXUS alongside US equity (VTI / VOO) gives full global equity exposure. The S&P 500 is ~60-65% of global market cap; VXUS fills the remaining ~35-40%. A common allocation is 60% VTI + 40% VXUS (roughly mirroring global market weights), though the right split for an NZ investor depends on home-country exposure (NZX), USD currency tolerance, and tax preferences (some NZ-PIE alternatives exist).
Related ETFs and resources
VTI — Vanguard Total Stock Market (US)
US-equity counterpart. VTI + VXUS = global equity coverage.
VOO — Vanguard S&P 500
US large-cap alternative for combined US+international exposure.
SCHE — Schwab Emerging Markets
EM-only alternative if you already hold developed-international elsewhere.
NZ-listed global ETFs (PIE-tax)
NZX-listed global equity alternatives that avoid FIF.
FIF tax explained
When FIF applies and how to file.