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Moving to Australia (MTA) brings you free advise and information

If you’re looking at moving to Australia from NZ, you have just found all the information you need. Free and up-to-date. MTA editor moved to Brisbane, Australia over 10 years ago and wanted to share the information with other kiwi's. Find here all the information you need: setting up bank accounts, foreign exchange, moving your personal effects to Australia, schooling, real estate and hundreds of other pieces of useful information about Australia. Whether you are moving to Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne or Perth, we are here to help.

So how can I help? I've been answering kiwis moving to Australia questions for over 10 years, so am more than happy to help. Contact me here: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/contact.

Editor's Note: Throughout movingtoaustralia.co.nz you will see 'Editor's Note's'. These notes contain my personal experiences and opinions. I have included them so you can learn from my mistakes and save yourself time, money and stress from the research I have already done.

Please note, I am always happy to answer your questions, especially if there is something missing from the site that you want to know that would be helpful to others. Please use the comments box at the bottom of each content page.

This is the recommended process when moving to Australia from New Zealand

Relocating to Australia is a process a lot of kiwi's do because we automatically get granted a Special Category Visa (SCV). This Visa will allow you to live and work in Australia for as long as you like.

1. Visit Australia and make sure you like the city you plan to move to. This will save you a lot of money and stress.
   
   
2. Start looking for a job! While you are in Australia visit some recruitment companies and get the process going. You will generally earn more than you will in NZ and the costs of living are lower.
   
   
3. Find a school for your children. You will need an approximate move date to register your kids.
   
   
4. Find some short term accommodation. It is highly recommend to give yourself some time to find which suburb suits you and your family best before you buy or rent any real estate in Australian or sign a fixed term agreement (one year).
   
   
5. Book a moving company to pack and ship your household items and cat or dog to Australia.
   
   
6. Setup a bank account before you leave. Then you can pick up your eftpos card as soon as you get there and start living.
   
   
7. Register with a foreign exchange/money transfer provider. They have sharper exchange rates than the banks and lower fees (or none if you register using this link: https://payments.xe.com/en-nz/online-international-money-transfers-movetoaus/).
8. Register with Medicare Australia after you arrive. You will need to apply in person in a Medicare Office. Please remember to take your passport.
   
   
9. Get a TFN (Australian Tax File Number) after you arrive. You are not able to apply from NZ. You can apply online here: https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/tax-file-number/apply-for-a-tfn/foreign-passport-holders,-permanent-migrants-and-temporary-visitors---tfn-application/.

All the points above are explained in detail throughout our website. You can ask me questions at the bottom of every content page if there is further information you want to know.

Planning on moving your personal effects to Australia? Trust Ausmove!

Ausmove was the first ever company we partnered with. They did such a fantastic job of moving our stuff to Brisbane Australia, at a really competitive cost. We have been recommending them for over ten years and have always received positive Ausmove reviews.

If you do not understand the moving process you can find out more on our moving page, or shipping to Australia page, or you can simply get a free no obligation quote by clicking the button below. Ausmove will answer all your questions and talk through your options.

Moving to Australia Checklist

This is one of our most visited and helpful pages. Ausmove put together this Moving to Australia Checklist (Pre Move Planner) to help you organize and plan your move. It includes what you need to do four weeks before you move, two weeks, on move day and helpful tips.

Find out more... read our Moving to Australia Checklist page!

Moving your money to Australia

When you relocate to Australia you will also need to move your money with you. There a few things you need to be aware of, that I wish we knew when we moved.

Opening an Australian bank account

Open an account online before you go! My husband opened an account online with Commonwealth Bank before we left. When he was picking up his eftpos card in our local Commonwealth Bank, I tried to open an account. I was unable to open an account because I didn't have the right paperwork. I needed proof of address, which I didn't have. When I got home I opened an account online (Open a Commonwealth Bank Account) and picked up my eftpos card a few days later.

Find out more... read our Australia Bank Account page!

Save money on Money Transfer

Transferring your money from New Zealand to Australia is a big deal. It is important to use a trusted foreign exchange partner and make sure you get the most money possible from your money transfer. From our research, online money transfer companies give you the best rates with less margin and no fees.

Find out more... read our Foreign Exchange page!

Australian Health Care System

We have provided all the information and links to resources that you will need about the Australian Health Care System. The Australian Government funds three major national health schemes, Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the 30% Private Health Insurance Rebate. These are funded via taxes and the income based Medicare Levy.

Medicare Australia

Medicare is a publicly funded universal health care scheme in Australia. Operated by the government authority Medicare Australia, Medicare is the primary funder of health care in Australia, funding primary health care for Australian citizens and permanent residents (except for those on Norfolk Island).

Residents are entitled to subsidised treatment from medical practitioners, eligible midwives, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals who have been issued a Medicare provider number, and can also obtain free treatment in public hospitals.

Find out more... read our Medicare Australia page!

Private Health Insurance

In Australia, the public health system Medicare covers most Australian residents for health care. However, Medicare does not cover everything and you can choose to take out private health insurance to give yourself a wider range of health care options and more comprehensive cover, which you will also get a rebate for.

Do you have health insurance in NZ? Then you should get in Australia too.

Find out more... read our Private Health Insurance page!

Real Estate in Australia

Australian real estate is quite similar to New Zealand but Australia is so much bigger. Like New Zealand there are positives and negatives to each city and each suburb and it is important to do research before you leave New Zealand and when you get there before you make any fixed arrangements. The tenancy agreement lengths are one year minimum.

The tenancy market is much more competitive than New Zealand. There are dozens of people going for the same apartment/house, you need to make sure you make a good impression and have all the documents you need.

Find out more... read our Australia Real Estate page!

Utility Connection

When I tried to connect our utilities for our new home in Australia I contacted all the major companies, Sky TV, power company, phone and internet. I came up against all the same road blocks, not enough paper work! We didn't have proof of address, three months wages or bank accounts.

Then I came across On The Move and within minutes we had arranged for all our utilities to be connected. It saved us time, money and stress. They offered the same current deals that the supplier was offering, so we got exactly what we wanted without anymore stress.

Find out more... read our Utility Connection page! 

Finding a job in Australia

We highly recommend you finding a job in Australia before you leave New Zealand. Kiwi's are highly sort after all over the world including Australia. Australia is well known for paying higher wages than kiwi companies and the cost of living being a lot lower. Moving to Australia gives you a better quality of life if planned properly.

Unfortuntely we haven't got a recruitment company partner, so we can't help place you in a job, but we have have complied all the info we could to help you look for a new job.

Find out more... read our Jobs in Australia page! 

NZ Student Loan? Find out your student loan requirements when living in Australia.

First serious point is if you're going overseas for 6 months or more your New Zealand student loan won't be interest free. When you go overseas you need to let the IRD know if you're going to be overseas for 184 days (about 6 months) or more. The easiest way to do this, if you also want to apply for a repayment holiday, is to complete the form in your myIR Secure Online Services account. However, you'll become an overseas-based borrower if you'll be overseas for 184 days or more. This means you'll have different repayment obligations and your loan will no longer be interest-free. Interest applies to your student loan from the day after you leave New Zealand.

Find out more... read our NZ Student Loan page!

Here are some of our frequently asked questions. You can read the rest on our FAQ page:

Can New Zealand Citizens work in Australia?

Yes! New Zealand citizens are allowed to remain indefinitely in Australia to live, work or study, as long as they remain NZ citizens, subject to health or character considerations. NZ citizens get granted a SCV (Special Category Visa) when they enter Australia... read more.

Can someone with New Zealand Permanent Residency work in Australia?

Unfortunately New Zealand permanent residency does not entitle you to a SCV (Special Category Visa), which NZ citizens automatically get granted when they enter Australia... read more.

Do New Zealand permanent residents need a visa for Australia?

Yes New Zealanders with permanent residency need a visa to work, study and live in Australia. Most New Zealand citizens can visit, live and work in Australia without applying for a tourist or work visa... read more.

Can New Zealand citizens study in Australia?

Yes New Zealand citizens can study in Australia at an Australian tertiary institution. New Zealanders are also eligible to pay domestic fee instead of international fees... read more.

Can Kiwis live in Australia?

That depends… Under the SCV (Special Category Visa) New Zealanders are allowed to work and live in Australia indefinitely. They can live, work, study, purchase property and enjoy beautiful Australia... read more.

Can Australian citizens live and work in New Zealand?

Flip yeah! Australian citizens are able to live, work or study in New Zealand. Australian citizens do not need a work visa to work in New Zealand. This is also the case if you are the holder of a current Australian permanent residence visa including a current Australian resident return visa... read more.

When can I apply for citizenship in Australia?

To be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship you must be living in Australia on a valid Australian visa for four years and have not been absent from Australia for more than 1 year total, or been living in Australia for 12 months as a permanent resident... read more.

Read more of our FAQ's and ask your own questions.

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