As a New Zealander, you have a unique opportunity if you’re considering a move to Australia. New Zealand and Australia have a Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement that allows their citizens to visit, study, live and work in either NZ or Australia for as long or little as they want.
Australia announced on 22 April 2023 a new direct pathway to citizenship for eligible New Zealand citizens who have lived in Australia for at least 4 years immediately before the day you apply.
The changes will come into effect from 1 July 2023 this year and be retrospective.
Read more on my direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders in Australia post.
As an NZ citizen, you will be automatically granted a non-protected Special Category Visa (SCV) when you process through Australian border control, subject to meeting the health and character requirements (read more below). There is no mention of this at border control. It all happens electronically. The SCV is automatically cancelled upon departing Australia.
If you are not an NZ citizen, the process is quite different, as you will need to apply for a visa before you can travel to Australia. For more information on Australian visas, please visit the Australian Government – Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.
In this post, you will find information on the following:
Visas are official documents issued by a country that permit foreign nationals to live or stay there.
Since 1973, the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement has allowed Australian and New Zealand citizens to freely visit, live, and work in each other’s countries without needing a visa or special entry authority.
Migration between the two countries often reflects economic conditions. When New Zealand’s economy is under pressure, it’s common to see more New Zealanders moving to Australia in search of better opportunities.
As an NZ citizen, you do not need to apply for an Australian visa before you leave NZ. Upon entering Australia, you present your New Zealand passport for immigration clearance. Once done, you are considered to have applied for a visa and, subject to health or character considerations, will automatically receive a non-protected Special Category Visa (SCV). The SCV is recorded electronically.
To be granted an SCV when you enter Australia, you must:
If you meet the eligibility requirements (below), you will be granted an SCV.
If you leave Australia, your SCV will cease. The next time you enter, if you meet the eligibility requirements, you will be granted a new SCV.
The SCV is a temporary visa (non-protected). SCV holders do not have the same rights and benefits as Australian citizens or permanent residents. Close but not the same.
Note that New Zealand permanent residents are not entitled to the Special Category Visa. You will need to apply for a visa to live and work in Australia. Read on to find out how.
There are some restrictions on the SCV for New Zealanders moving to Australia, but only two:
Because the Special Category Visa (SCV) is granted electronically, you don’t receive a physical visa or documentation. If you need proof of your right to live and work in Australia, such as for an employer, you can obtain your SCV details through the Department of Home Affairs.
To request your SCV details online, you will need one of the following reference types:
However, as a New Zealand citizen, you won’t have a TRN, Evidence Number, or Grant Number (because you don’t formally apply for the SCV). Instead, you’ll need to call Visa General Enquiries on 131 881 and request a VEVO password.
You will now be able to view your SCV details and can choose to email them directly to yourself or another party.
For full instructions, visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
While the Special Category Visa (SCV) allows New Zealand citizens to live and work in Australia, it does come with a number of exclusions that may affect you and your family.
The biggest limitation is around access to government support. New Zealanders living in Australia on an SCV are not entitled to all government benefits and are not eligible for student loans.
In addition, there are waiting periods before you can access certain government payments; this is known as the Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period (more information below).
For a full breakdown of these limitations, see my detailed post on SCV exclusions.
If you arrived in Australia after 26 February 2001 as a New Zealand citizen, you would be considered a non-protected SCV-holder. This means that you are not considered an Australian resident for social security purposes.
NZ citizens on a protected SCV can apply for citizenship, subject to meeting the usual eligibility criteria.
Non-protected SCV holders do not have the same rights and benefits as Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents. Australian authorities can also cancel an SCV if a person fails certain character and health requirements, such as committing a crime or having untreated TB.
You can visit, study, live and work in Australia for as long as you want. A non-protected SCV should entitle you to the following. Please note that some government help might still have a waiting period (info below):
The Parliament of Australia website has a quick guide to entitlements.
Please note that most of the above government benefits/support have wait times before you can claim them (see below).
Temporary visa holders are not entitled to:
Eligible New Zealand citizens (or protected SCV holders) are eligible for more government help. These include:
You can contact the relevant department to find out if you are eligible.
Since the new direct pathway to Australian citizenship has been set up, the benefits and payments New Zealand citizens can get from the Australian government have not changed!
The newly arrived resident’s waiting period (NARWP) is the time spent in Australia as an Australian resident. This means that if you travel overseas, the time you’re away from Australia won’t count towards the waiting period.
New residents may have to wait up to 4 years before they can get most Australian government payments, concessions, and health care cards. A maximum 2-year waiting period applies if you’re the holder of either:
Read more about the waiting periods for newly arrived residents on the Australian government website Services Australia. The waiting periods below are for New Zealand citizens living in Australia on an SCV.
If you’re an NZ citizen living in Australia, you are eligible for some Centrelink payments or concession cards.
If you live in Australia and you are a non-protected SCV holder, you can apply for the following:
If you have served or have an exemption from the newly arrived resident’s waiting period (full list), you may also be able to claim:
If you’ve lived in Australia continuously for at least 10 years, you may be able to get a one-off period of payment. This is a single period of up to 6 months for one of the following payments:
You may also be able to get the Tertiary Access Payment.
The continuous 10-year period of living in Australia needs to be immediately before claiming.
If you are a New Zealand citizen and your family members are:
If you have had a New Zealand citizen baby born in Australia, please see if you had a baby for further information.
To sponsor a family member for Australian permanent residence, you must be:
If you are an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen and your children were born in Australia, they may already be Australian citizens. You can apply for their proof of citizenship.
For most New Zealanders, the answer is no.
As an NZ citizen, you are automatically granted a Special Category Visa (SCV) when you arrive in Australia. This visa allows you to live, work, study, and stay in Australia lawfully for as long as you remain a New Zealand citizen—without needing to apply for permanent residency (PR).
Since the introduction of the direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders in Australia, there’s even less reason to apply for PR. Eligible NZ citizens are now considered to have the same standing as permanent residents from the moment they arrive, making PR applications unnecessary in most cases.
Specialist immigration companies can save you time, money, and stress when applying for a visa. That said, you don’t have to hire someone to submit your application—you can research and apply for a visa yourself directly through the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website.
That being said, if you’re not an NZ citizen, have a history of imprisonment for over a year, or face unique circumstances that may complicate your application, seeking professional advice from an immigration specialist is often worthwhile and can give you peace of mind.
You can search for a registered immigration specialist on the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) website. If you’re based in New Zealand, try searching for advisers in Auckland who specialise in Australian visas.
I don’t have an immigration specialist partner. However, I recommend you check out IMMagine. They offer a free preliminary evaluation to establish which Visa category may suit you and whether it’s worth your while to order a comprehensive full assessment. Not many immigration companies do this.
The next step is a full assessment, during which IMMagine will develop your detailed strategy, timeline, and pricing structure in person or on Skype. Naturally, a small cost applies to this complete and comprehensive assessment.
For a small fee (AUD$15.00), you can post your question online, and one of the IMMagine team will contact you with your answer within 24 hours (usually same-day response). This service is designed for people who need quick access to accurate information but don’t want to search online to find the answers. Most importantly, your questions are answered by licensed advisers living in New Zealand or Australia.
If you’re planning to move to Australia and have a criminal conviction, you may be worried about whether it will affect your ability to enter the country. If this is you or someone you love, read my post on moving to Australia with a criminal conviction.
For New Zealanders with a criminal history, it’s important to get written confirmation from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) before travelling. If you have served a prison sentence of 12 months or more, you will need to apply for an Australian visa rather than relying on a Special Category Visa (SCV).
There are a lot of ways to get Australian visa and citizenship information and help on the internet. A few of the links are below:
The posts below might interest you:
If you’ve read the above content and the answer to your question isn’t there, please write a comment below and I’ll research the answer for you.
If you need advice on moving to Australia from New Zealand, I’ve created a helpful little questionnaire to point you in the right direction. It takes less than 30 seconds, so give it a go!
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I love helping people via Moving to Australia.
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Simione
April 10, 2013 at 6:32 amHi, I’ve been here for 4 years working here in Australia was born in new Zealand
Just wanting to know do I need to have a visa to be in Australia and yet still work, because I plan to go back to nz to visit family for three days and I wanted to know would I get stuck back home because of a visa or am I ok?
JJ Smith
April 10, 2013 at 6:32 amHi Simione,
Thank your for your comment.
You are fine to enter and exit Australia as you please, as every time you enter Australia you are granted a SCV Visa when your passport is stamped.
Enjoy your trip to NZ.
Rebecca
February 11, 2013 at 12:42 pmHi,
I have recently moved to Australia and have a scv visa. The problem I have found is all of the previous work experience I have was either in government departments or Airline and they state permanent residency on all adverts advertised. Which in fact means the scv doesn’t appear to give you equal right to work in Australia. Could you please advise which steps are required to obtain my permanent residency and the cost involved to do so.
Thank you.
JJ Smith
February 12, 2013 at 7:23 amHi Rebecca,
As a New Zealand citizen your eligibility for Australian citizenship depends on whether you arrived in Australia before or after 26 February 2001.
On arrival in Australia, most New Zealanders are automatically granted a Special Category Visa (SCV). This visa allows the holder to remain and work in Australian indefinitely. Up to 26 February 2001 the holders of SCVs were eligible to apply for citizenship.
On 26 February 2001, the Australian Government announced that New Zealand citizens are required to apply for and be granted permanent residence in Australia if they wish to access certain social security payments, obtain Australian citizenship or sponsor their family members for permanent residence.
Having permanent residence means you have a current visa that permits you to live in Australia indefinitely. There are many different type of visas that provide permanent residency for citizenship purposes. You can use the Visa Wizard to find a visa of this type. On the same website will be able to find fees for applying for permanent residence.
However, I do recommend that you contact an Australian Immigration Consultant, as they will be able to discuss your options and the process better than I can. Their fees are normally very reasonable, especially for the amount of time and stress they save you.
Good luck and please let me know if you have any feedback regarding the above.
Kind Regards,
MTA Team
Kay
February 1, 2013 at 6:14 amHi,
Its Kay here. I’m a nz citizen living and working in Australia.Could you please inform that under what kind of category[e.g skilled migrant worker]can we convert SCV into permanent residency?How long does it take and are we eligible or not?i read on the immigration website that they are not accepting anymore applications under the skilled worker. Skill select is just like putting forward EOI, i.e expression of interest. Will that work?
Any Migration agents who can locally help us get us on track?
Thank you for going through this query.
Regards
Kay
JJ Smith
February 12, 2013 at 8:00 amHi Kay,
You are able to apply for permanent residency, your SCV does not get converted.
As a New Zealand citizen I believe you do not get any special considerations, you just have to apply along with everyone else.
Therefore I highly recommend that you contact an Australian Immigration Consultant, as they will be able to advise you of your options and the process better than I can. Their fees are normally very reasonable, especially for the amount of time and stress they save you.
At the moment we are not working with a particular Australian Immigration Consultant, but below are a few I found in Google (searched ‘Australian Immigration Consultants’). I recommend getting quotes from a few companies before deciding who will represent you the best for what price:
– http://www.synch1.com/
– http://www.australianmigrationconsultants.com.au
– http://www.migrationexpert.com.au
– http://www.nationalvisas.com.au
Good luck and please let me know if you have any feedback regarding the above, so I can help other people having similar problems to you.
Kind Regards,
MTA Team
Paula
January 6, 2013 at 2:48 amHi,
My friend has just sent me this. Is any part of this true?
Ok, so the guy I’m sitting next to on my flight back to AU this evening tells me that the AU Govt will be imposing a new law concerning Kiwi’s migrating to AU from March 2013. So if you’re like me, live and work in AU but don’t have permanent residency and are not a citizen, if you decide to leave AU for a holiday or a weekend back home, you will not be automatically granted entry back into AU unless you have a returning visa and you will no longer be eligible to work in AU unless you apply for and are granted a work permit. Even though you have a job etc. etc.
If I choose not to travel and continue to stay in AU, I don’t need to apply for either. Apparently this is the out come of a meeting Julia Gillard had with John Keys about stopping the high number of kiwis immigrating to AU every year, so Jk suggested AU bring back the visa policy and control numbers migrating.
You can get around this is applying for permanent residency or citizenship.
I’m not sure how much of this information is factual, but I have been told that this info has come from someone who works high up in immigration. Apparently everything is in place and will go live March of this year. Neither Govt’s are communicating this policy to prevent a mass exodus from NZ prior to March.
I hope I am wrong in this instance, but thought I’d pass this on anyway just in case!
I live in Australia, but am not a resident, nor was I living here prior to 2001. Am i still going to be able to freely move between the two countries – to go home for holidays?
I look forward to your response.
Cheers
Paula
JJ Smith
January 15, 2013 at 4:33 amHi Paula,
Thank you for your comment.
There have always been rumours regarding Australia changing the SCV laws/requirements. However, to date nothing has been changed.
All the information on the internet, including Australia Government websites and newspapers, is stating that Australia still need/want New Zealand’s immigration and nothing is going to change at this stage.
If you are right, unfortunately I will not be able to confirm until it is made public.
Lets hope the information is only a rumour as it has been in the past.
Please let me know if you find out any further information regarding the above.
Kind Regards,
MTA Team
Darian
January 2, 2013 at 10:18 amHow old do u have to be to move from nz to aus without parental permission ? Im 16 and wana get out of nz and away from my old life asap.
JJ Smith
January 3, 2013 at 8:24 amHi Darian,
Thank you for your comment.
I’m sorry but I can not find a legal minimum age for moving to Australia without your parents or a guardian.
However, you are able to fill out the ‘find a visa’ online form to see if Australia will grant you a SCV Visa or not (http://www.immi.gov.au/visawizard/). If they will, then you can legally work and live in Australia.
It is a big move to make and I recommend you weigh up your options seriously before deciding to move country. If you have not lived alone before, you should reconsider moving and just move out of home, as living alone is expensive and firstly you need to be able to support yourself.
One thing you should definitely do is contact a few recruitment companies to see what type of work you are most likely to get and how long it will take approximately to get placed, as you will need to budget for the period where you will need to pay living expenses before you find a job.
You will also find a lot of helpful information regarding moving to Australia on our site, so have a good look around.
Thanks,
MTA Team
J
October 14, 2012 at 2:37 pmHello, were there changes made from 1st oct about new zealanders moving to and working in australia? We were told by a friend who’s just moved here from nz that he because he had a one way ticket he had to buy a return ticket within 48 hours, he wants to live and work here, he then called a lawyer and was told kiwis need to apply for a visa costing 1800 dollars for 3 months, that you need to have a job before you move to australia and once the 3 months is over you have to go back to nz and reapply to come back, is this true?
JJ Smith
October 16, 2012 at 3:55 amHi,
Thank you for your comment.
I have done some research in SCV Visa’s for New Zealanders moving over to Australia and there have been no changes according to the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.
The Special Category visa (SCV) is a temporary visa electronically granted to New Zealand citizens who arrive in Australia on a New Zealand passport that is in force and who do not hold a visa.
You must:
– be a New Zealand citizen
– meet health and character requirements
– not have been deported, excluded or removed from any country.
Note: If you do not meet these requirements, you may not be eligible for a SCV, and you may be refused entry to Australia. Please approach the nearest Australian immigration office or visit http://www.immi.gov.au for further information regarding entry requirements for New Zealanders before travelling to Australia.
The SCV allows New Zealand citizens to lawfully live and work in Australia indefinitely. The SCV is a temporary visa and, except for certain holders resident in Australia on or before 26 February 2001, does not provide a direct pathway to citizenship. If you wish to become a permanent resident to qualify for Australian citizenship see below ‘Pathways to permanent residence’.
You friend must have had some additional circumstances that stopped him from being granted a SCV.
Please email me back if you require further information.
Kind Regards,
MTA Team
John
September 24, 2012 at 12:07 pmI lived in Australia from 1980 to 1998 before moving to NZ and have permanent residency here. I am on a British passport. My son who was born in Australia wants to return to Australia to be nearer to his mother who lives in Mackay. She is Australian but we are no longer married.
Can I return to live in Australia?
JJ Smith
September 25, 2012 at 5:40 amHi John,
Thank you for your comment.
You are definitely allowed to live back in Australia if you are an NZ citizen. However, you will might need proof either when you are going through airport immigration or when applying for Medicare etc once in Australia.
I recommend for starters you complete the Visa Wizard on the Australian Immigration website: http://www.immi.gov.au/visawizard/, or you can call the Australian Visa Application Centre in NZ on (09) 366 0274.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Kind Regards,
MTA Team
Jan
September 24, 2012 at 6:16 amHi My daughter and I moved to Melbourne in Jan 2011. We love it here and have no intention of moving back to NZ. I am now 50, work as a nurse and I understand that as I am over 45 I am not eligible to apply for PR. My daughter has just turned 18 and wants to attend Uni here etc and live here always. She very much wants to become an Aussie. What are our options?
JJ Smith
September 25, 2012 at 10:26 pmHi Jan,
Thank you for your comment.
The process of applying for Australian citizenship varies depending on your eligibility. There are a number of different application options with different eligibility requirements.
Generally, to apply for Australian citizenship you will need to:
– Determine that you are eligible
– Gather your original documents
– Copy and certify your documents
– Complete and lodge your application.
To start with, I recommend your daughter completing the Citizenship Wizard on the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship website: http://www.citizenship.gov.au/citizenshipwizard/. This will give you information about what to do and how to apply for Australian Citizenship.
Also, New Zealand citizens aged 16 and over applying for Australian citizenship should check the information on penal clearance certificates available from the department’s website: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/character-requirements/.
Regarding you applying for permanent residency, you do not need to to live in Australia for as long as you like. However, if you do want to, you are right, you will find it difficult as many permanent visas have an age cut-off. There are a few options though, but I recommend speaking to a migration agent. You can call the Australian Immigration Department on 131 880.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Kind Regards,
MTA Team
JJ Smith
September 22, 2012 at 9:50 amHi Anita,
Thank you for your comment.
Please follow the below link to find out which Visa to apply for. You will need to answer the questions in the Visa Wisard on the Australian Government website to find out the Australian visa most likely to meet your specific circumstances:
http://www.immi.gov.au/visawizard/
The Visa Wizard includes the most common Australian visas, but does not include every visa. The Australian Government website contains more visa information or you can contact them for assistance.
Good luck and please post back how you get on, as it will help others in your situation.
Kind Regards,
MTA Team
Anita
September 22, 2012 at 6:42 amHi there me and my partner with three kids want to move to my brother in Brisbane, we have been deny SCV because of my partners criminal history they wouldn’t tell us what visa to apply for. We just want to know what visa we can apply for so that we can find out if where aloud to live there or not.
Brenna Marra
September 17, 2012 at 11:43 pmHi there, I’m 18 and looking at moving to Brisbane early January. Will I need a Visa of any sort to live and work there? I’ve looked at the website but different parts seem to give different answers. Thank you 🙂
JJ Smith
September 18, 2012 at 5:12 amGood morning Brenna,
Thank you for your comment on Moving to Australia.co.nz.
You will not need to apply for a Visa if you are an NZ citizen. Upon entering Australia you present your New Zealand passport for immigration clearance. Once done you are considered to have applied for a visa and, subject to health or character considerations, will automatically receive a Special Category Visa (SCV). The SCV is recorded electronically.
Your New Zealand passport will be stamped, showing the date of arrival in Australia. This is the only evidence provided or necessary to show you hold an SCV.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Sanjeev
September 16, 2012 at 12:17 pmHow do we get SCV visas and also are we eligible as NZ citizens to get allowances for children…?
JJ Smith
September 18, 2012 at 5:26 amGood morning Sanjeev,
Thank you for your comment on Moving to Australia.co.nz.
You will not need to apply for a Visa if you are an NZ citizen. Upon entering Australia you present your New Zealand passport for immigration clearance. Once done you are considered to have applied for a visa and, subject to health or character considerations, will automatically receive a Special Category Visa (SCV). The SCV is recorded electronically.
Your New Zealand passport will be stamped, showing the date of arrival in Australia. This is the only evidence provided or necessary to show you hold an SCV.
Regarding allowances for children, you will find a list of family payments and allowances on the below link on the Australian Government website:
http://australia.gov.au/topics/benefits-payments-and-services/family-payments-and-services/family-payments-and-allowances
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Thanks,
MTA Team
Latai Matalave
July 3, 2012 at 1:54 pmHi there,
I have just been offered a job in Wollongong NSW and am considering to move in 5 weeks time. This is all completely new for myself so I really need the help!
I am a NZ citizen and have a NZ passport. Do I need to apply for any visas such as a work visa? and do i need to apply for a Australian permanent residence?
JJ Smith
July 4, 2012 at 6:21 amGood morning Latai,
Thank you for your enquiry. That is very exciting for you.
You will be pleased to know that you do not need to apply for anything. Upon entering Australia you will automatically receive a Special Category Visa (SCV). The SCV is recorded electronically. Your New Zealand passport will get stamped, showing the date of arrival in Australia. This is the only evidence provided or necessary to show you are a holder of an SCV.
However, I do recommend you sorting out the below before you leave:
Ship your stuff: if you have furniture, etc, that you want shipped you will need to arrange this asap, as it takes 5-6 weeks: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/moving-company-to-australia/.
Apply for a bank account: I recommend Commonwealth, as their service is also of the highest standard. It is a lot easier to apply for a bank account before you go, as they do not need all the extra info you would need if you applied from Australia. You can apply for a bank account by following this link: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/Commonwealth-Bank-Open-Australian-bank-Account (scroll down)
Currency Exchange: if you are looking at taking any money with you, I recommend using Velocity Trade to convert it, as it is a lot cheaper than using your bank. For more info read https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/foreign-exchange-transfer-money-to-Australia
Housing in Australia: the Australian rental market is very competitive, especially in the main cities. Most Australian rentals will require you to submit a tenancy application, accompanied with the following documents, so it is best to have all the information ready to go: your last 3 months bank statements, a written reference from your previous landlord, your previous landlord’s contact information and proof that your last bond was repaid in full (or an explanation as to why it wasn’t).
Please let me know if I can help in any other way.
Good luck with your move and new job.
Best Regards,
MTA Team
Debbie
July 3, 2012 at 4:18 amHi
My daughter, son-in-law and grandson are wanting to move to Australia from NZ. My son-in-law and grandson have NZ passports and my daughter has a British Passport and NZ Citizenship. Do they need visas to live and work in Australia? Also, can they transfer their NZ driving licences to Australia, or do they need to take new tests?
Thanks
JJ Smith
July 4, 2012 at 6:40 amHi Debbie,
Thank you for your enquiry.
Your son and grandson will be issued with a Special Category Visa (SCV) when they arrive in Australia. However, I believe your daughter might need to apply for a Visa. I cannot find an easy answer, as there are a lot of circumstances that change what type of Visa she will need.
I recommend you or her visiting the Australian Government, Department of Immigration and Citizenship website, as you will be able to find the answer on there: http://www.immi.gov.au/.
Regarding the NZ driving license, New Zealanders can generally use their New Zealand drivers licence in Australia for the first three months after they arrive, provided it has not expired or been suspended. After three months New Zealanders normally have to apply for a drivers licence from the authorities in the State or Territory where they live.
Please let me know if I can help in any other way.
Best Regards,
MTA Team
Sannie Angelo
March 31, 2012 at 5:41 pmI’m a NZ citizen. I want to move to Perth end May 2012. Do I get clearance/Visa at airport or is that a separate application you have to make asap? And where and how?