Moving to Australia from New Zealand?
Get all information you need to make a successful and stress-free move across the ditch.
Yes, you can! If you’re an NZ citizen buying property in Australia, everything works the same as if you were an Australian citizen buying property in Australia. You may even be eligible for the first homeowner’s grant.
However, if you are not an NZ citizen, depending on your visa and residence status, there are some restrictions for foreigners wanting to buy property in Australia.
Find below some advice on buying your dream home in Australia and some smart tips to avoid paying more than you need in fees and charges.
Surcharge purchaser duty law change in NSW
It was previously identified that citizens of New Zealand were not subject to surcharge purchaser duty due to international tax treaties.
Changes to federal law means that these citizens may now need to pay surcharge purchaser duty if they enter into an agreement to purchase residential property in NSW on or after 8 April 2024.
To be exempt you must have been in Australia for at least 200 days within 12 months before the date of the contract.
Read more in my surcharge purchaser duty law change post.
Please note: I am not a financial adviser, accountant, mortgage broker, or property specialist. I have collated all the information in this post online. Please get financial advice from a specialist if needed.
Use your KiwiSaver towards your home deposit for your first Australian home! First Super and First Home Super Saver (FHSS) – lets you withdraw some of your KiwiSaver for the deposit for your Australian first home. Read more here.
In this post you will find helpful information on:
Yes, you can do so as an NZ citizen living in Australia with an SCV.
As an NZ citizen living in Australia, you are treated as an Australian citizen when it comes to buying a home. You can get a mortgage at the same rate and are eligible for the First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) and a possible stamp duty waiver.
There are some restrictions if you are a non-resident, e.g., an NZ citizen not already living in Australia (who hasn’t processed through border control and received your SCV). Non-residents must get approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) before buying a property. The house must be your primary residence and for you as a home. This does not apply to NZ citizens living in Australia.
If you don’t intend to live there full time or buy several properties in Australia as an investment, they must be new-build properties. These laws are designed to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of new housing stock across the country.
However, if you want to purchase property in NSW, you must have been living in Australia for at least 200 days within 12 months before the contract date to be exempt from the 8% surcharge purchaser duty on top of any transfer duty. Read more in my surcharge purchaser duty law change post.
Do you want to purchase a home in Australia from New Zealand so it’s ready for you to move into when you arrive? Yes, you can, but there is extra tax to pay, and you will need some help…
If you are purchasing property in Australia from NZ, you are considered a foreign buyer and must pay a stamp duty surcharge of 7% to 8% (varies from state to state).
Property purchases in the Northern Territory, the ACT, or Tasmania are exempt from foreign buyer stamp duty.
The rule is that if you are a New Zealand citizen residing in Australia and hold a special category visa (SCV) under the Migration Act 1958 (which most New Zealanders do), then additional foreign taxes will not be payable.
If you are a New Zealand citizen residing in New Zealand and enter into a contract to purchase land in Australia, you will not be a holder of an SCV and must pay the additional surcharge of 7% to 8%.
If your plan is to take a plane trip to sign the contract and avoid paying the duty, think again! AFAD will also apply if the evidence indicates that the purpose of entry into Australia is to avoid paying AFAD by obtaining an SCV.
Therefore, you are required to get approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) before purchasing a property, be prepared for the additional 7-8% tax, and are generally only allowed to purchase new dwellings or off-plan properties, such as apartments and houses, that have not yet been lived in. Vacant land that can be developed is also permitted to be purchased as a non-resident.
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) offers online services for foreign investors to manage their obligations regarding Australian investments.
In addition to the application form, which can be found using the above link, you’ll be required to pay an application fee that is dependent on the cost of the new property or vacant land you want to buy.
Once submitted, it generally takes less than 30 days for your application to be approved or declined.
While I wasn’t able to find the process online, UNO home loans explained to buy property in Australia, engaging mortgage and conveyancing services was fundamental.
When buying property, the sale-to-settlement process can quickly become complicated and overwhelming. Conveyancers save you time and money, taking care of important legal documents such as contracts and site visits so you can quickly and easily move into your new home.
There are different ways to go about this, but this is one way. Before approaching the companies below, ensure you’ve researched what type of home you want and how much it will cost.
We recommend the companies below. They have excellent independent reviews, so you can trust their team, charges, and processes.
If you want to buy a home in Australia while still living in New Zealand, you will need to get an expat mortgage. This is one of the harder home loans to get.
Getting a home loan depends on several factors, including your household income, country of residence, deposit amount, and whether your circumstances fit into different bank policies. All banks in Australia have different policies and calculations they use to evaluate a loan application.
This is where UNO comes in! What UNO does for you is look at your individual circumstances, work out which banks would most likely give you a loan, and then approach them for you.
UNO proactively look after customers’ largest household expense, their mortgage and or /home loan. Using loan score technology, UNO analyses your mortgage to save you time and money wherever possible. As experienced brokers, their job is to negotiate the mortgage best deal on your behalf.
UNO prides itself on matching customers to the right home loans across their growing panel of 20 lenders whether you are purchasing a property or refinancing. Plus, they’re specialists in helping New Zealand citizens to buy Australian property whether based locally or in Australia so they’re familiar with the process and how they can best serve your needs.
Do you want to know if you’re eligible to buy a property in Australia from NZ? Do you want to move straight into your own home in Australia?
Simply complete this 2 min questionnaire and find out. No obligation and you can complete it as many times as you like and learn along the way…
Or read my Australian mortgage post and find out more about UNO and how they can help you.
Conveyancers take the complicated out of the property so you can save time and money where it matters most.
From contract reviews through to order searches and title transferral, conveyancers take care of the complicated side of buying and selling so you can buy with confidence and peace of mind. Whether you are buying property in Australia from NZ or while living there.
While conveyancers can help you with an array of services, here are some of the most common:
The above companies will make buying a home in Australia from NZ a reality!
When you are buying a home it’s important to do your research. In terms of getting comprehensive comparative sales information, it’s hard to go past the Home Price Guide, available from Australian Property Monitors (APM), a joint venture between HWW Limited, the publishers of Your Mortgage Magazine, and John Fairfax & Sons.
The Home Price Guide list sales details of individual residential properties. Each standard guide lists monitored sales in the previous 12 months in the postcode of your choice. If the property you are purchasing is in the database, you can see how much the current owners paid for it, whether it has been put to auction since it was purchased, and in some cases what the highest bid at an auction was.
Your deposit amount will vary depending on if you are living in NZ or Australia. If you are living in NZ your deposit will be approx 30%. If you have moved over and are living in Australia you should be able to buy a property with only a 5% deposit. If you are living elsewhere it’s pretty difficult to buy a property in Australia as it’s considered non-resident lending.
Banks in Australia can’t lend on property in New Zealand, so if you have an existing property in NZ you want to leverage off, you’re going to have to talk to your NZ bank or a mortgage broker in NZ. Read more below.
No. If you are a New Zealand citizen living in NZ or Australia your interest rates will be the same as the open market, e.g. the same as if you were an Australian citizen.
The First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) in Australia is designed to encourage and assist home ownership across the country, and for eligible borrowers, it’s a great start to life as a property owner.
The grant differs in each state and territory and in most places it applies to new homes only and is valued between $7,000-$26,000.
The Australian government’s First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) and other benefits are available to permanent residents as if they are citizens of Australia. Because NZ citizens are considered to be permanent residents of Australia they are eligible for the grant.
FHOG does not take into consideration NZ property, only property you’ve owned in Australia.
Read more in my Are New Zealand citizens eligible for Australia’s First Home Owners Grant? post.
Getting a mortgage in Australia is pretty similar to New Zealand. You will need to figure out how much you can borrow based on your income and expenses. You will need a deposit, which is usually a minimum of 5 per cent of the value of the property. You also need to pay for stamp duty on the property, which will cost several thousands of dollars, depending on which state you live in.
Want to know if you are likely to get a loan right now? The below questionnaire will ask you a few questions to establish your next best move towards buying property in Australia as a New Zealand citizen
You will be asked about your residence status, where you currently live, what your plans are, how much you plan on spending on your new home, your deposit amount, and your income, help calculate your loan-to-income ratio (LIR) and point you in the right direction.
You can complete this questionnaire in less than 2 minutes, with no obligation and as many times as you like…
Or read my Australian mortgage post and find out more about UNO and how they can help you.
Financial institutions in Australia will usually check your credit rating in New Zealand. If you are not sure where you stand, you can get a free copy of your credit file from Equifax: https://www.equifax.co.nz/personal.
In order to get your application processed in the quickest time frame possible, it is important to have all your paperwork ready. You’ll need:
Read more about identity checks and what identity requirements you will need to meet: https://auspost.com.au/id-and-document-services/identity-checks-for-property-transfers/identity-checks-for-buyers-and-sellers.
If you own a property in NZ and want to leverage off that. You need to get your NZ bank to release the equity in your NZ property (refinance your mortgage) so it can then be used as a deposit for your property in Australia.
Australian banks are unable to lend off New Zealand property. Even though we have similar banks in both countries, their systems are completely different and they don’t talk to each other. So you are going to have to apply for a loan in NZ and a loan in Australia to be able to leverage the equity.
Yes, you can! There is quite a history with this, but once again New Zealanders moving to Australia are able to transfer their KiwiSaver to Australia and use some of it as a deposit for their first home. You must meet the criteria set out by the ATO and make sure you set up the right account with the right super fund provider.
The ATO says ‘If you transfer an amount into an Australian super fund from a KiwiSaver scheme, the amount will be an eligible contribution (except for certain amounts)’. There is no requirement for you to be an Australian citizen, Australian resident or an Australian resident for taxation purposes for the FHSS.
Find out what the ‘certain amounts’ are, what super fund provider you need to register with, what you need to know about the First Home Super Saver (FHSS), the KiwiSaver to super fund transfer process and how to withdraw $15,000 to use as your first home deposit in Australia (up to $50,000) in my KiwiSaver and First Home Super Saver (FHSS) post.
Stamp duty is a tax on a property transaction that is charged by each state and territory and goes straight to the state government. The amounts can and do vary. The stamp duty rate will depend on factors such as the value of the property if it is your primary residence and your residency status.
You can calculate the stamp duty you may have to pay on your property using this stamp Duty Calculator: https://www.realestate.com.au/home-loans/stamp-duty-calculator.
First homeowners, purchasing for the first time in Australia will more than likely be eligible for a stamp duty waiver. However, it will take into account if you own or have owned any property anywhere including New Zealand. So if you do own, or have owned a property previously, then you won’t be eligible for the stamp duty waiver.
There are different purchase amounts that need to be adhered to depending on the state you are buying in, e.g. in Queensland if you purchase a home for $500,000 or less you will pay no stamp duty. If you are purchasing a property between $500,000 and $550,000 you get a discount.
Stamp duty varies from state to state. You can read more about the stamp duty in the state you are planning to move to and its exemptions and concessions here: https://www.homeloans.com.au/news/getting-most-out-stamp-duty-exemptions-state.
If you own an asset overseas, you may have to pay Australian tax when you sell it. Therefore, you need to keep appropriate records.
If you acquired an overseas asset before you became an Australian resident, you are taken to have acquired the asset when you became a resident.
Similarly, if you cease to be an Australian resident while holding an overseas asset, you are deemed to have disposed of that asset at the time you cease to be a resident.
To accurately calculate the capital gain or loss, ensure you keep a record of the value of your asset at these times. This is a complex area of tax law, and exemptions may apply.
Therefore, if you plan on renting your home while settling in Australia, you must pay CGT when you sell it. If you sold it before you left, you wouldn’t.
However, your accountant can make you a temporary resident for tax purposes, exempting you from tax on your overseas income. Read more about this in Beyond Accountancy’s post: NZ taxes: something every Kiwi in Australia needs to know.
If you sold assets during the year, such as property or shares, you need to work out your capital gain or loss for each asset. You pay tax on your net capital gains.
You can use the CGT calculator on the Australia Government ATO website.
As mentioned above, as a New Zealand citizen living in Australia, you can choose to be an Australian “temporary resident” for tax purposes.
There can be some benefits for New Zealand citizens living in Australia who are considered temporary residents for tax purposes. This is because, as temporary residents, they may be eligible for certain tax concessions and exemptions, including:
However, it’s important to note that these benefits depend on individual circumstances and may not apply to all temporary residents. It’s always best to consult a qualified tax professional who can provide tailored advice based on your situation.
Find out how to get the best foreign exchange rate and save on fees.
If you already own a home in New Zealand and are planning on selling it and buying in Australia, then educating yourself on foreign exchange is a must. The same goes for transferring any money from NZ to Australia. Why throw away your hard-earned cash?
To give you an idea of how much you could save, XE has compared three major banks in New Zealand for a $1,200,000 NZD / AUD transfer. XE would have saved you between $9,070 and $25,870, depending on which bank you use.
**This comparison was made on 21.08.17 by speaking to the foreign exchange teams at 3 of the leading banks.
You will save a lot of money by using an online foreign exchange company to exchange your NZ Dollars for Australian Dollars and then deposit them in your Australian bank account. Banks will charge you a great deal to convert and transfer your money.
Find out more about using an online foreign exchange company and how online money transfer works.
Of course, you can start looking for your new home from NZ. The below websites are the top real estate sites in Australia:
The below posts 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!
Hi… I’m JJ Smith.
I’m the creator and editor of Moving to Australia and have been for 15 years! I know everything there is to know about New Zealanders moving their families and life to Australia. Either from first hand experiences and research or through the questions from visitors to this website… and I’m here to help!
I love helping people via Moving to Australia.
Providing the answers to questions we all ask when deciding whether to make the move from New Zealand to Australia. Even giving individual specific advice where needed.
I have learned a lot over the last 15 years from personal experience and through interacting with visitors. This is my job, making sure the information here is comprehensive and up to date.
If you would like to help me, you can use one of my referral partners.
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Jan Putwain
December 28, 2024 at 3:11 pmHi there
We are moving to Brisbane in March 2025 – have sold our house in nz and will be purchasing in qld Can you please confirm the uptodate stamp duty threshhold on purchasing there.
Thankyou for your help
Jan and Roger
JJ Smith
March 6, 2025 at 1:49 pmHi Jan,
I’m really sorry for not replying sooner. Your email was lost with a handful of others when I was having email problems.
As of March 2025, Queensland’s transfer duty (commonly known as stamp duty) rates for property purchases are structured as follows:
– Up to $5,000: $1.50 for every $100 or part thereof
– $5,001 to $75,000: $75 plus $2.25 for every $100 over $5,000
– $75,001 to $540,000: $1,650 plus $3.50 for every $100 over $75,000
– $540,001 to $1,000,000: $17,325 plus $4.50 for every $100 over $540,000
– Over $1,000,000: $38,025 plus $5.75 for every $100 over $1,000,000
These rates apply to all property purchases unless specific concessions or exemptions are available. Source: https://qro.qld.gov.au/duties/transfer-duty/calculate/rates/.
For first home buyers, significant concessions are in place:
– Existing Homes: Full stamp duty exemption for properties valued up to $700,000, with concessions phasing out up to $800,000. Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-20/queensland-laws-changes-to-stamp-duty-first-home-buyers/104956108.
– New Builds: From 1 May 2025, first home buyers purchasing newly constructed homes will be exempt from paying stamp duty, regardless of the property’s value. Source: https://qro.qld.gov.au/duties/transfer-duty/calculate/concession-rates/.
Since you’ve sold your house in New Zealand and plan to purchase a property in Queensland, it’s important to note that standard transfer duty rates will apply to your purchase unless you qualify for any concessions. To determine the exact amount payable, you can use the Transfer Duty Estimator provided by the Queensland Revenue Office: https://qro.qld.gov.au/duties/transfer-duty/calculate/transfer-duty-estimator/.
For the most accurate and personalized information, it’s advisable to consult with a local conveyancer or legal professional familiar with Queensland’s property laws.
Best wishes on your move to Brisbane!
Ian Kirk
October 8, 2024 at 5:15 pmBuyers who do not live in their property for at least 6 months of the year pay Absentee Owners tax. Again varies from state to state In Victoria it is going up to 4% on the land value. On my valuation it is going to cost me $22k and no one from the land agent conveyancer, accountant, property management companies mentioned it at all. If you want to spend 6 mths you also need to be in the country on 31st December preceeding the year you intend being there for that. Every State is different.
JJ Smith
October 21, 2024 at 6:09 pmHi Ian,
Thank you for your comment. Sorry for the delay in replying, I’ve been on holiday with my family.
I have never come across this Absentee Owners tax the 15 years I’ve been answering questions on Moving to Australia.
An absentee individual is any individual who:
– is not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and
– does not ordinarily reside in Australia, and
– was either absent from Australia:
– on 31 December of the year prior to the tax year, or
– for more than 6 months in total in the calendar year prior to the tax year.
From my research, the Absentee owner tax/surcharge appears to be only in Victoria and Queensland.
However, it states on the State of Revenue Victoria website that the surcharge does not apply to Australian citizens and Australian residents. Australian residents are defined as the holders of a permanent visa, and New Zealand citizens who hold a special category visa. Source: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/land-tax/absentee-owner-surcharge/absentee-individuals.
There are examples on the above website to help you work out if you are an absentee individual or not.
Hope the above helps.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have and let me know how you get on.
Sarah
October 5, 2024 at 3:55 pmHi JJ, thank you so much for your great website, it is very helpful! I am a Kiwi planning my Ozzie move.
My question is related to this:
According to the MFAT website (NZ), a Kiwi can buy urban property but must apply for permission when purchasing rural property?
The article on MFAT has no “date” so I do not know how recent it is.
Would you be able to tell me, 1) Is this true? 2) If yes, does this refer to rural land (ie no house) or rural property (ie with land with house)? 3) If it applies to “property” (ie with house) what is “rural” and what is not? Is a country town “rural”?
Finally, how long after arriving in Oz can I start buying a house?
Many thanks, Sarah
JJ Smith
October 18, 2024 at 4:48 pmHi Sarah,
Thank you for your comment. Sorry for the delay in replying, I’ve been on holiday with my family.
I haven’t come across this restriction for New Zealanders living in Australia before.
What state are you planning on moving to? This type of restriction would vary state to state, so I’m happy to do some research for you.
There is no stand down period for New Zealanders to purchase property after you have moved to Australia. As long as you have processed through border control and been automatically granted your SCV, you’re good to go.
If you have already been looking at property in Australia, can you please send me an example listing of the type of property you are dreaming of?
I look forward to your reply.
James
September 19, 2024 at 10:27 pmHi,
Is the stamp duty surcharge for an NZer residing in NZ and purchasing a property in Australia , a charge additional to normal stamp duty costs in that given state, for example Queensland?
Thank you
JJ Smith
September 20, 2024 at 1:10 pmHi James,
Thank you for your comment.
As you would have read, if you are still living in New Zealand and are purchasing property in Australia, you are considered a foreign buyer and must pay a stamp duty surcharge of 7% to 8% (varies from state to state).
The Additional foreign acquirer duty (AFAD) in Queesnalnd is 8%.
You must also first apply for approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) before buying any property in Australia.
This post by Wallace & Wallace Lawyers covers the topic well: https://www.wallace-lawyers.com.au/buying-residential-property-in-queensland-as-a-foreign-acquirer/.
Also have a read of this information on assessing and calculating additional foreign acquirer duty on the Queensland Revenue Office website: https://qro.qld.gov.au/duties/investors/afad/assessing/.
I hope the above helps.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Magdalena lopez guiñazu
August 9, 2024 at 6:03 pmHi JJ,
We are planing to move to Melbourne form NZ and would like to buy a house there. Do you have any conveyancing services to recommend? With experience in this?
Cheers,
Maggie
JJ Smith
August 15, 2024 at 9:29 amHi Magdalena,
Thanks for your comment.
Unfortunately, I do not have any conveyancers to recommend in Melbourne sorry.
I gave Melbourne conveyancers a Google and there are a lot to choose from with really good Google reviews: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-e&sca_esv=d621e0682869cae1&tbs=lf:1,lf_ui:2&tbm=lcl&q=melbourne+conveyancers&rflfq=1&num=10&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwitp_DXtfWHAxU3S2cHHTNLJVIQjGp6BAgzEAE&biw=1557&bih=1115&dpr=1#rlfi=hd:;si:;mv:[[-37.65184472502966,145.1024124564767],[-37.91504344998964,144.7120544852853]].
Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.