Moving to Australia from New Zealand?
Get all information you need to make a successful and stress-free move across the ditch.
It will cause you a whole lot of stress, time, and worry!
Australia can be really competitive when it comes to jobs, apartments, and rentals. You might end up in a position where everyone wants the apartment you want, and you need to stand out (references).
You will need to prove your identity when applying for a property rental, driver’s licence, a white card or Medicare card, or setting up a mobile or superannuation account.
On this page you will find the helpful information below:
If you are moving to Australia, ensure you have all the document files below in a folder on an accessible device, and make at least one paper copy. Then, you can send/email or photocopy it when needed.
You don’t want to email people to chase a reference or, worse, ask for one.
So make sure you have all the correct paperwork ready so you can compete in the competitive Australian job market and rental applications!
I recommend you download, scan, and save all the files below in a ‘moving to Australia’ folder and make one physical paper copy. There are still times and people/companies/realtors that require paperwork documentation:
When I said people/companies need paperwork, well, schools are at the top of the list for what they need for kids, and it is generally a physical copy, but make sure you have everything digital.
You are going to need the below documents/paperwork for your children in Australia:
Honestly, I am not the first person to wish I had put in the time early and got all the above ready. People need time to forward you the above, and there’s nothing worse than being ill-prepared for something you want.
You must provide a total of 100 points of Australian and/or New Zealand documents to prove your identity. Depending on what you need the points for, they hold different values. The below is for a rental application but you will also need to prove your identity when it comes to getting a driver’s license, applying for a white card or Medicare card, and setting up a mobile or superannuation account. Although the values are different, the documents are generally the same.
You can use different combinations of documents to make up your 100 points, but you must include at least 1 primary document that has a photograph as part of your 100 points.
| Documents required for 100 points identification check | Per Doc |
| Passport and visa | 40 points |
| Drivers Licence | 40 points |
| Photo ID (e.g. 18 plus card, university photo ID) | 30 points |
| Birth Certificate | 30 points |
| Pay Slips | 20 points |
| Medicare Card | 20 points |
| Previous Landlord Reference | 20 points |
| Bank Statement | 10 points |
| Utility Bills with Current Address. | 10 points |
The Australian rental market is very competitive, especially in the main cities. Most Australian rentals will require you to submit a tenancy application accompanied by the following documents.
I recommend preparing the below before you leave NZ and having it ready to go:
Many of my visitors are homeowners in New Zealand and have been for years. This means they don’t have written landlord references, contact information, or proof of their last bond being repaid.
This is very common, and a rental agent will understand.
The references are purely there to prove that you are a good tenant, so try to think of another way to show this. Any personal references, work or personal, will help.
If you are close to any of your neighbours in NZ, you could ask them for a personal reference, which would prove that you were a good neighbour and looked after your property. That may give you a little bit of an advantage over other applicants.
Make sure you transfer some money into your Australian bank to prove you can pay the rent and even show further savings in your NZ bank account (especially if it’s not an optimal time to transfer your funds to Australia).
Read more about getting a rental in Australia in my Renting and Accommodation in Australia post.
Schools, doctors, and dentists will request your NZ provider’s medical records, school reports, and dentist records. So, it’s better to get these before you leave NZ, as you may need to visit them personally and sign a consent form.
Therefore, you should obtain paper or electronic copies of your medical/dentist records for yourself and your family. You will need to provide these to your new doctor and dentist.
You could also have them sent directly to your new provider’s office. Be sure these include the results of any lab work, imaging, or other tests you’ve had. It’s a very straightforward process, just a signature on a form.
Contact your child’s current school and notify them your child is leaving. They will have had many children changing schools and moving to another country and will give you everything you need.
Your new school in Australia will want at least their last school report but may want to go further. It is also very helpful to provide samples of your child’s work – either a Portfolio or a range of work samples in different subject areas.
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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Rohit Gupta
October 15, 2023 at 12:46 amWe are building a new house there, but have to rent until its done.
I havent rented for 30+ years. So, I cant get a landlord referral. Is there anything else I can get ?
JJ Smith
October 16, 2023 at 1:24 pmHi Rohit,
Thank you for your comment.
As you would have read above, having money in the bank and personal references is recommended. Real estate agents will understand the situation you are in.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Andrew
January 30, 2023 at 11:22 amHello JJ. I trust you are well…
I have been anticipating a move to Australia from New Zealand for many months now. At last I have job offers(builder) and am ready for the logistical preparation- employers are asking for details…
I have a question, if you could help?
I am being asked for a “white card” but I have not moved to Perth yet. To apply for the White card I need an Australian address- is this the case? so I cant apply for it until I have landed in Australia?
Thankyou
JJ Smith
January 31, 2023 at 1:17 pmHi Andrew,
Yes I can help.
Australia has very strict health and safety rules, which is why everyone who works on a construction site needs a white card:
– To be able to carry out construction work in Australia, a person must complete an introductory safety training course called ‘general construction induction training’. This is also commonly known as ‘white card’ training.
– To be issued with a WA White Card you must be located in Western Australia at the time that you are completing the course assessment.
– EOT is authorised to issue cards directly to learners who complete the online White Card course in WA and will mail it to you once all of the course requirements have been met.
Here is a link to general info about white card training: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/construction.
Here is the link to the White Card WA Official Online Course: https://www.eot.edu.au/online-courses/white-card/WA/.
You can complete the online course in around 4-6 hours and get your white card number immediately.
Thanks
Nikki
November 1, 2022 at 1:06 amhi JJ,
I’m moving from India to Australia with 2 kids and I must say your post is quiet insightful. As a parent, I am quiet anxious on how they will feel and adjust to a totally new environment and it’s started to give me sleepless nights as the day comes closer. Your post is extremely helpful and informative and answers many questions that I had on my list. Keep up the good work!
Many Thanks,
Nikki
JJ Smith
November 1, 2022 at 12:26 pmHi Nikki,
Thank you for your comment.
As a parent, I completely understand how you feel and I’m so pleased my posts have helped you.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Kate
September 6, 2022 at 10:37 amHi! We are moving to Australia but planning to stay in airbnbs and holiday parks until we buy a house. My question is ; how can we be insured for theft (we will have valuables with us) and medical ? I tried to apply for 3 months travel insurance but the policy says we have to be returning to NZ.
Please advise!
Thank you
Kate
JJ Smith
September 12, 2022 at 12:46 pmHi Kate,
Thank you for your comment.
I am guessing you tried to apply for travel insurance with an NZ company. I recommend you contact an Australian insurance company and get insurance through them.
I don’t have anyone to recommend, but personally, I would look on the product review website and contact a company with great reviews: https://www.productreview.com.au/c/insurance.
Sorry I wasn’t more help.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Kulpreet
September 5, 2022 at 8:22 amHi JJ
can I please ask you like i have heard the news regarding some laws getting change for NZ living in Australia and the Current Rule is Like if some one is Australia Permanent resident he can move to NZ and he is also NZ Permanent resident with current Law.
Do you Think on the next Anzac day when they going to Announce few change for Kiwis moving to Australia will the Old law of NZ Permanent resident is also Australian Permanent resident and they become eligible for Australian Citizenship after living in Australia 5 years .
Please advise
Thanks
Kulpreet
JJ Smith
September 12, 2022 at 12:35 pmHi Kulpreet,
Thank you for your comment.
I am not an immigration specialist and can only advise from the information I find online.
There is always hope that the laws for NZ citizens will improve and that we will be given a pathway to Australian citizenship, but this has not yet happened and I don’t know if it ever will.
At this stage, you need to apply for an Australian visa to move there, unless you are an NZ citizen (not NZ PR).
I recommend you check out IMMagine: http://www.immigration.co.nz/. They offer a free preliminary evaluation to establish which Visa category may suit you: http://www.immigration.co.nz/assessments/free-evaluation/.
Sorry I could not be of more help.
Joanna
August 27, 2022 at 9:06 pmHi, We are thinking to move to Australia. But my husband has health issue. We are NZ citizen. can he access Australia public health service if we move to Australia to stay permanently. Thank you very much! We just unsure who that we can ask.
JJ Smith
August 29, 2022 at 3:56 pmHi Joanna,
Thank you for your comment.
Yes as an NZ citizen you are eligible for Medicare after 6 months or if you can prove you have entered Australia long-term or permanently. It is not hard to do. Once you have signed a rental agreement, got a job contract, moved all your household belongings to Australia, etc, you can prove this. However, I didn’t even get asked to prove it. We were able to apply as soon as we arrived.
Have a read of my Australia Healthcare System post and my Medicare Australia post:
– https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/australian-health-care-system/
– https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/medicare-australia/
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Sinead
July 28, 2022 at 1:03 pmHey, your site has been so helpful. Just have one question, we haven’t made the final decision on moving yet as we need to see what we can get for our house. But to get a rental I see they ask for references etc. How do you go about that when you haven’t been renting in New Zealand, or is proof of sale of your home enough?
JJ Smith
July 28, 2022 at 1:23 pmHi Sinead,
Thanks for your comment.
This is very common and a rental agent will understand.
The references are purely there to prove that you are a good tenant, so try and think of another way to show this.
Make sure that you have all your paperwork ready and prove that you have enough money in the bank to pay the rent.
If you are close to any of your neighbors in NZ, you could ask them for a personal reference, which would prove that you were a good neighbor and looked after your property. That may give you a little bit of an advantage over other applicants.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Allan Anderson
July 7, 2022 at 7:33 amHello,
We are after some information about moving to Australia permanently.
We are both retired and receive the NZ pension.
Can we apply for our NZ pension to be paid in Australia and how do we do this. Our financial situation is comfortable and we do not want to apply for an Aussie pension because it’s means tested. Thanks in advance.
JJ Smith
July 7, 2022 at 10:42 amHi Allan,
Thank you for your comment.
Have you read my Australian age pension post: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/australian-age-pension/?
Unfortunately, you can only receive your NZ pension for 26 weeks, then you need to apply for the Australian pension.
I recommend you complete the age Pension calculator, so you know exactly where you stand and can make an educated decision: https://www.superguide.com.au/in-retirement/age-pension-calculator.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Gordon Scott
July 6, 2022 at 12:19 pmI moved to the Sunshine Coast in March. One comment I’d like to make is this regarding transport, which I haven’t seen covered. Due to flooding over the last few months, hire cars were few if you just turned up at an office to get one, and prices to buy a used car are much higher than normal. Finally, even if you have a NZ driving licence, you must have a QLD license to buy a car here. It’ll take a couple weeks to come through once all the forms are done. Then you can buy a car.
James
June 19, 2022 at 5:24 pmHi there,
My partner and I are looking at moving to Canberra early January next year. We are both full-time employed with healthy savings and good references, but currently live with family and don’t have any history of renting. My question is, would this be a big issue for us when looking into getting a rental in Australia, without any rental history here?
Cheers!
James
JJ Smith
July 1, 2022 at 2:51 pmHi James,
Thanks for your comment.
This is a common question I get. If you have good savings and can prove you’re a reliable person you will be fine.
Make sure you include positive written job references with your rental application and even a personal reference.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Sujith Zachariah
June 9, 2022 at 1:25 pmHi, I have a similar question that ask befor about the Australian capital gain tax on NZ property sale.
We have moved to Perth this year from Auckland. Currently living in a rental home. We have a property in NZ which I forced to rent out as I couldn’t sell it due to the fluctuations in NZ real estate market. I would like to know wether I have to pay any tax on the rental income here in Australia. I am paying Tax in NZ for the rental income.
My second question is , if I sell the Auckland property later, do I have to pay CGT in Australia? I am exempted from NZ CGT.
If I have to pay CGT in Australia, how is the capital gain calculated? I bought the property 10 years ago? Do they take the actual property purchase price as the base for the calculation? We are on SCV.
I have been asking the same questions for a while now and getting different answers from different sources.
Your help is much appreciated.
Thanks
JJ Smith
June 13, 2022 at 12:29 pmHi Sujith,
Thank you for your comment.
Firstly do you have to pay tax on your NZ rental income, yes you would need to but your accountant can make you a temporary resident for tax purposes, which would make you exempt from tax on their overseas income. Read more here: https://www.beyondaccountancy.com.au/something-every-kiwi-in-australia-needs-to-know/.
Please note, I am not an accountant and can only advise from what I’ve been able to find out online.
Regarding paying CGT on the sale of your property, the answer is yes. You can read how this is calculated and use the CGT calculator on the Australia Government ATO website: https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/capital-gains-tax/calculating-your-cgt/.
I recommend you find an accountant like Beyond Accountancy above who understand the rules for New Zealaders in Australia and get their expert opinion.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Thanks
Sam Johnson
June 7, 2022 at 1:23 pmHi there,
My partner and I are moving to Brisbane soon and find your website so helpful. You suggested having proof that your last bond was payed back, how do we go about doing this? Do we ask previous landlord for the letter saying it was or is a confirmation of the payment being received from the bank ok?
Cheers
JJ Smith
June 13, 2022 at 1:30 pmHi Sam,
Thanks for your comment.
It depends if you bond was lodged with Tenancy Services or not: https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/rent-bond-and-bills/bond/. If it was you can get proof from them. Landlords and tenants need to complete and submit a bond refund form at the end of the tenancy, so if you didn’t do this then it wasn’t.
Therefore ask your previous landlord for a rental reference and ask them to include the info that you bond was repaid in full. They shouldn’t have a problem doing this if you were a good tenant and it will greatly help your rental application.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Brian John Hunt
March 10, 2022 at 3:23 amBeing a retired NZ pensioner on the NZ Govt Super I would like to know if my wife and I are eligible to get the Australian Govt Super if and when we move permanently to Queensland. What are the requirements to qualify and what can be filled out before we depart NZ. Thanks in anticipation
JJ Smith
March 10, 2022 at 11:35 pmHi Brian,
Thanks for your comment.
I have recently updated the information on my ‘Can a NZ citizen get an Australian benefit or pension?’ post: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/can-a-nz-citizen-get-an-australian-benefit-or-pension/.
Have a read of that, as it walks you through the income and asset tests. Then you can ask me any questions you still have.
Good luck with your move.