Moving to Australia from New Zealand?
Get all information you need to make a successful and stress-free move across the ditch.
If you are a New Zealand citizen, you are legally able to work in Australia. If you are not a New Zealand or Australian citizen, you may need to apply for a work visa.
Hunting for jobs in Australia is very similar to looking for a job in New Zealand. The majority of jobs are advertised online, mostly by recruitment companies but also by individual employers.
Editors note: Australia Job Listings Coming!
I am getting more and more enquiries from Australian companies looking to recruit directly from New Zealand, so I have decided to add job listings to my website.
If you are an employer and are interested in posting your job vacancies here then please fill out the below form and I will notify you with more infromation and instructions on how to add your job listings.
If you are a visitor, make sure you are registered for my newsletter, so you are the first to know when the job vacanies are live.
On this page you will find the below helpful information:
If you want to know your tax obligations in Australia you should read our Australian Tax – what you need to know page. On this page, you can find out the current Australian tax rates and how to get a TFN.
You need to apply for a TFN number after you’ve arrived in Australia. You are not able to apply from New Zealand. Find out how to get a TFN here.
It isn’t easy to land a job in Australia by visiting Australian job listing websites. However, you can still gain a lot of knowledge from them, e.g. the size of the industry and opportunities, current wages, the process of how to apply. Searching can give you a lot of hope.
Depending on your industry, it can be worth searching Google Australia companies in your industry and approaching them direct. New Zealanders have a great reputation in Australia and around the world as being hard workers. Combine that with the fact that we can’t fall back on government support, we are known as being very reliable.
A significant shortage in skilled labour across Australia is negatively impacting production, services, and supply chains. And while the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem, it has been an issue since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and will continue to be one when the effects of the virus wane.
Some industries that have major shortages at the moment are hospitality, the health sector, engineers, trades, technicians, truck drivers and digital. Australia has always relied upon skilled migrant workers, e.g. skilled migrants, international students and backpackers, which haven’t been able to get into Australia due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.
It’s likely that the skilled worker shortage in Australia will worsen before it gets better. With many of the industries affected it takes on average three to four years to qualify and that is before developing proficiency. You can read more on the skill shortage in Australia here.
As a result, I’ve heard from a lot more New Zealanders who have already secured jobs from New Zealand, before they move to Australia.
This leaves a lot of opportunities for New Zealanders looking at moving to Australia!
Don’t get caught out arriving in Australia without the documentation/paperwork you need. It will cause you a whole lot of stress, time and worry!
Especially when it comes to the competitive Australian job market. Be prepared and get a better-paid job in Australia.
Read more in my documentation needed when moving to Australia post.
These are the top Australian job listing websites:
For general information on employment in Australia, career advice, resume templates, salary surveys and more visit http://www.employmentguide.com.au.
When it comes to moving overseas and finding work, many things will determine your success, but we think the greatest factor is preparation. Read the full post here.
Australian recruiters are astounded at how many mistakes job seekers make with their resumes. Here are the key things to avoid. Read the full post here.
Like New Zealand, it is extremely worthwhile registering with a recruitment agency. They will help you find a new job and can even find you a job while you are still in New Zealand. I recommend you search Google the recruitment agencies in Australia that specialise in your industry. Whether it be:
If you have job vacancies in Australia and want to recruit directly from New Zealand, then register your interest below and I will send you more information when I have added job listings functionality:
If you are a visitor and want to find a job in Australia, then make sure you are registered for my newsletter so you know when job listings have been added:
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. Please note, if the answer to your question is in the content above, I will not reply. Sorry, I just get too many questions these days and I can’t keep up.
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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Parma
October 16, 2023 at 1:38 amI am planning to move to Australia in near future as the next phase of my career. I have got a PhD in Artificial Intelligence a am looking fora role in Data Science. I am happy to work in any part of Australia.
JJ Smith
October 16, 2023 at 1:56 pmHi Parma,
This article will be of interest to you: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/artificial-intelligence-reshaping-the-jobs-market-in-australia-s-biggest-cities-20230712-p5dno2.html.
If I was you, I would start job hunting from NZ. There has been a massive increase in New Zealanders gaining employment before making the move.
Seek.com.au has 3,196 jobs listed for the keyword ‘Data Science’ throughout Australia: https://www.seek.com.au/Data-Science-jobs.
Hope the above helps.
Ali Ubed
October 14, 2023 at 4:13 amHi JJ I’m a Truckee in NewZealand and was wondering which is better to move to Adelaide; Melbourne or Sydney and how hard is it to land a job in Australia
JJ Smith
October 16, 2023 at 1:42 pmHi Ali,
I recommend you search the Australia job hunting websites and see for yourself.
I did a quick search on Seek.com.au for ‘truck driver’ keyword, in ‘Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics’ category, ‘Road Transport’ sub category in Adelaide SA that 169 jobs came up. Same search in Melbourne – 370 jobs and 372 jobs came up in Sydney.
There are obviously a lot of different licenses and you will need to see what is applicable to you.
When you have a search you will see sign on bonus’s and immediate starts, so I don’t think it will be hard for you to find a job as a truck driver in Australia.
Truck drivers are listed as having shortages in the industry in all states (https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/skills-priority-list?code=733111). This means employers are unable to fill or have considerable difficulty filling vacancies.
I recommend you get your CV up to date and start applying.
Hope the above helps.
Caitlin Nicol
September 17, 2023 at 6:04 pmHi JJ
What a great website you have!
I’m considering moving to Sydney temporarily (up to 18 months) to make some extra money.
My background is in customer service. Is it difficult to try to find a job from New Zealand? I would want to secure this before I considered moving.
I currently live in Hamilton and don’t pay for accommodation as I live with my mother. I’ve heard the living costs in Australia are higher than here. The tax system is different too. Would I still be better off financially taking this into consideration?
As a New Zealand citizen born in Sydney am I eligible for citizenship or do I need to wait 4 years like other New Zealanders?
Sorry, I know I’ve asked a lot of questions!
If you can help or direct me to where I could find more information, I would really appreciate it.
Thank you!
Caitlin Nicol
JJ Smith
September 19, 2023 at 2:00 pmHi Caitlin,
Thanks for your comment.
There is a lot of cross-Tasman recruitment happening at the moment, so you have a good chance of securing a job before you leave NZ.
You would need around NZ$11,045.5 in Sydney to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with NZ$7,200.0 in Hamilton (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare the cost of living and assume net earnings (after income tax). Source: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=New+Zealand&city1=Hamilton&country2=Australia&city2=Sydney.
You have chosen an expensive city to move to, but you should also earn a lot more.
The above link compares Hamilton to Sydney costs of living really well, with price differences for restaurants, markets, transportation, utilities, sports and leisure, rent, etc. Here is another good comparison website that compares the cost of living in NZ to Australia, but unfortunately does not include Hamilton: https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/interactives/costofliving/compare/auckland-vs-sydney/.
However, as you do not currently pay rent, you will need to be earning a lot more money in Australia to make it financially worth it. This could be the case with the average monthly net salary (after tax) being NZ$3,893.95 in Hamilton and NZ$6,334.72 in Sydney (+62.7%).
Therefore I recommend you do some research on SEEK to see how much you would possibly earn and then work out your monthly expenses. The numbers will speak for themselves.
Here is a good post to read to find out how much accommodation will cost you in Sydney depending on how to where you chose to live: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/renting-and-accommodation-in-australia/.
Regarding citizenship, you may be able to apply for Australian citizenship by birth, if one of your parents was an Australian citizen: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/new-zealand-citizens/your-family. Otherwise you will need to be living in Australia for four years immediately before the day you apply.
Hope the above helps.
Tyler King
July 6, 2022 at 11:57 amHi, I am a qualified realestate agent from Auckland, I am moving to Queensland, where do I go to be ab le to transfer my licence over to a Queensland one?
JJ Smith
July 7, 2022 at 10:52 amHi Tyler,
Thank you for your comment. First time I’ve been asked this.
You need to apply to have the licence you gained in NZ recognised in Queensland. By completing a Mutual Recognition Form which can be found on the Office of Fair Trading website Queensland, and paying the fee, you are legally allowed to work from that point on.
Have a read of this post, which includes the links you need: https://www.completepropertytraining.com.au/2016/03/22/applying-for-mutual-recognition-of-your-real-estate-licence/.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Justine
June 20, 2022 at 1:33 pmHi JJ,
I came across your website about moving to Australia, it was very helpful and informative. However, I have some questions and need some advice before making the move. I am Justine, I am a Registered Nurse, my current visa is Permanent Resident of NZ. Are there any chances of employers being willing to support and provide a work visa for me? And also, this is my important question, are NZ, PR Visa and AU Work Visa holders eligible for free delivery? In case in the future I gave birth while on that visa? Thank you so much, hope to hear from you soon.
Regards,
Justine
JJ Smith
July 1, 2022 at 12:38 pmHi Justine,
Thank you for your email and sorry for the delay in replying.
If you’re registered for my newsletter you would have seen that nurses are in high demand in Australia currently: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-front-page-lure-of-australia-could-worsen-nzs-nursing-crisis/HLFQSZTU5B7K45BSYH6P3H2L3A/.
There are a number of recruitment companies that will help you find a job in Australia with sponsorship. Unfortunately, I haven’t got any experience with them so can’t recommend which companies to approach.
Here is a post on the top 5 recruitment agencies for nurses in Australia. As the companies are Australia based, it doesn’t matter that the post is British: https://bbmlive.com/top-5-recruitment-agencies-for-nurses-in-australia/.
When you get a visa for Australia it will allow you to register for Medicare, which covers pregnancies and birth in Australia: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/new-zealanders-having-a-baby-in-australia/.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
C D
May 4, 2022 at 1:05 amHi JJ,
I’m a police officer with 9 years experience and looking at moving my young family over the ditch. My wife has 5 years experience in administrative work/payroll. Would love to see what jobs would be on offer either in policing or other jobs that would take into account my experience. Preferably in the Perth area but open to any options. Thanks
JJ Smith
May 19, 2022 at 2:04 pmHi C D,
Thank you for your comment. Sorry for the delay in replying.
To work for any Australia government department, including police, you must be an Australian citizen: https://jobs.afp.gov.au/become-an-officer/eligibility.
If you visited Australia before 1 September 1994 and cleared customs, the Resident Return visa is an easy and cheap visa to obtain as a New Zealand Citizen. You can find further info including cost and processing time here: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/become-an-australian-permanent-resident-and-australia-citizen/#ResidentReturnvisa.
Seek is the major job hunting website in Australia: https://www.seek.com.au/jobs/in-All-Perth-WA.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Thanks
Aria
March 23, 2022 at 1:57 amHi JJ,
I have couple of questions about the blue card – Currently, I’m living in NZ and have a Diploma in ECE level 5 and over 4 years of experience. Now, planning on moving to Gold coast in mid/end of May 2022. Will I be able to apply for the blue card online from NZ? If so, How soon do I need to start applying before arriving to Aus.? I also have a Australian address to send card once applied for.
Thank you in advance
JJ Smith
March 24, 2022 at 12:25 amHi Aria,
Thank you for your comment.
Have a read of this page as it outlines how to get a blue card: https://www.qld.gov.au/law/laws-regulated-industries-and-accountability/queensland-laws-and-regulations/regulated-industries-and-licensing/blue-card/applications/apply.
First you need to apply for a Customer Reference Number (CRN) from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR). To do this you need to visit a TMR service centre in Australia: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/crn.
The application process for the blue card takes several days or even weeks, so make sure you have all your paperwork ready before you leave for Australia: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/licensing/driver-licensing/identity.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Swetha
February 24, 2022 at 12:00 amHi ,
This is Swetha. I am working as Early Childhood Teacher in Auckland. Iam a qualified and registered teacher. I am planning to relocate to Melbourne Victoria as my partner has got a job opportunity. I would like to know the job opportunities in Early childhood sector.
JJ Smith
February 24, 2022 at 11:25 pmHi Swetha,
Thank you for your comment.
You will need to search for a job like you would in New Zealand. Here is a link to the Google search I did: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=Early+Childhood+jobs+in+melbourne.
As you will see from the above there are not only 1877 jobs listed on Seek for early childhood, but there are also a number of companies offering early childhood teacher jobs.
I recommend you look through both the specialised websites and Seek so you know what the employment rate is in your sector. Then get your CV up to date and start applying.
Unfortunately people usually don’t get a response from Seek general listings, as it is easier to have an interview with someone based in Australia, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth investing some time into it.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Ant
May 5, 2021 at 6:43 amHi JJ
Is there an option for NZ citizens to gain Australian permanent residency before moving over there. As I study through a university of Australia online from here, and looking and heading over there to finish the papers. Thank you
Ant
JJ Smith
May 5, 2021 at 9:48 pmHi Ant,
Thank you for your comment.
I’m not sure if that is possible. I recommend you check out IMMagine and complete their free preliminary evaluation: http://www.immigration.co.nz/.
Their free preliminary evaluation (http://www.immigration.co.nz/assessments/free-evaluation/) will establish which Visa category may suit you and whether it’s worth your while ordering a comprehensive full assessment. Not many immigration companies do this. Next step is a full assessment (http://www.immigration.co.nz/assessments/full-assessment/) where IMMagine will develop your detailed strategy, timeline and pricing structure in-person or on Skype. Naturally, a small cost applies for this full and comprehensive assessment.
You can also post your question online and one of the IMMagine team will be in touch with your answer within 24 hours (usually same day response) for a small fee (AUD$15.00): http://www.immigration.co.nz/ask-us-question/ask-us/.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.