Moving to Australia from New Zealand?
Get all information you need to make a successful and stress-free move across the ditch.
This visa gives New Zealanders many of the same rights as Australian citizens. However, you should be aware of a number of exclusions from government assistance.
As a New Zealander, you have a unique opportunity if you’re considering moving to Australia. Australia and New Zealand 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. However, there are exclusions as below.
Read my Australia Visa post for more information on SCVs, entitlements, waiting periods for government support and more.
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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Kathy Thompson
March 2, 2025 at 11:44 amHi JJ, I moved to Aus (Jan 2025). I’m a NZ citizen on a NZ passport. I am unsure whether I am categorized as a protected or non protected SCV. Reason being that I lived in Victoria for 10 yrs Feb 1994- July 2004. I then returned to live in NZ. Now have re entered in 2025. Are you able to clarify please?
JJ Smith
March 5, 2025 at 4:24 pmHi Kathy,
Thanks for your comment.
You’re generally a protected SCV holder if you arrived in Australia on a New Zealand passport, and were either:
– in Australia on 26 February 2001
– in Australia for 12 months in the 2 years immediately before this date
– assessed as a protected SCV holder before 26 February 2004.
You haven’t said that you were assessed as a protected SCV holder, so you might have missed your chance, but it is worth a contacting Centerlink to find out for certain.
I recommend you call Centrelink International Services on 13 16 73. They should be able to advise you on your eligibility and what to do next.
Mary
February 15, 2025 at 1:29 pmMy husband is a NZ citizen and I have been a permanent resident for over 30 years. Will I be able to live in Australia and be eligible for Medicare or do I need to be a NZ citizen first? Thnk yoi
JJ Smith
February 21, 2025 at 5:44 pmHi Mary,
Thank you for your comment. Sorry for the delay in replying.
NZ permanent residents are not able to move and work in Australia as NZ citizens can. You would need to get a visa.
You can read more about it here: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/australian-visa/.
You should become an NZ citizen first. That is why NZ is called the backdoor to Australia.
I hope the above helps.
Jake
November 6, 2024 at 1:37 pmHi. My wife and I moved to Australia from NZ in November 2022. I believe we have a non-protected SCV (is it subclass 444?) Anyway, we just found out that my wife is pregnant. We both work, she has been in her job for over 12 months now. Are we eligible for Paid Parental Leave? Baby is not due till May 2025, which puts us well over 2 years of living here. I have looked at Centrelink and my-gov websites but the information there is very confusing.
Any info would be greatly appreciated
JJ Smith
November 8, 2024 at 2:23 pmHi Jake,
Thank you for your comment.
Congratulations! That is so exciting! And yes, you will be on an SCV 444.
Here is my having a baby in Australia post: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/having-a-baby-in-australia/.
I understand where your coming from, regarding the Australian government websites. I read them all the time and they can be confusing and sometimes conflicting.
There is a 2 year newly arrived resident’s waiting period for Paid Parental Leave. However, as NZ citizen living in Australia on an SCV you do not need to wait: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/meeting-residence-rules-for-parental-leave-pay-for-child-born-or-adopted-from-1-july-2023?context=64479.
Paid Parental Leave is now income and work tested, which you have probably read about. You can read more in my above post.
Hope the above helps.
Deborah Wall
July 4, 2024 at 8:31 pmI am seriously considering moving to Australia and I used to live there in 2009. I was working at that time – how do I find out what my tax number is?
JJ Smith
July 22, 2024 at 5:31 pmHi Deborah,
Thanks for your comment. Sorry for the delay, I’ve been on holiday with my family.
You can find it online in ATO online services via your myGov account: https://my.gov.au/.
If you don’t have a myGov account, you can usually find your TFN on:
– your income tax notice of assessment, if you have lodged a tax return
– letters you have received from the ATO, such as a statement of account
– a payment summary or income statement (provided by your employer)
– your superannuation account statement.
If you use a registered tax agent/accountant, you can ask them for your TFN. If you still can’t find your TFN after the above, phone the ATO on +61392688332 from NZ or 132861 when in Australia.
You can read more in my Australian Tax post: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/australian-tax/.
Hope the above helps.