My family and I made the move from Auckland to Brisbane over 15 years ago, and wow, did we learn a lot along the way. As a website designer, it felt natural to create Moving to Australia to share everything I discovered. I figured if my slightly obsessive research could help us, it could definitely help other Kiwis making the move to Australia too.
There’s a lot to consider when moving to Australia. Yes, as NZ citizens, it’s easy for us to pack up and move to Australia to live and work as long as we want. But you are still moving country, and it takes a lot of planning and organising. So do yourself a favour and prioritise research time because the more you plan before you move, the less stressed out you will be on the plane to your new home.
From setting up an Australian bank account, understanding foreign exchange, and moving your belongings, to understanding schooling, real estate (renting or buying), and everyday life in Australia—it’s all here. Whether you’re headed to Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, or somewhere in between, I’ve got you covered.
I’ve also been answering readers’ questions for over 15 years, so if you can’t find what you’re after, just ask. I’m always happy to help! It’s actually my favourite part of the job, which is why I have been doing it for so long.
Scroll through the posts below or use the below search bar to quickly find what you need. Your new Aussie life starts here!
Good luck with your move to Australia.
JJ Smith x
I was interviewed this morning by the lovely Ruth Evans, from Ruth Evans Productions, a BBC content producer. She is visiting NZ all the way from her home in London. She had just spent a month in Australia!
She’s working on a documentary about why so many New Zealanders are moving to Australia right now, what some call a “brain drain,” as many of those leaving are highly skilled workers. She’s also exploring the cultural impact of inbound immigration on New Zealand.
Australia is one of the main destinations for New Zealanders looking for a change of scenery, a better climate, job opportunities, to earn more, to be closer to family and friends, to have a new lifestyle, or simply a change because we can move to Australia so easily from NZ.
Check out the below ‘To Do List’ to know what you need to do before you leave and what you need to do once you’re there.
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.
Whether you’re opening an Australian bank account, moving money into that account, having money ready to spend after you arrive, Australian tax obligations, or BPAY (I was like, what is BPAY?), below is all the information you will need to know about moving money to Australia from New Zealand and banking in Australia in general.
We’d like to introduce you to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, which is known to Aussies as CommBank.
Meet the bank more new arrivals choose.
Money transfer/foreign exchange is a big deal, and it’s important to use a trusted foreign exchange company to ensure you get a great exchange rate without a huge margin and little to no fees.
From my research, online money transfer companies offer the best rates, with a lower margin compared to banks and no fees.
I’ve learnt a thing or two from my mistakes, so do the research now, register with XE and save yourself some cash!
The NZ Herald published an article after speaking with Carl Halvorsen, who revealed that ANZ Australia charged his family a staggering $19,600 above the official wholesale exchange rates during a transfer of NZ$780,000 to his daughter in Perth.
When the funds arrived in his daughter’s account, only A$687,012 was deposited—far less than the nearly A$700,000 (NZ$774,000) they had anticipated.
The Australian tax system works pretty similarly to New Zealand. The Australian Tax Office/Department is the equivalent of the IRD in New Zealand.
Your employer will pay the Australian Tax Department/Office tax on your behalf. If you are self-employed, you will need to file your own tax returns, so you will need to get an Australian tax accountant to help you file everything correctly.
If you are a New Zealand citizen, you are legally able to work in Australia. You may need to apply for a work visa if you are not a New Zealand or Australian citizen.
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.
Victoria is known for its high-quality ECE system. The Victorian state government has invested significantly in the Best Start, Best Life reforms, expanding kindergarten programs across the state and creating more career pathways and opportunities for ECE professionals.
The strong commitment to early childhood education in Victoria makes it a promising destination for ECE professionals.
To provide a real-world perspective, we spoke with Ken Ah Honi, an early childhood teacher (head teacher) who moved from New Zealand to Victoria. Here’s his story:
Moving is one of the most stressful things we do. Moving to Australia wants to make your move easier. Here, you will find tips and advice on moving your personal effects to Australia from New Zealand that will help remove a lot of the stress from this process.
I’ve researched your options for safely taking your beloved pet from New Zealand to Australia. Below is a step-by-step guide outlining the eligibility and requirements for your cat or dog to move to Australia with you.
To move your pet to Australia from New Zealand, you must follow the guidelines set by the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
Cats and dogs coming to Australia from New Zealand do not require an import permit, and there is no Australian post-entry quarantine period.
It’s tough landing in a new country without somewhere to go from the airport, especially if you have a family. I get a lot of enquiries about where to stay when you first arrive before you can get a rental in Australia because it’s almost impossible to get one before you leave New Zealand.
The Australian rental market is quite similar to NZ but Australia is so much bigger, so it’s more competitive than New Zealand for both renting and buying.
Like New Zealand, there are positives and negatives to each city and each suburb and it is important to do research before you leave New Zealand, especially before you make any fixed arrangements.
Compare & Connect handles all the paperwork on your behalf, ensuring you can quickly access essential utilities such as electricity, gas, broadband, pay TV, and more.
Skip the stress, save time, and avoid endless research by filling out one simple online form and get everything sorted!
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.
The Australia Government First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) – lets you withdraw some of your KiwiSaver to help buy your first Australian home.
Yes, you read right… There is quite a history with this, but once again New Zealanders moving to Australia can transfer their KiwiSaver to Australia and use some of it as a deposit for their first home. You must meet the criteria the ATO set and ensure you set up the right account with the right super fund provider.
You can drive on your NZ license for up to 3 months in Australia. Then you must transfer your New Zealand driver’s licence to an Australian licence to drive legally. Find out how below, state by state…
When you first get to Australia, you will probably need to utilise Australia’s fine public transport when you are looking for a car. Uber is available in Australia. You can easily rent a car when you first get there and pick it up from the airport, which makes exploring your new city easier.
Medicare is Australia’s main healthcare government-funded scheme. New Zealand citizens can enrol in Medicare immediately (recommended a week after you arrive) if you can prove you’ve moved to Australia (see below).
Until you enrol with Medicare Australia, you can get healthcare under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement New Zealand has with Australia. This covers essential treatment in a public hospital, and of course, Doctors will happily still see you but it will cost more because you aren’t registered with them.
Medicare is a publicly funded universal health care scheme in Australia. Operated by the government authority Medicare Australia, Medicare is the primary funder of health care in Australia, funding primary health care for Australian citizens and permanent residents (except for those on Norfolk Island).
Residents are entitled to subsidised treatment from medical practitioners, eligible midwives, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals who have been issued a Medicare provider number and can also obtain free treatment in public hospitals.
As an NZ Citizen, you are eligible for Medicare Australia. However, you need to either live in Australia for 6 months or provide proof that you’ll be living there for the next 6 months.
There are many things to consider when moving to Australia, and whether you can still get the prescription medication you need is high on the list.
There also might be an operation you’ve been told you might need, and you want to know if you will be covered under Medicare and how much it will cost.
New Zealanders who are 67 years or older and live in Australia should be eligible for an Australian Age Pension. As long as they meet the resident, income, and asset eligibility criteria.
Please note that the eligibility criteria have recently been changed, so you will need to wait until you are now 67 to receive the Australian Age Pension if you were born on or after 1 January 1957. Read more below.
Under Australia’s international social security agreement with New Zealand, NZ citizens living in Australia can apply for the Australian Age Pension (over 67 years, see below), Disability Support Pension (DSP) (if they are severely disabled), and Carer Payment (if they are caring for a partner on DSP), irrespective of whether they are protected or non-protected SCV holders.
I found it quite hard to find information on Australian schools online, and it wasn’t until I had kids that I figured out how it all worked. The information below will definitely help you find a good school for your child to move to in Australia.
Below, you will find Australian school term dates, which vary from state to state, where to find schools in the area you’re moving to, top-ranked schools and what paperwork you need to get from your child’s current school to give to their new school in Australia.
The Australian Government provides funding to all states and territories to ensure all children have access to early childhood education, particularly in the year before they start school (4-6 years old). There might still be a fee, especially for kids under four.
The cost of having a baby will vary depending on whether you give birth in the public or private system. In Australia, pregnancy care in a public hospital or birth centre is free because it is covered by Medicare, which covers New Zealanders on an SCV, Australian citizens, and some visitors to Australia.
We are eligible for Parental Leave Pay as New Zealand citizens living in Australia on an SCV and don’t have to wait the two-year wait period for newly arrived residents. However, you do need to meet the income and work tests. Read more below.
In Australia, you receive antenatal care from your GP, midwife, or obstetrician, and you will have very similar options for your child’s birth as in New Zealand.
When researching and planning your pregnancy and the birth of your baby, remember that as an SCV holder, you have the same rights as an Australian citizen covered by Medicare Australia or your private health insurance.
If you have any recent experience claiming Parental Leave Pay, please share your feedback below in the comment section. This information will be incredibly helpful for expecting parents moving to Australia.
Editors note: I was pregnant when I moved to Australia. I was traveling back to New Zealand regularly, and planned to have my baby NZ, so I was close to my family. I received most of my pregnancy and birth-care in New Zealand.
However, on the few occasions that I did need help in Australia, I found my GP easy to register with and get good advice from. I had to take my son to the hospital when he was just over 1 month old and I was so impressed by the service and care I received in Brisbane.
In this post you will find information on:
In Australia, Medicare does cover all or some of your costs. Medicare can cover some or all of your expenses during your pregnancy and the birth of your baby. Medicare covers:
Medicare Safety Nets can help lower out-of-pocket medical costs for out-of-hospital services.
When you spend over a certain amount in a calendar year, you’ll get a higher amount back from Medicare. So, if you need to see a doctor, get tests regularly, or are part of a family, you could save money with Medicare Safety Nets.
If you’re part of a family or couple, you can combine your costs by registering as a family member and registering for Medicare Safety Nets.
When your baby is born, you can also add them to your Medicare Safety Net family. You can do this when you enrol your baby in Medicare. You do this after the birth of your baby.
So, under Medicare, you get free care and delivery in the public health system, but you won’t be able to choose your doctor or midwife.
In the private system, you can choose your doctor, but you will need to pay for the care or take out private health insurance. Medicare and your health fund will cover some of the costs of a private hospital stay, but you may still have to pay extra fees (known as ‘out-of-pocket’ costs).
Be sure to check that your private health insurance covers maternity care, and if there is a waiting time before you can claim.
It can be difficult to understand the costs of different care options. If unsure, talk to your doctor, hospital, or health fund, or call Pregnancy, Birth, and Baby.
Families can access health care and financial benefits, including Medicare, newborn payments, child care payments, and parental leave pay.
You can read about the Australian Government payments here: http://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/medicare-and-other-benefits.
Some government payments require a two-year waiting period for newly arrived residents. However, as NZ citizens living in Australia on an SCV, we meet the residence rules and do not need to wait.
You can enrol in Medicare Australia soon after you arrive in Australia. Find out how to apply, what you’re entitled to, and the costs of healthcare in my Medicare Australia post.
There’s a lot of information about payments and services available to help you raise your child or children on the Services Australia website, and you can check if you are eligible for payments.
Centrelink allows you to submit a claim for some payments as early as three months before your baby’s due date. The above article runs you through your options for claiming.
These payments should be available to New Zealanders living in Australia on an SCV:
If you’re not eligible for Parental Leave Pay, you may still be able to get both Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement.
Parental Leave Pay is a payment for up to 100 days, or 20 weeks, while you care for a child born or adopted from 1 July 2023. This includes the old Dad and Partner Pay of 2 weeks.
Services Australia has all the information you need about eligibility, payment amounts, income and work tests. Please read the following content to understand your rights:
If your child’s birth or entry into care is before 1 July 2023, your family will be assessed under the old rules. This means your family may be able to get up to 18 weeks of Parental Leave Pay and up to 2 weeks of Dad and Partner Pay. This is regardless of when you choose to start your payment.
If your child’s birth or entry into care is on or after 1 July 2023, Parental Leave Pay and Dad and Partner Pay are combined into one payment. It increased from 90 days, or up to 18 weeks, based on a 5-day work week, to 100 days or 20 weeks. They also changed the income test, work requirements and who can get it.
If your child’s birth or adoption is from 1 July 2024, there are more proposed changes to Parental Leave Pay, subject to legislation passing. The proposed changes include the total Parental Leave Pay available to families increasing to 26 weeks by 2026. From 1 July 2025, there may also be changes to how you can share your payment with your partner if you have one.
Read more here on the Services Australia website, Paid Parental Leave scheme changes.
Services Australia use your adjusted taxable income to determine your Parental Leave Pay eligibility. You may meet the family income test if you don’t meet the individual income test.
They’ll look at your income from the financial year before either (whichever date is earlier):
To get Parental Leave Pay, you must have an individual adjusted taxable income of either:
You can use a family income test if you don’t meet the individual income test. You can get Parental Leave Pay if your and your partner’s adjusted taxable income is up to $364,350 or less in the 2023-24 financial year. Your partner is the person you’re in a relationship with on the date you claim. This limit will apply to your income if you don’t have a partner.
If you are unclear on the above, you can read examples of meeting the family income test on the Services Australia website, meeting the income test.
To meet the work test, you need to have worked for both (they count 10 months as 295 days and 13 months as 392 days):
There are many activities that count as work, including paid leave. You can include any periods of time that you worked or did an approved activity in the 10-month period. You can include work for multiple employers and combine approved activities to meet the work test. You can’t have more than a 12-week gap between each work day in that 10-month period.
The Services Australia website, work requirements, has more about the work test and examples to help you apply it.
I regularly read the Services Australia website for information on New Zealand citizens living in Australia on an SCV and our eligibility for Parental Leave Pay and Dad and Partner Pay. It can often be confusing and open to interpretation. However, it does state that if you hold a Special Category Visa (SCV), you may be exempt from the Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period:
New Zealand citizens claiming payments in Australia – Non-protected SCV holders:
If you have served, or have an exemption from, the Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period, you may be eligible to claim:
Exemptions from the Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period for Parental Leave Pay:
You may not have to wait to receive Parental Leave Pay if any of the following apply:
We also meet the residence rules for getting Parental Leave Pay for a child born or adopted after 1 July 2023.
Please mention the above to a Services Australia representative when you contact them. Hopefully it will help. The general consensus from visitor feedback is that it really depends on who you end up talking to.
The Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement is a lump sum and an increase to your Family Tax Benefit Part A payment when you start caring for a baby or child that’s recently come into your care. Kiwis on an SCV are eligible for this, but you must not be getting Parental Leave Pay for the same child.
You can read more about the Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement on the Services Australia website.
I highly recommend the Australian government website Pregnancy, Birth and Babies. Go there for all your questions.
There is great general information on having a healthy pregnancy, keeping fit, you and your baby’s wellbeing, etc. It also contains all the info on checkups, screenings and scans, if you have complications during pregnancy and if things go wrong.
You should discuss your plans for taking leave with your employer before your baby is born and give them written notice 10 weeks before starting your leave.
If you plan to get Parental Leave Pay, you need to tell your employer, as they may need to provide the funds.
Use the Supporting Working Parents website to learn about your workplace rights while pregnant, during parental leave, or upon returning to the workplace.
As a New Zealander on an SCV you have the same decisions to make as an Australian citizen.
There is a lot to consider when planning the birth of your baby. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby’s have everything you need to know about the birth, including your options, what happens during labour, and what to expect immediately after.
They also have information on what will happen to your baby and the tests that are usually done, plus what can happen if there are complications during birth.
Remember you have the same rights as an Australian citizen covered by Medicare Australia or private health insurance.
Your baby will not be an Australian citizen if you are both in Australia on a non-protected SCV.
If you were born in Australia, and at least one of your parents was an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident when you were born, you are an Australian citizen by birth.
Your baby will be able to apply for Australian citizenship if they live in Australia until they are age 10: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/certificate/get-a-certificate#Overview.
New Zealanders with a child born in Australia who is not an Australian citizen at birth should apply for New Zealand citizenship by descent and a passport for the child as soon as they are born. Do not wait until you have a family emergency requiring you to travel overseas. New Zealand citizenship by descent and passport applications take up to 30 working days to be processed and cost AU$407. Urgent requests take up to 10 working days and cost AU$622.
Life is similar in Australia to NZ in terms of bringing up children. The culture, pre-schools and kindergartens, schooling, and extracurricular activities are similarly organised and available, but with more options because of the population. A lot of life is lived outdoors because of the sunny climate of most of Australia.
Schools and the government encourage and support sport. Even some schools offer surfing as a subject. Sports are one of the main reasons some families move to Australia. It gives a talented sporty child many opportunities for world-class training and competitions.
You will meet families, kids, and people through your community, so if you get involved in hobbies and activities around where you live, you will give yourself a good chance to make friends. There are antenatal classes, pre-school activities, and free things to do in your city, so search for your local community socials or websites and get out there! Australians love to talk!
Here you can find info and advice on bringing up a baby and child in Australia:
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is funded by the Australian Government and operated by Healthdirect Australia. This is a fantastic resource for New Zealanders living in Australia with a family.
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby will help answer all your questions after arriving in Australia. They offer a fantastic helpline. I called them to ask a question on behalf of a visitor and they were terrific.
Here is helpful information about having a baby in Australia from the Australian government website, Human Services. It covers before, during, and after birth, as well as tools and information.
The Australian government also supports Raisingchildren.net.au, which provides ad-free parenting videos, articles, and apps backed by Australian experts.
The below posts might interest you:
If you’ve read the above content and the answer to your question isn’t there, please 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 help. It takes less than 30 seconds to complete, so give it a try!
I am happy to be a contributor to Stuff’s latest news article about moving to Australia. It’s a good read and backs up my standpoint of how important it is to research before you move.
Get to know your employment industry in Australia, the demand for your skills, how quickly job listings turn around, your approximate salary, what paperwork you are going to need, etc. The same goes for the rental market: where do you want to live, what are the current rents, and once again, what paperwork you are going to need. Information is king.
The article talks to a number of New Zealanders living in Australia and compares the cost of food, healthcare, student loans, rentals, buying and selling a house, retirement, and dining out.
Definitely have a read of the comments. There are some insightful comments and I had a few chuckles.
Check it out – ‘Stop romanticising Oz’: Kiwis across the ditch reveal hidden costs.
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 July 1 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. There is no mention of this at border control. It all happens electronically. The SCV is automatically cancelled upon departing Australia.
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.
If you are a New Zealander with a criminal history, you will need to get written confirmation from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) before you travel to Australia. If you have been imprisoned for over a year, you will need to apply for an Australian Visa. Read more below.
Below are a list of frequently asked questions we get regularly. If there is something you want to know please use the comment form at the bottom of the page.
Workers on Australian construction sites must have a construction induction card (White Card) before starting work. Workers must show their white card to the PCBU on the site and to any inspectors who ask to see it.
The nationally recognised certification is known as ‘CPCWHS1001 – Prepare to work safely in the construction industry’.
Please note that you must physically be in Australia to sit a White Card course. White cards are recognised Australia-wide.
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It is a mandatory contribution that is made by employers on behalf of their employees, and it is designed to help individuals save for their retirement.
Moving to Australia is a big step, and choosing a city is not easy because Australia has many amazing places to live.
They all have unique opportunities, and the information below will help you choose which city best suits you and your family.
The eight states have individual characteristics and climates. Do you want to live in tropical Queensland, cooler Canberra, laid-back Darwin, or right in the hustle and bustle of Sydney?
Whatever your reason for moving to Victoria, you will be glad that this city has so much to offer.
Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city with four million residents. Its the sports, arts and cultural capital of Australia. Its numerous lane-ways of house bars, cafes and restaurants are covered in street art. Its renowned for its coffee culture!
New South Wales offers a multitude of experiences, with plenty of things to see and do which suit all tastes and interests. Read on to find information on almost everything that is associated with moving to NSW…
Sydney is Australia’s oldest city and is famous for its harbour, beaches, and iconic landmarks (the Opera House, Bondi Beach, Darling Harbour).
Sydney is Australia’s most expensive city and often features on the list of the most expensive cities in the world. It has vast amounts of natural beauty, a huge cultural beating heart, and an epic entertainment scene. It hosts the famous Sydney Mardi Gras (Australia’s biggest LGBT parade). It’s been named the sixth-best city for students and has several world-class universities.
The Gold Coast is surrounded by stunning beaches, lush rainforests and a relaxed lifestyle. It is a playground of theme parks, watersports, top-end shops, delicious food and exciting nightlife. Its home to Australia’s most famous theme parks including Dreamworld, Sea World, Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet’n’Wild.
The weather changes markedly from season to season. Canberra has low humidity, dry heat in summer, and cool winters, including frosts.
“Criminally overlooked Canberra packs a big punch for such a small city.” That’s what Lonely Planet thinks. Named #3 best city to visit in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018 – ranking higher than any Australian city has ever been ranked before.
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia. With a Mediterranean climate and relaxed lifestyle, the city offers an amazing quality of life, affordable housing, and good economic opportunities.
Perth’s over 2 million residents have an amazing outdoor lifestyle—surf beaches, Swan River, and Kings Park (400 hectares of protected park and bushland). From its beautiful weather to its endless day trip options, Perth has plenty to offer its locals.
There are a few things to consider, especially tax implications, as you need to consider both tax systems, whether you are employed or contracting (employment type), and your tax residency status (Australian resident, non-resident, or temporary resident for tax purposes).
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, I spend hours making sure the information here is up to date.
If you would like to help me, you can use one of my referral partners.
They pay me a small amount per referral, and you get a quality service while saving hours of research time.
By nature, I love to get the best deal available. I always research any purchase or company thoroughly and evaluate all my options. So trust me, I’ve done the research for you.
I only recommend companies that I have used personally or know someone who has and that they measure up to my referral partner standards:
You will find them scattered throughout the site.
Please email me if you require further information.
Generally, New Zealanders on an SCV are not able to get an Australia student loan, known as a HELP loan, unless they have been living in Australia for 10 years. Read more below.
Regarding your NZ student loan, if you’re going overseas for 6 months or more, it won’t be interest-free. Below is all the information you need, including repayment amounts and a student loan repayment calculator.
Below is our Moving to Australia Checklist (Pre Move Planner). Let us help you organize and plan your move. You can download a printable version here, ready for you to print and put on your fridge – MTA-MovePlannerChecklist.pdf.
New Zealand citizens with a valid New Zealand passport are able to move to Australia from New Zealand without having to apply for a visa. We apply and get granted a Special Category Visa 444 (SCV) simply by processing through border control. You must meet the character requirements, see below.
After you have been living in Australia for four years, you can apply to become an Australian citizen. We no longer need to apply for an Australian permanent visa (permanent resident) first.
If you are making plans to move to Australia, applying for health insurance is an important part of the process. Aside from that, it’s always a good idea to prepare for the unexpected.
In Australia, the public health system Medicare covers most Australian residents’ healthcare needs. However, Medicare does not cover everything, and you can choose to take out private health insurance to get a wider range of healthcare options and more comprehensive coverage.
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; in most places, it applies to new homes only.
The Australian government’s First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) and other benefits are available to permanent residents as if they were citizens. Because NZ citizens are considered to be permanent residents of Australia, they are eligible for the grant.
FHOG does not consider NZ property for eligibility; it considers only property you’ve owned in Australia.
New Zealand citizens are treated as residents for tax purposes once they complete a stay of six consecutive months (183 days) in Australia. Like in New Zealand with the IRD, you need to complete and file a tax return in Australia with the Australian Tax Office (ATO).
Income tax is applied to an individual’s taxable income and is paid on all forms of income. This includes wages from your job, profits from business and returns from investments (including rental properties in NZ). Income tax can also apply to assets, such as when a house or shares are sold in Australia or New Zealand.
The Australian tax year runs from 1 July to 30 June. When you lodge a tax return, you include how much money you’ve earned (income) and any expenses you can claim as a deduction.
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I’ve organized the topics from “need to know” to “nice to know”—for example, having a baby in Australia won’t apply to everyone, but it’s there if you need it.
Most New Zealanders start researching their move months (or even years) in advance, and with one simple, free subscription, you can access all the essential information in one place.
You can also explore a wide range of topics on my Facebook page, Moving to Australia, where I share relevant news and updates to keep you in the loop!
If you are moving to Australia in the near future and have only just stumbled across my site, then you can read through my newsletter list below and have a read of what is of most interest to you:
In addition to the above, I send out the occasional newsletter with the latest news about New Zealanders moving to Australia.
If there is a subject I haven’t covered above that you would like to see, please comment below.
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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