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.
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.
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.
Multiple New Zealanders who have moved to Australia have advised me that there is a backlog of pension applications. If you pass the income and asset tests, it’s important to apply as soon as you arrive. You can lodge an Age Pension application up to 13 weeks before you reach eligibility age (between 66.5 and 67).
A claim for the age pension is meant to have a “timeliness standard” of 49 days, but in December last year, the average processing time was 91 days, up from 61 in August and 35 days in the 2021-22 financial year.
Your application will be backdated to the date of your application. However, the NZ pension is way more generous and has not been income- and asset-tested. Therefore if you are not eligible for the full Australian Age Pension, you are best to wait until you have received your NZ pension for 26 weeks and then apply for the Australian Age Pension.
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 has 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.
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.
If you are wondering what government support you can receive when you arrive in Australia as a single parent, you should be eligible for these payments: Family Tax Benefit, Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement, Single Income Family Supplement, Child Care Subsidy, Double Orphan Pension and Health Care Card.
In Australia, a lot of home purchases use a buyer agent (also known as a buyer’s advocate) to help them through the purchasing process. If you are planning on purchasing from New Zealand, you will probably need one.
Whether you’re a time-poor buyer or unfamiliar with the local market, a professional buyer’s agent will help make your property journey smooth and stress-free.
Moving across the ditch permanently? Though Australia’s capital cities are pretty well covered with public transport, you really need a set of wheels to get around effectively. Doing the weekly grocery shop and catching trains and buses isn’t any fun! That and the cost of taxis or Uber can add up pretty quickly.
Even though you can hit the ground running when it comes to work in Australia, it’s not the same with loans and finance. Find below the process of car ownership in Australia from whoa to go. That means a smooth experience with no hassles, and you get to explore the land down under quicker than you can say g’day, mate!
Transferring your hard-earned money from New Zealand to Australia is a big deal. It is important to use a trusted foreign exchange partner and make sure you get a great exchange rate and pay as little in fees as possible.
From our research, online money transfer companies offer the best rates, with less margin compared to banks and no fees. Save money. Find out why and how.
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.
Are you a New Zealander thinking about buying property in Australia? Getting a mortgage in Australia isn’t always easy, and it’s important to trust someone to get you the best deal possible.
UNO Home Loans, Australia’s Online Mortgage Broker, combines Unparalleled Service with technology to streamline the entire process of getting and having a mortgage so you save time, hassle and money for the entire time you have a home loan.
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.
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.
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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Check our currency converter now or view our live rate chart to see what the AUD’s been doing.
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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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