Moving to Australia from New Zealand?

Get all information you need to make a successful and stress-free move across the ditch.

Australian Visa

Moving to Australia and don’t know if you need a visa? As a New Zealander, you have a unique opportunity […]
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May 29, 2024
Australian Visa

Moving to Australia and don’t know if you need a visa?

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.

Australian Age Pension

Are New Zealanders able to get the age pension in Australia? Yes! But there is more to it. Here is […]
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Nov 27, 2024
Australian age pension

Are New Zealanders able to get the age pension in Australia? Yes! But there is more to it. Here is all the information you need to know…

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.

SCV Visa Exclusions

As a New Zealand citizen moving to Australia, you will usually automatically receive a Special Category Visa (SCV) when you […]
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May 29, 2024
Special Category Visas Exclusions

As a New Zealand citizen moving to Australia, you will usually automatically receive a Special Category Visa (SCV) when you pass through Australian border control.

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.

Direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders in Australia

Australian permanent residents or New Zealand citizens can become Australian citizens (by conferral). From 1 July 2023, there is a […]
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Sep 30, 2024
New pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders in Australia

Australian permanent residents or New Zealand citizens can become Australian citizens (by conferral).

From 1 July 2023, there is a new direct pathway to Australian citizenship for eligible New Zealand citizens who have lived in Australia for over four years.

On the 22nd of April 2023, Australia announced a new direct pathway to citizenship for eligible NZ citizens who have been living in Australia on a valid visa for 4 years immediately before the day they apply. They must not have been absent from Australia for more than 12 months in total in the past 4 years, including no more than 90 days in total in the 12 months immediately before applying.

The new law will apply to Kiwis on temporary, special category visas (SCV) who have arrived since 2001, lived in Australia for four years, and meet the standard criteria for citizenship—such as an English test, demonstrating “adequate knowledge” of Australia, and character checks and intention to reside in Australia.

There is no income threshold or health check required.

Moving to Australia with a criminal conviction?

Find out if and how you can move to Australia from New Zealand with your criminal convictions. If you are […]
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Nov 21, 2024
Moving to Australia with a criminal conviction

Find out if and how you can move to Australia from New Zealand with your criminal convictions.

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.

Moving to Australia Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a list of frequently asked questions we get regularly. If there is something you want to know please […]
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Jun 20, 2024
Moving to Australia FAQs

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.

Single parent moving to Australia from New Zealand

If you are a single parent wanting to move to Australia and are unsure of your options, the below will […]
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May 28, 2024
Single parent working from home

If you are a single parent wanting to move to Australia and are unsure of your options, the below will hopefully help.

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.

Become an Australian Citizen

Are you a New Zealander moving or living in Australia? Find out how to get the same benefits as an […]
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Sep 30, 2024
Become An Australian Permanent Resident and Australia Citizen

Are you a New Zealander moving or living in Australia? Find out how to get the same benefits as an Australian.

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.