5 Things To Consider Before Moving From New Zealand To Australia

The Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement allows people between Australia and New Zealand to move freely between the two countries. As a Kiwi, moving to Australia is much easier than for other nationalities. However, there are still a few things to consider before taking that leap across the Tasman. 

New Zealanders don’t need to apply for a visa when entering Australia. Upon arrival, you are granted a Special Category Visa (subclass 444) (SVC) as long as you meet the eligibility criteria. In most cases, the eligibility requirements are simple; not having a criminal record and not having any major health concerns. If granted, this SVC allows you to visit, study, or stay and work in Australia.

Of course, there are many aspects of moving countries to consider, especially the social aspect. Nonetheless, we’ve narrowed it down to 5 practical things to consider before moving from NZ to Australia:

1. Cost Of Moving
2. Immigration Requirements
3. Household Relocation & Travel
4. Accommodation & Transport
5. Employment Or Study

1. Cost Of Moving

Moving into a new country is often an exciting venture. Many New Zealanders make the move across the ditch in search of career opportunities, weather, and a lifestyle change. 

The cost of moving can add up if you haven’t considered all your options. For example, what are you going to do about your furniture? What about your car? Do you have any pets that you’re taking with you? Moving can cost between $10,000 to $20,000 if you decide to take most of your belongings with you. 

For example: 

• The cost to import car from NZ to Australia is approximately just under $3000 AUD.
• The cost to ship your household items in a 40ft container can be approximately $10,000 AUD.
• A rough guide to bringing pets into Australia is $1000 to move a cat and $1500-$2500 for a dog.

Of course, you have the option to leave most of your belongings behind. You can sell them and buy new ones in Australia. While you would save on transport costs, it can be much more expensive to buy new things in Australia. Even the used car market is generally more expensive over here. Thus, the cost of car shipping NZ to Australia can be cheaper than selling and buying here. The alternative is selling your car in NZ and buying a cheaper one over here. That’s worthwhile when the cost of paying import taxes when shipping car from NZ to Australia is significantly high. 

2. Immigration Requirements

People from most other countries will go through a much more difficult process regarding immigrating to Australia. Kiwis have a much easier pathway to moving here. 

As mentioned in the introduction, New Zealand and Australia have a special relationship that allows the free movement of citizens. That means you don’t need to apply and wait for a visa in order to go and live in Australia. However, you must pass some basic screening questions before being permitted entry and the right to stay. That includes a clean criminal record and no major health issues. Under the Special Category Visa (subclass 444) (SVC), you are entitled to live and work in Australia for as long as you desire. 

However, it is important to note that New Zealand citizens do not have the same rights as Australian citizens here. If you are holding an NZ passport, you do not have the right to vote in Australian elections. Furthermore, you cannot join the Australian Defence Force or undertake ongoing work with the Australian Public Service. Financially, you are not eligible to receive social welfare or unemployment benefits, student loans, or youth allowances. However, you are entitled to some family and childcare benefits, parental leave pay, and Medicare claims by meeting certain criteria. 

An important note is that you can be stripped of your SVC if you don’t continue to meet character requirements. These requirements generally imply that you are a positive member of society without any significant criminal record or incidents.

3. Household Relocation & Travel

We spoke about the potential costs of moving and now we will touch on the admin work that it takes. Of course, the option is deciding whether to sell or ship your household items to Australia. Besides cost, there are also positives and negatives in the amount of time and effort this will take. 

If you’ve been offered a career move that includes relocation and car shipping NZ to Australia for free, that’s great. Nonetheless, there is some paperwork you will need to do in order to make the move a smooth one. Importantly, you will need to document and list everything you are shipping. If you have a great shipping company, they will make this process easier and walk you through every step. At Phoenix, we are able to offer a full service including household and vehicle relocation. 

Another example is whether you are shipping a car from Australia to New Zealand or vice versa, which matters. The process differs because importing into Australia is more difficult due to additional regulations and permits needed. 

4. Accommodation & Transport

Regarding accommodation, there are various online platforms you can use to search for long-term options. Whether you are looking to rent or buy, realestate.com.au is a good starting point. 

Data from 2017-2018 shows that 75.3% of people spend 25% or less of their household income on housing costs. However, that does vary from state to state with NSW having the highest housing costs (21.4%) for renters. While the Northern Territory has the lowest at 15.7%.

In terms of transportation, you generally have more variety of public transport in the major cities compared to NZ. That can include trams, trains, buses, ferries, taxis, and more. However, it is important to note that most major cities in Australia have their own card systems. Therefore, whether it is the Opal Card in Sydney or the Metro Card in Adelaide, you will need to check. 

If you want to drive, you can use your NZ licence for the first 3 months in Australia. After that, you must apply for a driver’s licence from the appropriate authorities in your state or territory. 

We come back to the question of whether you will buy another car or will consider car shipping New Zealand to Australia. If you decide to import a car, you must make sure to pick the right logistics provider. Vehicle shipping is a specialised process and companies that handle general cargo don’t truly know the ins and outs. That is why picking a freight forwarder specialising in car shipping is key. Phoenix shipping has over 10 years of experience in car shipping Australia to NZ and vice versa. We have established relationships along the supply chain to make the process as seamless as possible. 

5. Employment Or Study 

As per the NZ Embassy, Kiwis are eligible to study in Australian schools and universities without needing a student visa. They will be charged domestic student fees which would be the same as an Australian citizen. However, New Zealand citizens are not eligible to apply for an Australian student loan. 

Kiwis are also eligible to work in Australia without needing a work visa or residence permit. Seek is normally a great starting point to search for jobs in a variety of industries. Employment opportunities are relatively good and there’s high demand for skilled labour in the service sector such as tech developers. With the Australian market being larger than the New Zealand one, there are naturally more opportunities and variety in employment. 

If you have already been offered a job, you can negotiate moving costs as part of the offer. Companies may cover the cost of household and shipping car from Australia to NZ or vice versa when moving. Make sure to ask if this option is available to you before moving.