- Move To Australia Guide
- »
- Visa Requirements
Australian Visas for New Zealanders
An overview of the visa requirements for New Zealanders intending to live and work in Australia.
Here's what we learned about visa requirements for New Zealanders moving to Australia.
Last Updated: 10th April, 2012
If you have any comments about the information provided here, you can reach us at hello@movetoaustralia.net. All the best for your big move!
Visa Eligibility
Key Points
- Special visas for New Zealand citizens. As a New Zealand citizen, you can live and work in Australia indefinitely. When you enter Australia on your NZ passport, you automatically receive a Special Category Visa (SCV). You don't need to do anything else to live and work there.
- You cannot receive the unemployment benefit unless you successfully apply to become an Australian permanent resident. Even after you become a permanent resident, there is usually a 2 year waiting period before you can receive the benefit.
- Becoming an Australian citizen. You still need to first successfully apply to become an Australian permanent resident before becoming an Australian citizen. This process involves a points system and you need at least 120 points to be successful. Becoming an Australian citizen does not require you to give up your New Zealand citizenship - you can have dual citizenship.
New Zealand citizens can move to Australia to live and work without needing to apply for a visa of any kind (see the exceptions below). When you arrive in Australia and pass through border control, a Special Category Visa (SCV) is electronically assigned if you have a New Zealand passport. This lets you to live in Australia for as long as you need to.
There’s actually no mention of this visa at all when you go through Australian border control, it all happens electronically when the immigration official swipes your passport or when you go through the new SmartGate systems being introduced throughout Australian airports.
The Australian Immigration web site features this fact sheet about New Zealanders in Australia, which discusses the special visas granted to New Zealanders to allow us to live and work there.
Another excellent source of information about special visas granted to New Zealanders travelling to Australia is this page of the Australian High Commission, NZ website.
Note that New Zealand permanent residents are not entitled to the Special Category Visa. It applies only to New Zealand citizens. If you are a New Zealand permanent resident you will need to apply for a visa to be able to live and work in Australia. See the Australian Immigration website to research a visa that might apply to you.
Exceptions To SCV Eligibility
There are two situations where New Zealand citizens may not be able to get a Special Category Visa (meaning you can't simply move to Australia to live and work without making some sort of application for residency).
-
Criminal convictions. If you have criminal convictions you need to apply for permission to enter Australia from the Australian High Commission. Grab the consent form here.
Undeclared criminal convictions are taken very seriously by the Australian authorities and can result in deportation and/or imprisonment.
-
Tuberculosis. If you have untreated tuberculosis you may not be allowed to enter Australia. Email ttsauckland@ttepl.com for further advice.
When Is It Necessary To Apply For A Permanent Residence Visa?
If your situation is not typical, you might need to apply for permanent residency. Our situation of simply wanting to live and work in Melbourne did not require this, but you will need to if you:
- Intend to apply for unemployment or sickness benefits. These benefits cannot be received until two years after successfully applying for permanent residence in Australia.
- Intend to become an Australian citizen.
- Intend to sponsor family members in their applications for permanent residency.
We've also written more about Australian permanent residency and citizenship if this is of interest to you.
Becoming An Australian Citizen
Although New Zealand citizens can live and work in Australia indefinitely, you must still apply to become an Australian citizen. You can find out more about this on our page about Australian permanent residency and citizenship.
Still have questions about visa requirements in Australia? Check out our discussion forum where you can ask questions that can be answered by us and other readers.
Read more about moving to Australia in the full How To Move To Australia Guide, or check out our discussion forum to find more help with planning your move.
Have we helped you? Maybe you can help us!