Are you a New Zealander planning to move to Australia? by JJ Smith September 19, 2024 written by JJ Smith You’ve just landed in the right place! Whether you’re still in the dreaming phase or already knee-deep in planning, I’m here to help make your move across the ditch as smooth and stress-free as possible. 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! Search Moving to AustraliaSearch Good luck with your move to Australia. JJ Smith x
The Land of OZ, Consumer Mag by JJ Smith September 19, 2024 written by JJ Smith The question is… Why are so many New Zealanders moving to Australia right now? Thousands of New Zealanders cross the Tasman every year in search of a better life. Why are they going? Is the Land of OZ all it’s cracked up to be? And would anything entice them home? Consumer reporter Chris Schulz asked those who are going and those who have gone, then dived into the statistics to find out. Here’s the full article, which I couldn’t publish when it came out. Continue Reading
Open an Australian Bank Account by JJ Smith November 6, 2024 written by JJ Smith Moving to Australia? Start your new life today with Australia’s leading bank. Say hello to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. 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. Continue Reading
Foreign Exchange/Money Transfer by JJ Smith November 6, 2024 written by JJ Smith Transferring money to Australia from New Zealand is something we all do when moving there, so why not make sure you get the best exchange rate on your money transfer? 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! Continue Reading
Moving Company to Australia by JJ Smith May 14, 2024 written by JJ Smith Should you take your belongings to Australia or buy new ones there? Find out… 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. (more…)
International Pet Transport by JJ Smith April 15, 2023 written by JJ Smith Get your pet safely to Australia from New Zealand with trusted international pet movers. 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 post-entry quarantine period in Australia. (more…)
Stuff’s latest moving to Australia post by JJ Smith June 19, 2024 written by JJ Smith ‘Stop romanticising Oz’: Kiwis across the ditch reveal hidden costs. 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.
Direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders in Australia by JJ Smith July 12, 2023 written by JJ Smith 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. Continue Reading
New Zealand to Australia Migration: What’s Causing the Surge? by JJ Smith April 4, 2025 written by JJ Smith And why is the world so curious to know the answer? 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. Continue Reading
Celebrating 15 years! by JJ Smith November 7, 2023 written by JJ Smith I can’t believe I’ve been working on Moving to Australia for 15 years! Answering visitor’s questions, updating the content, adding more content and constantly improving. Moving to Australia has grown organically over the years, and I honestly love my job. By nature, I love to get the best deal available for any product or service. I always research any product or company thoroughly and evaluate all my options. So trust me, I’ve done the research for you. Continue Reading
More New Zealanders are moving to Australia by JJ Smith August 24, 2023 written by JJ Smith Are you one of the thousands of Kiwis considering moving to Australia for a better quality of life? New Zealanders have been moving to Australia forever, but the exodus has been considerably higher since mid-2022 and into early 2023. With the New Zealand housing market being the slowest it’s been in 40 years, New Zealanders aren’t waiting to sell their homes before they make the move. With higher wages, lower rents, and only four years until Australian citizenship, Australia’s grass is definitely looking greener! The new direct pathway to Australian citizenship has been motivation for a lot of these Kiwis moving to OZ. You can read more about the new direct pathway to Australian citizenship in my post. Continue Reading
