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Keen to become a Kiwi? If you are planning on moving from Australia to New Zealand, then look no further! This page outlines everything you need to know including costs, checklists, tips, and free moving quotes.
You can expect to pay between $7,500 – $10,200 for an average 3-bed house move to New Zealand. The average time can go from 25 to 31 days.
Find out the costs for different size homes in the following table, where we calculated for moving from Sydney to Auckland:
| Property Size | Average Cost |
| 1-bedroom house | $3,400 – $4,800 |
| 2-bedroom house | $4,500 – $6,200 |
| 3-bedroom house | $7,500 – $10,200 |
| 4-bedroom house | $8,100 – $11,200 |
| 5-bedroom house | $11,400 – $15,500 |
Disclaimer: These are estimates. We recommend understanding the factors that will affect the cost of your move.
👉 To get an accurate price on how much is going to cost your move to New Zealand, calculate the volume of your belongings. It will save you time and money!
Estimate My VolumeAre you searching for moving companies to New Zealand? You’re in the right place. Take a look at the 3 best international removal companies from Australia to New Zealand in our page below.
Shipping furniture from Australia to New Zealand on your own can be a struggle, and that’s the last thing you need while moving. If you want to avoid spending time doing research, click below to request up to 5 quotes from trustworthy and experienced movers.
As an Australian citizen or permanent resident, no visa is required to move into New Zealand. Independently on your moving reasons, you can work, study, visit and live in the country.
The process is easy – Just make sure to have your passport in order. With it, they will prove your identity and check your Australian citizenship or immigration status.
👉 Read more in detail about the Australian Resident Visa on the New Zealand Immigration page.
As a permanent resident, you won’t need a visa. However, you will be required a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), a document required for those who will enter the country without a visa. This doesn’t apply to Australian citizens.
Once travelling to New Zealand, make sure to handle your visa documentation as a permanent resident next to your foreign passport.
Time to organize other aspects of your move! Keep reading to find out how to move to New Zealand.
While you won’t need to apply for a visa as an Australian moving to New Zealand, there are still some important documents that you’ll want to prepare before you go for administrative tasks.
Seems obvious right? If you’re moving to New Zealand, there are likely many things you would like to bring with you. However, packing is often a bigger task than most people expect. Should you find yourself in need of guidance, read our Packing to Move House Guide for tips and tricks on packing easier.
If you plan to ship your car, all you’ll need to do is ensure that it’s up to the standards required and you have proof of ownership. You can read more about importing a vehicle on New Zealand’s government page.
Regarding your driving licence, all Australians are exempt from taking a theory test, and you only have to take a practical once if you have had your licence for less than two years upon arrival
We know how important canine and feline friends are. Luckily, your pet does not require a permit but will be subject to a post-arrival inspection and some general requirements:
The average price of moving a dog or any other pet to New Zealand can range from $1800 to $2500. This can include permits, veterinary checks, and pet courier fees.
New Zealand allows you to open a local account for up to one year before relocating. So, for the organised among you, it’s something to tick off your to-do list ASAP. Start by exploring some of the following banks:
Beyond working your way through what probably feels like an endless moving to New Zealand checklist, is it also important to understand what life in Middle Earth looks like.
According to Numbeo, the living costs in 2024 are 12% lower in New Zealand compared to Australia. To give you an idea, we’ve gathered the average cost of some daily items in both countries:
| Metric | Australian Average | New Zealand Average |
| Monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre | $1,684 | $1,507 |
| Price per square metre to rent in the city centre | $20.00 | $6,923 |
| 0.5L of draught beer | $8.00 | $8.44 |
| 12 eggs | $4.67 | $5.03 |
| Cappuccino | $4.50 | $4.42 |
| Monthly travel pass | $151 | $157 |
These numbers merely represent estimates. How much you spend will depend on where exactly you live when moving to New Zealand and your lifestyle.
Before setting sail over the Tasman, it is important to check whether your skills are in demand if you haven’t yet secured employment. Gone are the days of New Zealand only being known for their lamb and wool; rather the economy is constantly expanding and diversifying.
If you are still seeking a job upon moving to New Zealand, consider exploring some of the following portals:
😲 New Zealand’s tourist industry is booming. Their vineyards and wineries are also world renowned and the renewable energy sector is now responsible for 60% of the country’s energy. If any of these industries are of interest to you, then moving to New Zealand can’t come soon enough.
As an Australian living and planning to work in New Zealand, you will require a number, otherwise known as an IRD (New Zealand Inland Revenue Department). This number is necessary to fill in your tax return, be able to work, apply for loans or open a bank account.
Read on How to get an IRD number on the New Zealand Government page.
Once you are settled and working in New Zealand, a KiwiSaver account is set up for you. Usually, your employer will automatically enrol you for this, but keep your eyes peeled! It is up to you to transfer any funds from your super into your KiwiSaver.
What Happens to KiwiSaver When You Move to Australia?
In case you’re a New Zealand citizen moving to Australia, you have two options: leave the savings in your KiwiSaver scheme account or transfer them to an Australian pension scheme.
Beware that not all providers accept it, so make sure to be informed in advance. Read all about Transferring your savings overseas on the Bank of New Zealand page.
New Zealand doesn’t have an equivalent to Medicare, instead, they offer free or subsidized healthcare if you intend on moving to New Zealand for over two years. Otherwise, you will only receive emergency cover and will be required to pay fees elsewhere.
The New Zealand Healthcare System it’s free or subsidized if you intend to move there for over two years. However, if you plan to move for less time, you’ll receive only emergency cover, requiring you to pay fees elsewhere.
What does it cover?
It’s also an option to avail of private healthcare provided in the country to avoid waiting times in the public system.
As an Australian citizen, you’re allowed to buy a property in New Zealand. As main documents, you’ll need to gather your passport and financial and residential proof.
The process is similar to Australia, find all the information you need on Buying or building a house in New Zealand Immigration page.
Australians are treated as domestic students from the early years of learning, all the way to tertiary education. This means you are eligible to pay domestic school fees – which usually means no fees at all – with only minor costs associated with books and other learning materials.
Note: However, to be eligible for study in New Zealand on domestic fees, you must have lived there for at least three years.
As a Kiwi, the process is seamless. You will only need to carry your valid passport to move back to New Zealand. As discussed before, for those who aren’t Australian or New Zealand citizens but do handle a permanent visa, may need to fill in a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before entering the country.
we are sure you are going to miss kangaroos and adorable koalas, moving to New Zealand is an exciting adventure. Continue exploring our pages linked below and the FAQ section to learn more – they’ll be super useful during your move!
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