Official advice for New Zealanders living and travelling overseas

Going to Australia?

Immigration information

New Zealand citizens automatically receive a non-protected Special Category Visa (SCV) when they arrive in Australia provided they meet certain security, character and health requirements.  We encourage you to check your eligibility for entry to Australia by visiting the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website or by contacting your nearest Australian immigration office to discuss your plan to travel to Australia. 

Getting an arrival stamp in your passport is the only physical evidence that you hold this visa.  If you use SmartGate (an automated border processing system that allows you to self-process through passport control) you are granted an SCV but you do not get an arrival stamp in your passport.  If you wish to obtain a stamp you can do so by asking a Customs and Border Protection Officer.

You can then stay and work in Australia indefinitely as long as you remain of good character, do not present a serious health risk (such as untreated tuberculosis) and retain your New Zealand citizenship.

Non-protected SCV holders do not have the same rights and benefits as Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents.  Australian authorities can also cancel an SCV if a person fails certain character and health requirements, such as committing a crime or untreated TB. 

If your SCV visa is cancelled, you may be placed into an immigration detention centre before being deported from Australia.   If you arrive in Australia and border authorities refuse to grant you a SCV on character grounds, then you may also spend time in detention followed by removal. 

Short-term visits

New Zealanders making short-term visits to Australia should buy comprehensive travel insurance to cover non-emergency health care costs, including repatriation and ambulance costs.

New Zealanders are eligible to receive free emergency hospital treatment under the Reciprocal Health Agreement, but New Zealanders without an Australian Medicare card have to pay the full cost of any non-hospital treatment such as doctors’ visits or pharmaceuticals.

For information about visiting Australia while receiving New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super), a benefit or other payment, read the "Going overseas" information on the Work and Income website.  

Living in Australia - entitlements

New Zealand citizens who intend to live in Australia long term should apply for a Medicare card on arrival, which enables access to medical and hospital services.  For more information, see the Services Australia website.

If you receive NZ Super, Veteran’s Pension or Supported Living Payment and intend to live in Australia you may qualify for payment in Australia.  You must advise Work and Income of your plans and apply to the Australian authority (Centrelink) within a set time of arrival.  

For more information about NZ Super and Veteran's Pension, see the Living in Australia page on the Work and Income website.  For information about Supported Living Payment, see the Social security agreement with Australia page. 

Automatic permanent residence for New Zealanders ceased in 2001.  

From 1 July 2023, New Zealand citizens who have been living in Australia for four years or more will be eligible to apply directly for Australian citizenship. They will no longer need to first apply for and be granted a permanent visa. These changes apply to New Zealand citizens holding a SCV who arrived in Australia after 26 February 2001

For information on the Special Category Visa or applying for Australian citizenship, please see the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website.

What the New Zealand Government can do

New Zealanders who get into difficulties overseas, including in Australia, are eligible for consular assistance but there are limitations.  See Our Services for more information.

New Zealand Government offices in Australia have no funds to assist New Zealanders in financial difficulty.  New Zealand agencies such as Work and Income NZ are unable to pay emergency benefits to assist people outside New Zealand.

Further information for New Zealanders in Australia is available on the "Living in Australia" page on the New Zealand High Commission website.

 

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