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Hi, I'm just looking for some advise on what would be the best visa to apply for. Myself (irish) and my partner of 3 years (NZ citizen) are looking to move to Australia sometime in the next year or two. We currently live in New Zealand so will be applying for the visa from here but we're just not sure which one to apply for. What are the main differences between the 461 NZ family visa and the 309/100 visa/ is there any benefit of applying for one over the other? Thanks so much for any info you can give, I really appricate it!

Hello we are currently in the UK but considering a move down under in the next couple of years depending on finances and life! My partner has dual citizenship New Zealand and Bristish so has a NZ passport. We have 3 children born in the UK who would be eligible for NZ passports too. So my partner and kids would all be allowed to live and work in Australia without visas (I believe) but we don’t know what I would qualify for? We aren’t married but we would like to get married in the future so I’m not sure if that affects anything. I would need to work to afford to live down under. If we went to Australia it would only be for 6months-1yr initially and then if we loved it we could extend our stay but again it would all depend on visas. Does anyone know what options we would have? Also we have no friends or family in Brisbane (where we are considering) but we have friends in Sydney (which we couldn’t afford) and Canberra. Has anyone else made the move down under alone and how did you find it? Have you managed to make friends? And what about childcare after school or school holidays if you are both working? Thanks so much Penelope

Hi, Just have a query with regards to my eligibility to apply for the 189 Visa as a NZ citizen. I moved to Australia from NZ in Sept 2009 and worked up until August 2016. I fall within the threshold of the income category. I quit my job in 2016 and have been travelling every since and will only be back in Australia in June 2018. I still have a property in Aus and that is where my home is. As I have been away for over an year now , will I still be eligible to apply for PR under the 189 Visa? https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/189-new-zealand-stream Will my absence away from Aus on holiday deny me the approval for the visa? Thanking you in advance.

Has anyone flow to New Zealand after their first year on a working holiday and come back to Oz on a tourist visa? If so how easy is it to do so/ are they strict on letting you back in? My WHV ends at the end of November but my mum and dad are coming for Christmas and new year to visit family so obviously want to be here with them for that. 1. Can I book return flights from SYD to NZ? Will I get pulled up for not having a valid visa for oz when I enter nz? Obviously I'm applying for that when I get there. 2. Do I need to get a visitor visa for nz or not? I'm a UK citizen so says online I qualify for visa waiver but other sources say I need a visa for nz if I'm going there to renew a visa for another country? Thanks in advance.

Hi all, I have heard that under the Trans Tasman mutual recognition act that it is possible to work as a primary teacher in WA if you are registered as a teacher in New Zealand? I am currently waiting to hear back from TRBWA as to whether my qualifications are sufficient to register as a primary teacher in WA. Although optimistic, I want to ensure I have a plan B just incase I don't obtain it. Has anyone any experience of using the mutual recognition. I would work in NZ first if required so as to be able to register in Perth. Thanks so much in advance. Best wishes

Hi Everyone, I am seeking qualified Volvo mechanics for client in New Zealand. Workshops in North and South Islands. Some relocation assistance (flight contribution / initial accommodation & car hire). Approx. 6 roles open at this time Please PM if you are interested - many thanks, Adam

Hi there I have just joined this site and wanted to say hi and my reason for being here !! I am a UK citizen currently in Nz and i have just sent off for the 461 visa as my OH is a kiwi, and her brother and dad both live in Perth where we are hoping to go. I would love to hear from anyone who has been in the same situation and would be keen to give any first hand advice. Fingers crossed it all goes to plan

Many New Zealand citizens living in Australia don’t think about applying for Australian permanent residence. New Zealanders receive Special Category Subclass 444 visas on arrival to Australia in most cases, and these allow them to live and work in Australia indefinitely. Family members can obtain NZ Citizen Family Relation Subclass 461 visas, which also give full work rights even if the family member is not an NZ citizen. However, there are many advantages to obtaining Australian permanent residence, including: Full Access to the free Australian health system – Medicare Full Access to Australian social security benefits Access to FEE-HELP student loans for higher education Possibility of becoming an Australian citizen, giving a right to always return to Australia Many New Zealanders working in Australia are actually eligible for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa. Under current ENS regulations, both the Special Category Subclass 444 visa, and the NZ Citizen Family Relation Subclass 461 visa are qualifying visas for streamlined processing. NZ Citizens or family members need to work in Australia for 2 years to qualify for an ENS visa, and would need to be sponsored by an employer to get their permanent residence. The ENS visa is currently one of the highest priority visas in the Australian migration program, and many people can obtain permanent residence within a month or two of lodging their applications. However, the ENS program will change from 1 July 2012. Neither the 444 nor the 461 will be qualifying visas for streamlined processing, and this will mean that New Zealanders will find it much more difficult to qualify for migration to Australia. If they want to apply for ENS after 1 July, New Zealanders will in most cases need to pass a formal skills assessment and show 3 years of work experience in their occupation to qualify. This means higher costs, delays and quite possibly many New Zealanders without formal university or trade qualifications missing out on permanent residence.

The global recession caused a drop in skilled migrants and international students coming to New Zealand, the Labour Department says. But industry groups say there is still a huge shortage of trained chefs and regional shortages of experienced mechanics in centres such as Wellington and Christchurch. In its latest analysis of migration trends the department says 12 per cent fewer people were approved as skilled migrants in the nine months from July 2011 to March 2012. In that time, 13,265 people settled in New Zealand under the skilled migrant category, 1800 fewer than in the same period last year. The decrease was due to the flow-on effect of fewer people coming in under the temporary essential skills category, the department's head of research, Vasantha Krishnan, said. People in this category are a key source of future skilled migrants, and the demand for these workers slowed from October 2008 with the onset of the global financial crisis. Many skilled migrants came to New Zealand initially on some form of temporary policy, for work or study, Krishnan said. "About 70 per cent of the total resident programme is made up of those who come through temporary policy in one way or another." This was similar to Australia, and the process tended to produce more successful labour-market outcomes, she said. The drop in essential-skills workers had been across the board, with low and semi-skilled people particularly affected. There had been less demand in sectors including the arts and media, human resources, marketing, the legal profession, vehicle technicians, skilled animal and horticultural workers, carers, and hospitality workers. A 7 per cent fall had also occurred in the number of international students coming to New Zealand in the nine-month period. The Christchurch earthquakes were a big reason, but the high kiwi dollar and the general world economic situation had also played a part, Krishnan said. "There is a general global recession which I think has seen fewer people able to move around." Motor Trade Association marketing and communications general manager Ian Stronach said that, like many sectors, there had been a downturn in the vehicle industry, and there had less demand for technicians. But it was cyclical, and the chronic shortages of experienced mechanics with New Zealand-compliant qualifications would return. Shortages still existed in Christchurch, he said. "But even around here in Wellington I've got people sometimes tearing their hair out." Hospitality New Zealand chief executive Bruce Robertson said he was surprised by the figures, because a huge demand continued for trained chefs. "We're still looking to import talent, because we simply can't produce enough of our own." A lot of chefs were working on temporary work permits, because there had been ongoing problems with getting them approved under the essential skills category. Nine months to March 2012 13,265 people approved as skilled migrants, down 12 per cent. 56,741 international students approved to study in New Zealand, down 7 per cent. 28,674 people approved for New Zealand residency, steady on the 28,695 approved at the same time last year.

Hi, I've been living in New Zealand for six years, having moved here from the UK in 2006. I'll be honest and say my experience in NZ has not been a bundle of fun. Whilst I've pretty much got used to the NZ way of doing things, there are still things that drive me insane every once in a while. When I came to NZ I never even considered a future move to Oz. After a year living in Auckland, I went to Melbourne accompanying my wife on a business trip. I'd made loads of excusses as to the reason why Auckland was so shabby and why the people in New Zealand didn't really care about the state of their houses, their cars and stuff in general. I figured any place this remote from the rest of the world would need to make do and use "frontier spirit". Two days wondering around Melbourne on my own, whilst my wife worked, was a real eye opener. Melbourne was so clean and tidy compared to Auckland. Subsequent visits to Sydney and Brisbane have really hammered home to me just how much of a poor relation NZ seems to be to Australia. I now have Oz PR, so I'm currently doing my reseach into Australia- my experience in NZ was taught me not to be quite so nieve this time. Whilst I'm sure the Oz isn't going to be as bad as NZ, I've been trying to look into the more negative things about living in Oz. As they say, being forwarned is being forarmed, or whatever. For New Zealand there are a number of websitesthat will specifically discuss the more tiresome issued that migrants face in the country. despite trawling the depths of the internet, I can not find one post, let alone a website weere anyone REALLY lets rip at Oz. Sure there are many very grounded and honest posts on this website, but nobody seems to be really upset with Oz, not in the same way the folk are about NZ. So my question is, for anyone that has lived or experience both countries, what are the differences between NZ and Oz? Also, will someone who, after six years, has pretty much got used to NZ be OK fitting in to the Australian way of life? It is no good asking these questions of a Kiwi in New Zealand as they seem to pretty much hate Australia and Australians!

Hey Guys, Im new here and was told about the site by some friends i have that have moved to Perth, AUS I am looking to move over to NZ at the beginning of next year and need some help pleaseeee. I have looked on the NZ immigration websites and they all seem so confusing haha! I think i am looking to apply for a skilled migrant visa, can anyone give me any advice? anything at the monent would be useful. I am 26 and currently working in the construction industry as an architectual window, door and curtain walling designer. Help on where to start please :biggrin: i have registered with recruiters such as Catalyst and not really heard much so myself and the girlfirend have just decided to use our savings and go over next year. Basically just looking for how much money would be sensible if we are going over without a job although we would be both looking for work and how easy or hard it is to sort accommodation before we travel and how easy/hard it is to actually find work once over there. We are looking to go to Christchurch . Thank you for any help.

Hi Everyone I am new on here but I have already found alot of helpful info so thank you. My Husband and I currently live in Abu Dhabi with our 2 dogs, we are orginally form the UK. We are hoping to move to NZ and if my Husband manages to get a job he will have to work in HAmilton for a few months then in Auckland. Can anyone recommend a good base to rent that is half way to both in terms of travel time. Ideally we would like to to be by the sea but if that is too far then at least hills and green, views if possible. We looked at Pukekohe and that seemed good. Without contradicting myslef we would like a country/beach feel, but also still have a few shop withing 10/20 mins walking distance. Any help at all is much appreciated. Thanks:spinny:

I'm a UK citizen and am about to kick off the process of applying for an employer-sponsored 121 visa. I'm clear on what's required of me and am getting started on the paperwork asap. However, I'm wondering what to do about my partner. She's a New Zealand citizen and therefore can automatically get a SCV, which entitles her to live and work in Australia indefinitely. Under agreements between Australia and NZ she's entitled to many social security benefits, including medicare, but would need to have permanent residency to be entitled to certain social security benefits (after a 2 year period). If I include her on my visa application, she'll need to get a medical and police checks done, which pushes costs up even more (the application fee alone is £1335...), but would then have PR upon arrival. Alternatively, she could apply for PR once in country - as far as I can tell, the benefits that are excluded aren't ones that she'd need/be eligible for in any case. Has anyone got any experience with visa applications with NZ partners/spouses? I've emailed an enquiry to the AHC Contact Centre using the form on the website, but am looking to gain as much information as possible about how best to proceed. All responses greatly appreciated.

Hi folks, We are off on our hols soon - first time outside of Oz since we got here. Can anyone recommend a good bank/foreign currency place to get our holiday money with low fees and good rates? Oz is not like the Uk chargingt 2 pound 50 to change money. When I got to Oz i got stung by ANZ charging me $8 to change 20 quid - robbing buggers!

Hi PIO-ers - anyone moving to NZ in the near future want to live just north (commutable by car or ferry) of Auckland? Army Bay, 47a Everard Avenue | Whangaparaoa | Harcourts PM me if you are interested!:wubclub:

Well this is my first post in this section, I joined the site because we were set in stone at looking at Australia but recently the other half has said that she is more interested in New Zealand. This is mainly because she works with horses and in the Eventing world New Zealand is king, well she is now thinking that NZ would be a better option for her. Me, I'm easy, I don't take too much to convince me to leave the UK so here I am, asking you guys, help me out. What is the place like? What would we have to do to get there? (We have looked at the immigration website and its a lot more confusing than the OZ website) We both have family in NZ but no one close and no one either of us have ever met.

Hi guys, I am an expat in Oz who's after advice or a big favour. I ordered some clothes for my wee lass through their online store Trade me, but then discovered they don't have a payment system similar to Paypal, and the seller wants bank deposit. This is going to cost an arm and a leg for clothes worth under $15 NZ. Can anyone advise if theres any other way to do this? Is there anything I could exchange for you if you can help? Sorry this is so trivial but I cant bring myself to spend $5o+ on a pair of jeans for a 1 year old. It's totally my mistake, but I thought it would be easy like buying through amazon or ebay. I blame mummy brain. Or maybe my hogmanay hangover. lol! Thanks in advance for any advice (or laughter!) :twitcy:

Can you do a “pause” in the visa? Can we go to NZ for 2 years and come back? I think we have to live here for 2 years out of 3?! We on a 475, 4 months in, I’m temping and my husband still no job (even though his job is in the shortlist). He was offered a very good job in Auckland for 2 years, paying very well. The employer would pay for our relocation and visas. The question is we don’t want to loose our visa for South Australia as we would like later to become permanent residents. But seeing what happened to that couple, that lost their job and had to go back to the UK. It’s a big gamble but we concerned with the job market here being dead that he won’t get anything (keeps being told he is overqualified). All advice very much appreciated.

If you are not happy in Australia, don't despair, there is always a solution. I read below about a UK couple who broke up after they arrived in Australia. He wanted to stay, her daughter and her could not. I think you have to anticipate such contingencies, eg. The possibility that you might not like it, can't find a job. I think its better if you rent a furnished place before you send out all your stuff in a shipping container. Australia has a mild climate, so you don't need a lot. At least then you have the flexibility to get a job, move, get settled before you send over the kitchen sink. Before returning to the UK, I would remember the fact that you left the UK for a reason. I suggest trying NZ before you go back. If you are looking for a place to live overseas is the place to live from an investment point of view. The NZD has absolutely collapsed, so if there is money/savings to be moved then NZ is the place to move. The NZD is just over 50c to the USD, and that's down from 80c. Better still houses are still really cheap in parts. For instance we paid just $NZ78,000 for a lovely house in Wanganui with 760m2, 2br house, lovely Victorian house too with large rooms and high ceilings, timber panel roof. The people are very friendly. If you need to go back to the UK then you will pay no capital gains tax on the property, no stamp duty. Here are some websites to help you make the move: www.anz.co.nz - to set up a bank account www.finance.yahoo.com.nz - to check out the exchange rate www.autobase.co.nz - to buy a car http://foreclosured.blogspot.com - to buy a property www.trademe.co.nz - to buy anything else Most Western property markets are overpriced, as parts of NZ are, but aside from the exchange rate advantage, there are still alot of cheap properties in NZ, and some of them are close to major towns like Wanganui and Dunedin. They are two of my favourites, but also Kaikoura and Timaru.

Hello all, We are new to this - have only been looking at moving to Oz in the last month or so, but having quite some trouble figuring out which visa to apply for. My hubby is a New Zealander, so we thought the kids and I could apply for the spouse family visa (subclasses 309 & 100), but now it seems that he might not be eligible as he didn't settle in Oz before Feb 2001. Does this mean we have to go down the 175 route (he's an accountant)? Have any of you had this scenario before? Any advice much appreciated!! Corlia. -x- :unsure: