Oceania

New Zealand

Australians can live, work and study in NZ indefinitely under the Trans-Tasman Arrangement. Best gap-year on-ramp because there is no visa application, no time limit and no points test.

Currency

NZD

1 AUD = 1.09 NZD (mid-market, 2026-05-21)

Cost of living

95% of Sydney

Working Holiday Visa for Australians

Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement

Age any | up to indefinite months

Smartraveller

Check live advisory

Emergency: 111

Working Holiday Visa

Scheme: Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement
Visa class: Special Category Visa (subclass 444 equivalent for Aussies arriving in NZ)
Eligible age: any
Max stay: indefinite months

Source: www.immigration.govt.nz

Tourist or short-stay entry

Visa-free entry under Trans-Tasman

Up to indefinite months. Work rights: full.

Australian citizens can live, work and study in NZ indefinitely. No visa application required.

Source: www.immigration.govt.nz

Highlights

No visa needed; show your Australian passport on arrival and start work the same week.
Same plug type, same English, similar legal system as Australia.
Ski resorts (Queenstown, Wanaka, Methven), Great Walks and hospitality sector all open.
Some federal benefits available after qualifying period; check Work and Income NZ.

Watch outs

You are not automatically a permanent resident; a separate Australian Resident Visa pathway applies if you want to stay long-term.
HECS-HELP debt indexes annually even while you are in NZ; repayment obligation kicks in over the worldwide-income threshold.
Earthquakes (Wellington, Christchurch) and volcanic alerts are normal; sign up for GeoNet alerts.
Tax is residency-based; expect to pay NZ tax on NZ income from day one.

Money tips

Open a Kiwibank, ASB or ANZ account; Wise and Revolut also work for casual use.
GST is 15% on almost everything; advertised prices include it.
IRD number (tax) is essential; apply online before your first payday.
KiwiSaver auto-enrols you at 3% if employed; opt out within 8 weeks if you do not plan to stay.

Typical costs (AUD)

Hostel bed per night: $45
Budget meal: $22
Mid-range meal: $40
Beer (bar): $11
Public transport day pass: $12

Indicative only. Tourist-zone prices are usually 50-100% higher than local prices.

Practical basics

Power plug: Type I (same as Australia)
Drives on: Left (same as AU)
Emergency number: 111

Sources

Last updated 2026-05-21.