Tips on Moving with Family from NZ to Australia [July 2025 Update]

Posted on Jan 25, 2024

In 2024, 28,800 New Zealanders moved to Australia, continuing the strong trans-Tasman migration trend, and with proper planning, you can too

Make your family’s move from New Zealand to Australia as smooth as possible with the help of our Allied Moving Services. There is a lot to consider when relocating internationally with family, and we want to help relieve some of that burden. With so much to gain from moving to Australia, from the better job market to the diverse lifestyles. Here, we have compiled some of the key information you need to know to help you prepare everyone in your family for the move, and for life in the land down under.

Before You Leave

Visas

Luckily for Kiwis, most New Zealand citizens can move to, study, and work in Australia with a Special Category Visa (subclass 444). As this is technically a temporary visa, you won’t have all the same rights and benefits as an Australian citizen or permanent resident (PR), but you will have the opportunity to apply for PR or citizenship after a set time period has elapsed.

As of 1 July 2023, New Zealand citizens living in Australia on a subclass 444 visa for four years or more are eligible to apply directly for Australian citizenship without needing to first obtain PR, a major step forward in simplifying the pathway for long-term residents.

This visa is granted upon entry, so you don’t need to prepare anything in advance other than your passports.

Find Temporary Housing

We recommend that you find temporary housing for your arrival in Aus so that your family has a base while you look for a longer-term solution. This will give you the opportunity to shop around for a more permanent residence without committing to a property before you get a chance to view it.

While you are staying in your temporary accommodation, you can explore different areas of your new locale while identifying the perfect suburb for your family. For more tips, read our guide on how to rent a house when you’re moving from New Zealand to Australia.

Schooling

When moving with children, you’ll need to give some thought to the different schooling options available in Australia. To enrol your little ones, all you need to do is verify their NZ citizenship by providing a passport, along with proof of your kid’s visa subclass 444. This is in addition to the usual enrolment steps, like providing medical information and immunisation statements, proof of age, etc.

Australian schools require proof of immunisation via an Australian Immunisation History Statement, which you can access through Medicare once you’ve registered.

There are some small variations between systems depending on the state, as each Australian state manages its own education system. Take some time to look into the specifics relating to your destination.

For the most part, schooling is organised similarly in Aus to NZ, with both free government schools, as well as private schools. If you opt to enrol your kids in a free government school, you may still be required to pay voluntary contributions, as well as cover uniform costs.

Packing Up

A lot of the time, when we think about moving, what we’re really envisioning is the actual moving process. This goes from packing your home into boxes, loading it up for transport, awaiting its arrival at your new home, and finally, unpacking and settling in. At Allied, our expert movers can handle all of the heavy lifting at this stage, so you can focus on preparing your family for the move from New Zealand to Australia. Our team offers a full range of packing services, as well as storage for items that you haven’t quite decided what to do with yet.

The Paperwork

Along with preparing the necessary documentation when moving from NZ to Australia as well as working through your moving to Australia checklist, there are a few things to take care of after your arrival in Australia.

Tax File Number

There are a few things that you can get out of the way as soon as you touch down in Australia. Applying for your Tax File Number (TFN) is one of these. While you can technically begin working without it, you will be taxed at a higher rate until you can provide your employer with your TFN.

Medicare

As a Special Category Visa holder, you will be eligible to apply for Medicare. This can be done either by filling out a form, or through your myGov account. For this, you’ll need to provide proof that you plan to live in Australia for at least 6 months. Once you have applied, you’ll be issued a Medicare card, which will also give you access to services like the Australian Immunisation Register.

Drivers Licence

Initially after your move, you’ll be able to drive with your New Zealand driver’s licence in most states for a maximum of 3 months. Then, you’ll need to arrange an appointment with the relevant authority to get an Australian licence.

Here are links to some major licensing authorities where you can find the most up to date and relevant information for the state you’re moving to:

You can also transport your car from NZ to Aus with Allied.

Preparing to Move with Children

The checklists, packing, and paperwork may seem like the most important parts of the move, but oftentimes, especially when moving with family, it’s getting everyone settled in that really makes a difference. Your children are used to their life and routine in New Zealand, so when you relocate to Australia, there may be a few hurdles to overcome as they adjust.

There are some easy ways to get ahead of this before your flight even takes off.

Get Everyone Involved

For older children and teenagers, involvement in the process can often be the key to success. Keep them in the loop on plans and timelines, and where possible, give them the opportunity to have input, or ask questions and air their concerns.

Little ones can be talked through the whole process at an age-appropriate level. You can even point out any moving vans that you see on the roads, helping to familiarise them before the van pulls up outside your house.

When it’s time to get packing, you can also let your children pack their own rooms, giving them a job to help them feel involved.

In-Flight Entertainment

Depending on where in New Zealand you jet off from, and where in Australia you land, your flight could be anywhere from a couple of hours to half a day. Even if your children are usually good flyers, there can be a lot of big emotions on moving day, so be prepared for a slightly bumpier ride. Bring snacks on board to keep everyone happy, as well as toys and games that small kids can play in their seats. Make sure that iPads and other electronics are fully charged, and can be put into flight-mode for use during the journey.

Friendships

If your kids aren’t on any social media platforms themselves, you could also make arrangements with their friends' parents to keep the kids in touch through messaging. This way, moving from NZ doesn’t have to mean saying goodbye to friendships.

Making new friends can be tricky for some children, so be sure to give your kids plenty of opportunities to socialise with other children their age. Whether this is through neighbourhood activities, after school clubs, extracurricular activities, or just spending time in the park or playground, this will no doubt help them to settle in more smoothly.

Ready to Make the Move?

Relocating your family across the Tasman is a big step, but you don’t have to do it alone. At Allied, we’ve helped thousands of Kiwi families move to Australia with confidence. From expert packing and secure storage to customs support and transport, we’ll take care of the logistics so you can focus on settling your family into their new home.

Get in touch with our friendly team today to find out how we can make your move from New Zealand to Australia as smooth and stress-free as possible.