Annabel Candy

Is it still easier to get a visa for New Zealand than for Australia? There seemed to be a time when it was thought to be and some people applied for NZ residency and then moved to Australia. We have New Zealand citizenship after applying for NZ residency through the points system and living there for 10 years but ended up moving to Australia recently as we wanted warmer weather.

Some people would definitely prefer the NZ climate and more relaxed lifestyle to the Queensland heat and sprawling suburbs. We are certainly missing the laid back Kiwi lifestyle and the space but the weather it tops here so far, although we have been lucky and avoided the floods, forest fires, and oils spills.

Just wondering how people choose between NZ and Australia if they haven't visited either country?

JAJ

It's not necessarily easier to get into New Zealand.

Are you aware that you need to qualify for permanent residence in Australia if you want full PR/citizenship rights?

Notts_bloke

Back door entry

Broad Shoulders

...you live in Noosa and you're missing a laid back lifestyle?

sr71

People normally choose to go to Queensland to retire I suppose. It's not a place I'd actively choose over NZ when Melbourne and Sydney have so much more to offer.

MartinLuther

I'm not sure what that says about NZ

bcworld

Wouldn't that be baaaack door entry?

movin'on

Exactly what I was thinking!!

Annabel Candy

Thanks so much for your replies!

Ha ha, just couldn't resist it! Yes, quite right, NZ citizens will never be Aus citizens but can reside in Aus permanently at the moment. I guess I did live in a pretty laid back place in NZ - Waiheke Island and have just arrived in Noosa after 18 months in Costa Rica so obviously my idea of laid back it a bit more, well, laid back, than some people's!

michael_w

We did the NZ-Aus move after gaining NZ citizenship. We didn't find NZ 'laid back' (perhaps it's the Scots-Calvinist work ethic), just parochial.

Annabel Candy

Parochial! LOL... I guess I am a bit of a country bumpkin....

JAJ

Those with skilled occupations have a good chance of getting permanent residence (which leads to citizenship), especially if under 45, but most don't bother to apply until they need it urgently and usually it's too late then.

Annabel Candy

This is interesting. So do Kiwis with a skilled occupation stand a better chance than say Brits?

JAJ

Yes and no. Rules are the same, but employer nomination is a lot easier for New Zealanders because:

a. they can start work immediately pending ENS approval; and
b. as long as the occupation is skilled, they can bypass the ENS requirement for a skill assessment after 2 years working in Australia (of course if they can get a skill assessment, they may be eligible for ENS immediately).

Going permanent may cause loss of offshore income tax concessions, but it is usually the right approach if the option is there and the intention is to remain in Australia.

sr71

Not sure if I've missed the point, but for most positions Kiwis have got the same rights as Australians. They used to get PR by just arriving in the country but the main reason that was changed was benefits abuse by a few.

PR and Citizenship is really just a formality if they ever wanted to go ahead with it, and in many cases they just don't need it so don't bother. It's kind of like the EU passport allowing you to work or live wherever you want in the EU but with restrictions on certain types of benefits. I know people for example that have worked in Germany for the last 6 years but they won't be seeking German citizenship or applying for a German passport.