bourbon-biscuit

Hello wise folks, been a while since I have posted on here - need to do an update as my life has changed a lot but still living in and loving Australia! Have a colleague who wants to leave Australia permanently to join her boyfriend in NZ. We have looked at all the travel advice but it seems to be focussed on 'travel' as in folk wanting to exit but also return. She plans to leave permanently. Is this possible in current climate?
Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom, kind regards, the biscuit.

quoll

She will have to apply for an exemption and leaving to live in another country is one of the accepted reasons.

Kooky.

There was a case recently where a UK citizen was denied an exemption. Family of Australian PRs, packed up life in Oz to move back to the UK to a job waiting for him. I think he was eventually granted one after his story went public.

I have an Australian friend currently going through this to try to get back to the US - went to be with her family in March but can only be out of the US so long before it impacts her Green Card. It's not cut and dried that she will succeed.

This is worth a read and keeping an eye on for updates. It can take time. https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/leaving-australia

Beoz

I was chatting with someone over the weekend who was moving back to Germany this week. They have dual Australian and European of some sort citizenship and came on a holiday in early March to visit family, a week later their job was terminated in Germany so they remained in Australia, and have now decided to return to Germany on a one way ticket and received an exemption to travel. You will probably have to prove a permanent move.

Amazulu

Another thing to remember is that the number of flights out has recently been drastically cut - from most cities. So even if you wanted to leave, getting a seat could be problematic - and expensive

Pollyana

Advice gathered from one of the best agents in the game.......
Yes it is possible; they'll need to apply online for an exemption and supply as much evidence as possible that the move is permanent - such as

• documents showing you have an established and settled home in another country
• the location of your immediate family members
• an employment contract for work outside of Australia
• school enrolment for dependent children
• evidence of ongoing business/property interests
• evidence that you are a dual national or hold a valid visa for another country
• evidence which shows that your absence from another country is temporary and you intend to return there.

Proof of giving up a lease/rental here, shipping goods to NZ, being on the lease of the boyfriend's place there, all that kind of thing would help. The advice is that the more evidence there is, the better.
https://travel-exemptions.homeaffairs.gov.au/tep

If she wants any help with it, put her in touch with George Lombard - his company have a pretty good handle on it.

bourbon-biscuit

Thanks folks - great advice as ever, especially Pollyanna. Hope my pal makes it across soon!