NZ vs Australia: Which Country Sponsors More Foreign Workers?
Australia: 975,622 Grants. New Zealand: 176,664. But NZ Has 7x More Employers.
Australia and New Zealand share the ANZSCO occupation framework, similar cultures, and geographic proximity — yet their visa sponsorship systems differ significantly. Australia's Subclass 482 has issued 975,622 grants over 20 years with 3,580 sponsors. New Zealand's AEWV, launched in 2022, has already issued 176,664 grants with 24,823 accredited employers — nearly seven times as many as Australia. This article compares both systems using real data from our Australian and New Zealand databases.
Volume Comparison
| Metric | Australia | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Total grants | 975,622 | 176,664 |
| Data period | 2005-2025 | 2022-2025 |
| Active sponsors/employers | 3,580 | 24,823 |
| 2023 grants (peak comparison) | 52,101 | 79,022 |
| 2024 grants | 68,197 | 35,411 |
The 2023 anomaly is notable: NZ issued 79,022 grants — more than Australia's 52,101 — due to post-COVID backlog processing. By 2024, volumes normalized, with AU recovering to 68,197 and NZ settling at 35,411.
Why NZ Has 7x More Employers
The accreditation gap (24,823 vs 3,580) reflects fundamental differences in system design:
- Lower barrier in NZ: NZD 740 fee, simpler online application, accessible to small businesses
- Higher barrier in AU: more complex SBS application, training benchmark requirement, SAF levy (AUD 1,200-1,800/year per worker)
- NZ business landscape: 97% of NZ businesses are SMEs; accreditation was designed for this reality
- AU concentration: Australian sponsorship is concentrated in larger companies that can absorb the compliance costs
Salary and Cost Comparison
| Factor | Australia | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum salary | AUD 73,150/yr (~NZD 80K) | NZD 65,749/yr (~AUD 60K) |
| Visa cost (worker) | AUD 1,730 | NZD 750 |
| Employer levy per year | AUD 1,200-1,800 | None |
| Health insurance | Required (private) | Required (private) |
| Median house price (major city) | AUD 1.1M (Sydney) | NZD 950K (Auckland) |
Australia offers higher salaries but also higher thresholds and costs. NZ is more accessible for lower-earning occupations (trades, hospitality).
Path to Residency
| Pathway | Australia | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Employer-sponsored PR | ENS 186 after 2 years | Green List (2 years or immediate) |
| Independent PR | Subclass 189/190 (points) | Skilled Migrant Category (points) |
| PR cost | AUD 4,115 | NZD 4,290 |
| Time to citizenship | 4 years after PR | 5 years of residence |
NZ's Green List is more generous for trades occupations (chefs, carpenters, builders) while AU's 186 pathway favours professional roles. Both offer 2-year timelines.
Top Occupations Compared
NZ's top occupations are predominantly trades and care: builder's labourers (11,681), carpenters (8,159), chefs (6,292). Australia's top occupations historically lean more professional: IT, healthcare, engineering. However, AU's construction sector has been growing rapidly, with 2024 recording near-record grant volumes.
Trans-Tasman Factor
NZ citizens can live and work in Australia freely under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement (no visa needed). This means gaining NZ residency/citizenship gives you automatic access to the Australian labour market. The reverse is also true — Australian citizens can work in NZ. However, this does not apply to visa holders: an AEWV does not give you the right to work in Australia, and a 482 does not give you the right to work in NZ.
Which Should You Choose?
- Choose NZ if: you work in trades/construction/hospitality, prefer a lower cost of entry, value quality of life, or want the Trans-Tasman pathway to eventually work in AU as well
- Choose AU if: you're in IT/healthcare/engineering, can meet the AUD 73K threshold, want access to a larger economy, or prefer higher absolute salaries
- Consider both if: your occupation uses ANZSCO (shared system), and you want to compare offers side-by-side
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