Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement

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The Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement is an informal agreement between Australia and New Zealand to allow for the free movement of citizens of one nations to the other.

The arrangement was announced on February 4 [[1973] and came into effect soon after. Although the exact arrangements have been varied from time to time the arrangement still allows citizens of Australia or New Zealand to live in each others nations indefinitely and to take on any work not involving national security.

As a result of a generally higher standard of living in Australia far more New Zealand citizens move to Australia than the other way around.

Originally New Zealand citizens arriving in Australia were entitled to unemployment benefits immediately on arrival. During the 1980s and 1990s this became a hotly debated political issue. Starting in 1986 New Zealand citizens were required to be resident for 6 months before receiving benefits.

In 2001 legislation was enacted in Australia to further clarify the entry of New Zealand citizens. No longer did New Zealand citizens obtain permanent resident status on arrival, but were now granted a Special Category Visa. While this still allowed the freedom to live and work in Australia it restricted access to certain privileges of Australian permanent residence such as the Higher Education Contribution Scheme which provides for heavily subsidised tertiary education.