Visa First Blog

Although the travel industry in Europe, North and South America, Middle East  and Asia Pacific is scoring fewer tourist visits recently due to the recession, Australia and New Zealand are blooming in the backpacking sector.

Last year, the global travel decreased by four percent, according to the Tourism Research Australia International Visitor Survey. At the same time, the number of backpackers going to Australia increased by two percent, their expenses–by 10 percent, and the total number of visitors in the country, over 15 years of age, was up to 5.17 million.

Per www.news.com.au, “Australia has done what it always does well – held up when the chips are down,” Matt Hingerty, managing director at the Australian Tourism Export Council, said.

He added that such results bring optimism and enthusiasm amongst the members of the tourism council.

New Zealand is not falling behind the Australia’s promising outcome in the tourism field, and specifically the backpacking.

The reason is backpackers acquire less funds to travel compared to regular tourists. Thus, many traveller enthusiasts go on a trip as backpackers, find temporary jobs while in New Zealand or Australia, and still enjoy the adventure.

“Today’s backpackers were tomorrow’s high-spending tourist families,” Hingerty said.

Working Holidays australia, backpackers, funds, new zealand, recession, tourism, travel

After their 12 months are up, a lot of  the working holiday makers staying in New Zealand decide to jump over to Australia. Quite often you can aid your stay in Australia by claiming overpaid New Zealand taxes. Also, when you enter Australia you should have an Australian Tax File Number, in order to get a job. It is not a bad idea to get one before you go.

A customer of ours fits the profile. He is already in Australia and about to go job hunting. He has several questions, to which we have answers .

• Sonia: Welcome to the Visa First live chat! How can I help you today?
• Alan: I worked for 1 year in New Zealand. I am now in Australia – how do i go about claiming my NZ tax back ?
• Sonia: Hi Alan – If I can get your contact number, I can get a member of our TaxBack team to give you a call and they can advise on how to go about claiming your NZ tax back.
• Alan: Thanks – +61 (0)40 555 5555. One more question – I’m about to start job hunting in Oz. Do I need to visit immigration and pick up a work visa and tax number? How do I go about obtaining these? Thanks for your help.
• Sonia: Not a problem. What type of passport do you hold?
• Alan: I hold a British passport.
• Sonia: So you do not already hold an Australian Working Holiday Visa?
• Alan: Yes, I have a working visa. Would I have to go and pick up some actual paperwork and be issued with a tax number ?
• Sonia: When your Australian Working Holiday Visa was approved, you would have received a Visa Grant Notification (VGN) letter. This is the document you must carry with you at all times.
• Alan: Yes, I have a copy of that with me – what about a tax number ?
• Sonia: If you do not already have the visa label for the AUS WHV inside your passport, you can go into a Department of Immigration and Citizenship office and ask them to print one out for you.
• Sonia: Can I get your date of birth please Alan – just want to check something on our database?
• Alan: Sure, **.**.****.
• Sonia: Super! OK, according to the database you have already paid for the Australian Tax File Number but in order for us to lodge the application with the Australian Tax Office, you need to be physically in Australia – and now that you have confirmed this, we can go ahead and lodge your TFN application.
• Sonia: You will receive a receipt number once it has been lodged and you should get the TFN in around 10 working days assuming that there are no delays at the Australian Tax Office.
• Alan: Will this be emailed to me ?
• Sonia: Yes, both the receipt number and the TFN will be emailed to you.
• Alan: Excellent, thank you very much for your help!
• Sonia: No worries – I will have someone from the Tax Back team give you a call soon.

Alan won’t get his refund right away. The process takes time and refunds are possible after the financial year is over. The good news is that at a point of his stay in Australia he will be aided by his New Zealand tax refund. If he covers ATO’s residency criteria he might also be eligible for a pretty decent tax refund from Australia, depending on his salary and taxes paid. When he leaves Australia, he will also be able to claim his Superannuation.

If you have a similar query, or you need a specific situation sorted out, be sure to write us an e-mail at ask@visafirst.co.uk.

Working Holidays australia, Australia Working Holiday, new zealand, New Zealand Working Holiday, tax

“In shopping mall design, the Gruen transfer refers to the moment when consumers respond to “scripted disorientation” cues in the environment. It is named for Austrian architect Victor Gruen” Wikipedia

The Gruen Transfer is also a very popular show in Australia. Not long ago they gave two tourist agencies the task sell the unsellable. In a funny twist they end up making videos on invading New Zealand . The logo at the end of the second video leaves a very odd idea in peoples minds.

In order to restore balance in the universe, The Gruen Transfer released another video so New Zealand can have their pay-back .

I’ve literally “stumbled upon” these videos while playing around with the Stumble! button. It seems like none of the sides consider the videos offensive. One of the comments I came across was from a New Zealand guy, saying -  “New Zealand has a navy! Both ships are in Auckland most of the time, and the big one had no accident since 10 months – how do you like that!”

It’s nice to see that people can make a laugh out a it and don’t get offended!

Videos australia, new zealand, tourism, Videos