$10,000 Overseas Relocation Grant

It’s never been a better time to teach in New Zealand!

The New Zealand Government is offering a $10,000 overseas relocation grant to encourage teachers to live and work here.

Free money, you say?

Well… sort of. There are a few T&Cs, so let’s break them down.

The Grant: Overseas-trained teachers or returning New Zealand-trained teachers may be eligible for an Overseas Relocation Grant of up to $10,000 (GST inclusive) to fill a NZ teaching vacancy.

There are 1360 grants available. Grants are paid in a single instalment.

Budgeting: Think of it as a reimbursement rather than an upfront payment.

Education Workforce will notify you of your application outcome within 4-6 working weeks of receiving your completed application. If approved, you will be paid a single instalment into your nominated bank account within 2-4 working weeks of approval. The amount paid will be the total of all eligible items for which proof of expenditure has been provided, up to NZD$10,000.

Am I eligible?

Teacher Registration: You must have New Zealand Teacher Registration and have a current practising certificate.

Your Job: The role must start between 1 July to 30 June of each financial year that the grants are available. Your contract needs to be at least 12 months in a state or state-integrated school (excluding independent schools) or a licensed early learning centre.

Don’t have a job offer yet?

Contact the ANZUK Education team to connect with one of our experienced recruitment consultants.

What else do I need to know?

• Any overseas teacher must not have been teaching in a NZ school or licensed early learning service for the 12 months before their start date.
• You must apply for the grant within 90 days of commencing employment in the school or early learning centre.

Should I track my relocation expenses?

The short answer: Yes! Keep your receipts and invoices!

The long answer: Our Inland Revenue Department (IRD, the tax folks) determines the types of expenses that can be claimed as part of an overseas relocation grant. You’ll need to provide proof of expenditure for each expense. Bank statements can’t be accepted as evidence of expenditure.

Eligible expenses include:

• Any documentation and police and other agency checks required as a result of the relocation (think NZQA and Teaching Council processes)
• Immigration and emigration applications
• Health checks, tests and immunisations necessary for immigration or emigration
• Transport to get to the new location (such as, but not limited to, airfares and car rental costs) using a direct route, and meals and accommodation en route
• Removal and transport of household effects (including insurance, insurance excesses and taxes)
• Exiting or breaking existing accommodation leases and similar contracts

The complete IRD list of eligible expenses is very comprehensive, so do take the time to check it out.

What are my next steps?

Whew! That’s a lot of information. Let’s summarise the key takeaways:

• Live, teach, or have your working holiday in New Zealand with support from a $10,000 overseas relocation grant.
• Available to overseas-trained and returning New Zealand-trained teachers.
• You’ll need a permanent or 12-month contract job offer, New Zealand Teacher Registration, and a current practising certificate.
• You can apply after you’ve started your role, so keep that in mind for budgeting.
• Keep all of your receipts!

Next Steps: The ANZUK Education team are experts at supporting overseas-trained teachers.

Connect with our experienced education consultants to find your ideal role, get support with your paperwork, and (finally!) make the move to New Zealand.