White Card for NZ citizens: ID and how to apply
Moving from New Zealand to Queensland to work in construction? You’ll need a White Card before you can carry out construction work, and the most common question we get from Kiwis is what ID they can use, especially if they’ve only just arrived.
Here’s what you need to know, from the ID options for New Zealand citizens to getting your USI and booking your course.
Can New Zealand citizens get a White Card?
Yes. There’s no citizenship or residency requirement for the White Card course. Anyone who completes the training and meets the ID requirements can be issued a Queensland White Card.
New Zealand citizens can also start work straight away. When you arrive in Australia on your New Zealand passport, you’re usually granted a Special Category visa (subclass 444). According to the Department of Home Affairs, Special Category visa holders have no conditions placed on working in Australia.
What ID can I use?
Every Queensland White Card applicant must show 3 original identity documents with matching details. These rules are set by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ), and all training providers must follow them. There are 2 ways for New Zealand citizens to meet them.
Option 1: The standard ID requirements
This is the best option if you’ve been living in Australia for a while. You need either:
- 1 Category A document and 2 Category B documents, or
- 2 Category A documents and 1 Category B document.
At least one Category A document must have your photo and full name, and at least one document must show your date of birth and signature.
Your New Zealand passport counts as a Category A document, as long as it’s current or expired less than 2 years ago. Other Category A documents New Zealanders often have include:
- an Australian photo driver licence, if you’ve swapped your NZ licence for an Australian one
- a Queensland Government photo high risk work licence
Category B documents must be issued in Australia. Common ones include:
- an Australian bank debit or credit card with your name and signature on it
- a Medicare card
- a student ID card from an Australian school, TAFE or university, with your photo and/or signature
Example: your NZ passport, an Australian bank card and your Medicare card.
Tip: many bank cards no longer have a signature strip. A card without your signature can’t be used as ID for your White Card.
Option 2: The temporary overseas worker arrangement
If you’ve just arrived and don’t have any Australian documents yet, there’s a special arrangement for temporary overseas workers. You’ll need:
- your current passport, and
- a current work visa, and
- one of the following: an overseas driver licence, an overseas bank card or an overseas birth certificate
For a New Zealander, that means your NZ passport, your visa, and your NZ driver licence, NZ bank card or NZ birth certificate.
Your Special Category visa is granted electronically when you arrive, so there’s no visa label in your passport. Instead, show your visa details on your phone at the course, using the Department of Home Affairs Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service. It’s worth checking you can access your visa details in VEVO before the day.
Things to know about your ID
- Bring the originals. A photo or scan of a document isn’t accepted. Some documents can be shown electronically if they’re viewed live through a secure government portal, such as your Medicare card in myGov.
- Your name must match. The name on your White Card must match your ID. If your name has changed, for example through marriage, bring an Australian change of name document, such as an Australian marriage certificate.
See the full list of accepted Queensland White Card ID.
Can I get a Medicare card as a New Zealander?
New Zealand citizens who live in Australia can enrol in Medicare. Services Australia asks you to show that you live in Australia, for example by showing you’ll be here for 6 months or more. Check the current requirements on the Services Australia website. Once you have your card, it’s one of the easiest Category B documents to use.
Do I need a USI?
Yes. Everyone completing nationally recognised training in Australia needs a Unique Student Identifier (USI), and it’s free to create on the Government USI website.
You can use your New Zealand passport to create your USI, but only after you’ve arrived in Australia and gone through customs. If you try before you arrive, it won’t work. Our trainers can help on the day if you get stuck, as long as you bring your ID.
Can I use my Queensland White Card in other states?
Yes. A Queensland White Card is recognised in the other Australian states and territories, as long as it hasn’t been cancelled and you keep working in construction. If you complete your training and then don’t do any construction work for 2 years, you’ll need to do the course again. Read more about using your White Card in other states and whether a White Card expires.
The White Card is an Australian requirement. New Zealand worksites have their own induction and site safety requirements, so check with your employer if you head back home.
What does the course involve?
The White Card course (CPCWHS1001 - Prepare to work safely in the construction industry) takes 4.5 hours and is delivered face-to-face. You’ll learn about work health and safety laws, common construction hazards, safety signs and emergency procedures, and show you can correctly fit a hard hat, high visibility vest, hearing protection and eye protection. We supply all the PPE.
Courses run on weekdays and start at 8:30am. The course costs $99, and you’ll leave with your Queensland White Card on the day, ready to start work.