← All posts

Cost to work in Australia from Malaysia? The ringgit sums to plan before you book a flight

Tips · 2026-10-08 · 10 min read

There is no single price tag on kerja luar negara, but the official numbers you can plan around are few and clear. A Certificate of Good Conduct costs RM20.00 on e-Konsular. Australia's first Work and Holiday visa expects you to hold about AUD5,000 for the initial stay, which is roughly RM14,200 at Bank Negara Malaysia's rate on 8 Oct 2026. New Zealand's working holiday visa costs from NZD $770 and asks for at least NZD $2,250 in living money. Below, each amount in ringgit and the money questions to settle at home.

The official costs at a glance, in ringgit

The ringgit column is a rough comparison at Bank Negara Malaysia's middle rate published on 8 Oct 2026 (RM2.8442 per Australian dollar, RM2.2873 per New Zealand dollar). Rates move every day, so treat the ringgit numbers as a planning guide, not a quote.

Put the two New Zealand amounts together and you are looking at about RM6,910 before flights, a ticket out, medical checks or an English test. For the Australian visa charge, our look at how this year's Australian visa charge rise affects your budget explains why the figure you saw last year may be out of date.

Your Certificate of Good Conduct: RM20.00 and a clock that starts on approval

The cheapest item on the list is also the one that trips people up on timing. Malaysia's police certificate is the Certificate of Good Conduct (Sijil Kelakuan Baik, SKB). You apply through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs e-Konsular helpdesk and portal, and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) carries out the security screening.

The service charge is RM20.00. e-Konsular says a complete application is processed within 30 working days, subject to PDRM screening. Once approved, the certificate is valid for 1 year and you can download and print it yourself, without a trip to Wisma Putra.

Your passport needs at least 6 months of validity left, and Malaysian citizens register with their MyKad number, not their passport number. For work overseas, e-Konsular recommends uploading your job offer letter (surat tawaran pekerjaan) as the supporting document; missing documents are a common reason for rejection.

For Australia's Work and Holiday visa, this same certificate doubles as the government letter of support Home Affairs asks Malaysian applicants for.

Australia's Work and Holiday visa: what the AUD5,000 rule means

Home Affairs says a first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) applicant needs enough money for the stay, usually about AUD5,000 for the initial stay, plus the fare to leave Australia. It is not a fee: it is money you must be able to show you have.

At the Bank Negara Malaysia middle rate of RM2.8442 on 8 Oct 2026, AUD5,000 is roughly RM14,200. If the ringgit weakens, that number grows; if it strengthens, it shrinks. Save to the higher end so a bad week on the exchange rate does not push you under the line.

You must be 18 to 30 years old (inclusive), apply from outside Australia and not bring dependent children. Malaysian applicants also need a tertiary qualification, or 2 years of undergraduate university study; a diploma, an advance diploma and Certificate I to IV qualifications are not accepted for this visa. You need at least Functional English, from a test or assessment taken within 12 months before you apply.

Home Affairs showed Malaysia's annual cap of 1,100 first 462 visas as Open on 8 Oct 2026. The visa lets you stay up to 12 months, do short-term work and study for up to 4 months. Read the full conditions on the Home Affairs Work and Holiday visa page before you put down any money.

If you would rather go on a sponsored job than a working holiday, the budget looks different and the employer carries part of the process. Our Skills in Demand visa guide explains that route, and roles such as this carpenter job in Cairns show what employers are asking for.

New Zealand's working holiday: NZD $770 plus living money

The Malaysia Working Holiday visa is for Malaysian citizens aged 18 to 30. It lets you stay up to 6 months and take temporary jobs for up to 6 months, but not a permanent job, and you do not need a job offer to apply. Immigration New Zealand offers 1,150 places each year.

The visa costs from NZD $770, about RM1,760 at the 8 Oct 2026 Bank Negara rate. On top of that you need at least NZD $2,250 for living expenses, about RM5,150, plus a ticket out of New Zealand or the money to buy one. INZ says 80% of applications are processed within 2 weeks.

The catch for 2026: on 8 Oct 2026 INZ showed this visa as closed for the year, saying people can apply next year. That gives you time to save the full amount. Other checks to plan for: a passport valid for at least 3 months after the visa ends, and, if INZ asks, police certificates less than 6 months old and medical results less than 3 months old. You cannot apply if you have ever held a New Zealand working holiday visa before. Hospitality roles such as this sous chef role in Queenstown give a feel for the work on offer, and our piece on why New Zealand visa costs could rise again is worth reading before you lock in a budget.

Converting AUD and NZD to ringgit without fooling yourself

Bank Negara Malaysia publishes interbank exchange rates every working day. For 8 Oct 2026 at 1700 it showed RM2.8416 buying, RM2.8468 selling and RM2.8442 middle for 1 Australian dollar, and RM2.2856 buying, RM2.2891 selling and RM2.2873 middle for 1 New Zealand dollar.

These are interbank rates; a bank counter or app adds a margin, so plan with the official rate, add a buffer and recheck on the day you pay.

Money matters to settle at home: KWSP and HASiL

Many Malaysians assume they can draw their EPF savings to pay for the move. The KWSP Leaving Country Withdrawal page lists members who have given up Malaysian citizenship to migrate, Permanent Residents, expatriates and foreign workers going home. It does not list Malaysians who keep their citizenship while working abroad, so do not build your budget around that money.

Tax is the other loose end. When an employee is leaving Malaysia permanently, HASiL requires the employer to give notice on Form CP21 at least thirty (30) days before the last day, and to hold back money owed to the employee until HASiL issues a Tax Clearance Letter. An employer that fails to notify faces a fine of RM200 to RM2,000. Your final pay can wait on that paperwork, so tell your employer early.

A step-by-step money plan before you book

1. Pick your route first: Australia's Work and Holiday visa, New Zealand's working holiday next year, or a sponsored job. Each has a different money rule.
2. Check you meet the age, education and English rules on the official visa page, so you do not pay for anything you cannot use.
3. Write down each official amount in its own currency: AUD5,000 for Australia, or NZD $770 plus NZD $2,250 for New Zealand.
4. Convert at the latest Bank Negara Malaysia middle rate, then add a buffer for retail exchange margins and a ticket out.
5. Apply for your Certificate of Good Conduct (RM20.00) once the timing fits, allowing up to 30 working days, and note that its validity runs for 1 year from approval.
6. Tell your employer about your leaving date early so the CP21 notice and Tax Clearance Letter do not hold up your final pay.
7. Recheck the visa charge on the official page on the day you pay; never rely on a figure someone sends you on WhatsApp.

Common mistakes Malaysians make with moving costs

• Treating the AUD5,000 as optional. Home Affairs describes it as the usual amount you need for the initial stay. Plan to have it, plus the fare out.
• Counting on EPF money. The Leaving Country Withdrawal page lists only certain groups, not Malaysians who keep citizenship while working abroad.
• Paying a facilitator for a fruit-picking package. The Australian High Commission in Malaysia warns that people organising visas and flights for paid work such as fruit picking are running a scam, and working in breach of visa conditions can lead to detention, removal and a three year exclusion period.
• Thinking an ETA is a work visa. The Electronic Travel Authority is not a work visa. It only has an AUD20 application service fee through the Australian ETA app, and it does not let you take a job.
• Handing over a large upfront payment. The High Commission lists large upfront cash payments, contact only through WhatsApp and promises of permanent residence among the signs of a scam. If you lose money, call the National Scam Response Centre on 997 (8 am to 8 pm daily).

Frequently asked questions

How much money do I need to work in Australia from Malaysia on a working holiday?

Home Affairs says a first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) applicant usually needs about AUD5,000 for the initial stay, plus the fare to leave Australia. At the Bank Negara Malaysia middle rate on 8 Oct 2026 that is roughly RM14,200, but rates change, so recheck before you apply.

How much does the Sijil Kelakuan Baik cost, and how long does it take?

The e-Konsular service charge for a Certificate of Good Conduct is RM20.00. e-Konsular says it is processed within 30 working days of a complete application, subject to PDRM security screening, and it stays valid for 1 year from approval.

Can I take out my KWSP savings when I leave to work in Australia?

The EPF Leaving Country Withdrawal page lists members who have given up Malaysian citizenship to migrate, Permanent Residents, expatriates and foreign workers going home. It does not list Malaysians who keep their citizenship while working abroad, so do not count on that money for your move.

Is the New Zealand working holiday visa open to Malaysians right now?

On 8 Oct 2026 Immigration New Zealand showed the Malaysia Working Holiday visa as closed for 2026, saying people can apply next year. It offers 1,150 places each year, costs from NZD $770 and needs at least NZD $2,250 for living expenses.

Key takeaways

• The Certificate of Good Conduct costs RM20.00 and is valid for 1 year from approval.
• Australia's Work and Holiday visa usually needs about AUD5,000 (roughly RM14,200 on 8 Oct 2026) plus a fare out.
• New Zealand's working holiday costs from NZD $770 plus at least NZD $2,250 in living money, and is closed for 2026.
• Use Bank Negara Malaysia's published rate to plan, then add a buffer: rates change daily.
• Do not count on KWSP savings, and give your employer time for the CP21 tax clearance.

#cost of moving #work in australia #working holiday #ringgit #malaysians #new zealand