Mr Hockey has arrived in the US capital to take up the plum diplomatic job, just in time to experience the "snowmageddon" that is sweeping the area first-hand.

He has posted several photos to Twitter showing the Ambassador's residence blanketed in snow, as well as a "snelfie" (snow selfie), complete with slight grimace and hoodie.

Mr Hockey, who takes over from outgoing ambassador Kim Beazley, noted that the driveway of his swanky new digs was snowed in, "and our kids have never seen snow before!"

Mr Beazley's stint as ambassador officially ended with the State Department revoking his credentials, in line with diplomatic protocol – making Mr Hockey ambassador-designate until he can present his own credentials to the government.

Mr Beazley's last official task was to oversee Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's visit to the US last week.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced that Mr Hockey would be Australia's new Ambassador to the US in December, following widespread speculation the former treasurer would get the job.

This came after Mr Hockey quit federal politics in September, when he was dumped as treasurer in the wake of Mr Turnbull's victory over Tony Abbott.

In an interview last year, he said that if he'd stayed on in Canberra, it would be "overwhelmingly about getting even with people that brought me down".

Mr Hockey takes over at a busy time in the US-Australia relationship, with conflict raging in the Middle East, continued concerns about terrorism and a presidential election due in November.