Britannia Turnbull’s International Move Guide: Australia

Living in Australia

If you are planning a move “Down Under” to Australia then you are not the first and certainly will not be the last. A majority of Australians have some sort of British or Irish ancestry and immigration has contributed to a huge increase in the population following World War II to the present day. Its not just the perfect beaches, vibrant cities or other diverse landscapes that have attracted millions of people to Australia down the years. Australia is consistently ranked as one of the best places in the world for quality of life which includes life expectancy, education, health care and an economy that remained strong through a tough climate.

This has led to a strict immigration policy for which we can provide non-professional advice for at the time of writing (February 2017) below. For professional advice and up-to-date information, contact a qualified specialist.

Facts about Australia

• Australia is split into six main federal states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria & Western Australia. There are also ten other territories including Australia Capital Territory, Northern Territory and Christmas Island.
• Australia is the sixth largest country in the world.
• Figures vary but it is thought that more than 85% of Australians live within 50km of the coast.
• The city of Melbourne is considered the sporting capital of the world and is often ranked as the world’s most liveable city.
• If you visited a new beach in Australia every day, it would take over 27 years to see them all.

Largest Towns & Cities in Australia (2014 Estimates)

Sydney, NSW – 4,840,628

Melbourne, VIC – 4,440,328

Brisbane, QLD – 2,274,560

Perth, WA – 2,021,203

Adelaide, SA – 1,304,631

Gold Coast, QLD – 614, 379

Newcastle, NSW – 430,755

Canberra, ACT – 422,510

Sunshine Coast, QLD – 297,380

Wollongong, NSW – 289,236

Australia Immigration Information

There are many different types of visa for which we can provide brief guidance on as follows:

Skilled Migration Program – There are three different classes that under 50s might qualify for. Each applicant completes an Expression of Interest which will then be scored against a points test. The highest scores across a range of occupations are most likely to be invited.

Take this free test to see if you could be eligible for a skilled immigration visa before starting your application.

Business Visa – There are three types again with each requiring a substantial investment.

Partner Visa – These are for partners of Australian citizens or residents. There are three types.

Family Visa – There are five different type of family visa all dependent on differing circumstances within the family in terms of citizenship or residential status for a family member.

Employer Sponsored Visa – An employer sponsors an employee from overseas which can lead to permanent residence.

Retirement Visa – These are for people aged over 55 with large cash assets.

Working Holiday Visa – For temporary visitors aged 18-30.

Preparing For Australia

It won’t just be sun cream, swim shorts and flip flops (or thongs as they call them in Australia) that you will need. The Australian culture is something worth looking into to see if it suits you, especially as it changes from Queensland, to Sydney and to Melbourne. On the roads, Australia drives on the left hand side of the road but there are differences in road laws and its worth checking if your UK licence is transferable. Do in-depth research on affordable areas and whether there are adequate local amenities – Australia is a big place! You don’t want your commute or children’s school to be too far out of the way.

Australian customs often require suitable funds before the move to Australia. Also look to arrange an Australian bank account prior to your departure.

Moving to Australia

Britannia Turnbulls is a leading international removals company and can provide the assistance required for your big move to Australia. Find out more about our international removals service here and feel free to get in touch to speak with one of our removals experts.

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