What to Consider When You Move to Australia

Moving countries is a daunting prospect; there are seemingly endless things to organize, documents to obtain, and visas to consider - and that’s before you’ve even booked the flight! However, it doesn’t have to be stressful, as this handy guide will demonstrate. Just remain calm, as sooner than you realize, you’ll be living an amazing life down under!

Make sure you have the right visa

Obtaining the correct visa for moving to Australia is the most important step in the process. The most common type of visa for young people is the Working Holiday visa, which is a way in which people between the ages of 18-30 can work and travel in Australia for up to a year. The type of working holiday visa you need depends on your country of origin - for example, US applicants need the 462 subclass, whereas British people need the 417. If you want to enter the country to study, then you should apply for a student visa (subclass 500), which again, is extremely important, so make sure you get the right one. Once your visa has been approved, you have a year to enter the country. (Read more about how to get an Australian student visa here).

Organize your finances

The next thing to consider whilst in the process of moving to Australia is money. How much are you prepared to save to take over? Which bank are you going to use there? What about tax and superannuation (retirement) funds? The Australian government website states that visitors on the working holiday visa should have ample funds to support themselves in the country; by this they mean that if you cannot get employment straight away, you should be able to live without it for a while without getting into trouble. On a student visa, you must have enough money that is genuinely available to you, to pay for course fees, accommodation, travel, and living costs. So make sure you have enough money saved before applying, as the government will ask for proof of funds before granting any type of visa.

When you get to Australia, opening a bank account is simple. There are four main banks in Australia; WestPac, ANZ, Commonwealth, and Suncorp. However, there are plenty more banks to choose from, and each one has its own offers and perks, so make sure you do your research. Most banks charge a fee for having an account with them, however, some have offers that make your first year free of charge. It is important to note that most banks will perform an identity check on you, so make sure when you visit the branch you bring the correct documentation. Transferring funds is also relatively easy, and there are websites online such as TransferWise which allow you to transfer large sums without excessive fees or bad transfer rates.

Where should you live?

Thinking about where you’re going to live can also be a stressful topic. There are important elements to consider – do you want to live in a busy city, a suburb, or in the countryside? Do you want to save money, or are you okay with spending more? Do you want to chase the sun and be warm all year round, or are you happier with clearly divided winter and summer seasons? One thing to always consider is there are more places than the obvious one - which is, of course, Sydney. Cities like Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Adelaide, and Perth are all fantastic cities with their own unique vibe, and all (with the exception of Cairns) are featured in the top 100 cities for students in the QS Best Student Cities. Also, of course, some cities have lower living costs than others, so this is another important thing to consider. Students will often find that accommodation is easier to find as they can stay in halls - which, whilst pricey, is secure and solely for fellow students, so will be a great way to make friends and meet people. Renting a room is another option, and there are plenty of opportunities all across the country for renting.

Read more about choosing which Australian city to live in here.

Working in Australia

There are strict laws regarding employment for travelers and students in Australia. It’s therefore important to consider your options before you move across. If you’re on a student visa, you can only complete a maximum of 20 hours a week with one employer. If you’re on a working holiday, you can only stay for six months with the same employer. Some people who wish to extend their time in Australia complete farm work as a way of obtaining their second year visa. Farm work is 88 days or three calendar months of working in rural Australia - only certain places and certain types of work qualify. Occasionally, people can get sponsored by an employer, which means the work place sponsors you to stay in the country, and this is another viable way to extend both your time in Australia, and your time at the company.

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This is only a brief introduction into a guide on moving to Australia, but it does cover the important basics: visas, accommodation, banking, and employment. This guide should give you a handy head start into the big move across.