Moving to Brisbane

The number of Brits moving to Brisbane is continuously growing, and for good reason. With both the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast within an hour’s drive it’s the perfect place to settle down if you’re seeking a relaxed, seaside city with good weather.

With lower real estate prices than its east coast rivals, finding a home in Brisbane is relatively easy. Just make sure you enlist the services of a professional removal company such as Britannia Movers International to help your transition go as smoothly as possible.

Removal Services to Brisbane

Making the decision to move to Brisbane is a big one and Britannia Movers International want to be there to help you every step of the way. Britannia Movers International are experts at making the process simple and a dedicated removals team member will visit you prior to your trip to make things easy for you.

During our visit we will note down all the details needed so we can strategise a plan of action that works best for you. We also provide the option of having a packing team carefully securing all of your belongings and loading them on to the shipping container, so you know that everything will arrive safely.

Shipping to Brisbane

This is one of the most popular options when it comes to moving your possessions to Brisbane. It’s a long journey and using a shipping service makes it safer and cheaper.

All of your items will receive an individual bar code so that they can be monitored throughout the journey. While the journey typically takes eight weeks, you can save money by opting to go for a sharing container, which would extent the amount of time to a total of 12 weeks.

There is a weekly shipping service running to all ports in Australia and, once your belongings arrive in Australia, they will be forwarded safely to your new address. Giving us as much notice as possible about your move to Canberra will ensure your items arrive in Australia shortly after you do.

Air Freight to Brisbane

If you need your items to arrive in Brisbane quickly, air freight is definitely the best option. The service is more expensive than using the traditional shipping option but will decrease your waiting time significantly.

Sometimes customers decide to use this service for essential items while the majority of their possessions go by shipping. Either way Britannia Movers International will ensure you have all the paperwork required to complete the journey without any unnecessary delays.

Additional Removals Services to Brisbane

At Britannia Movers International we value the relationships we build with our customers and understand the need to ensure you are well looked after throughout the duration of your moving period. From start to finish of your journey we want to personalise your trip as much as possible and make certain your every need is catered for.

Maybe you have a pet or are working with a small budget, we want to work with you to reach the best overall outcome. Take a look at some our additional services below to see some of the other popular options we provide to our customers.

Arriving in Brisbane

Britannia Movers International aim to send items over in advance and get them ready for your arrival. It can take up to 12 weeks for your possessions to arrive in Brisbane, so the sooner you contact us to make arrangements the better.

We will take the time to work with you and make sure that all your paperwork regarding visas and exports is completed for your arrival in Brisbane. Please be aware that there are further imports paperwork to complete once in Australia, this is standard procedure and your compliance with Brisbane import officials is appreciated.

The majority of items clear Brisbane and are available in just two weeks. If you chose to go with our door-to-door service our removal team in Brisbane will collect your possessions and take them to your new home.

If you are moving to Brisbane and need removal services, then give Britannia Movers International a call today on 0845 600 661. Speak to one of our international removal specialists and find out how easy it is to move to Brisbane. We’ll give you a full breakdown of the process and an idea of the costs of international removals as well.

Emigrating to Brisbane

A hub of art and culture, Brisbane is home to Australia’s largest Gallery of Modern Art. The city attracts a huge number of tourists and expats every year with its beauty and abundance of parks. One of the perfect destination for those seeking to relax in a city with minimal congestion and pollution.

Voted the eighth most beautiful city by Rough Guides readership in 2015, Brisbane is well on the way to achieving is vision of becoming Australia’s next World City by 2022.

Australian Imports

Shipments of household goods and personal effects are allowed duty-free entry into Brisbane (and the entirety of Australia) if you have owned and used all items for at least 12 months prior to importation. Like all international moves, there will be lots of paperwork prior and post customs. However, Britannia Movers International will help you with the entire process.

You and each member of your family must hold a valid passport and visa to enter Brisbane.

Australian Customs Restrictions

Australia has some pretty tight rules about what can and cannot be brought into the country, including Brisbane. The government import guidelines are out in place to protect the ecosystem as Australia has a high dependence on their crops and harvests. Furthermore, they are dedicated to protecting the citizens of the country. As a result, the following items are prohibited:

• Dangerous breeds of dogs
• Psychoactive substances
• Suicide devices

The following items are restricted. This means you will need written permission to bring the goods into the country:

• Antibiotics
• Cat and dog fur products
• Drugs and narcotics
• Endangered animals and plants
• Firearms and ammunition
• Growth hormones
• Fish and toothfish
• Hazardous waste
• Knives and daggers
• Money boxes
• Pencils or paintbrushes
• Tobacco

Moving Pets to Brisbane

We completely understand that no home is complete without your pets being with you. This is why we work with a trusted partner to make sure your furry, feathered or scaled friends get to your new home in Brisbane with you.

Between ourselves and our partners in Brisbane your pet will be transported sagely and comfortably to your new home. We can help with all the documentation and vaccinations your pets will require to meet Australia’s stringent import rules.

Most pets will require the following:

• To be a minimum of 12 weeks of age
• Microchip
• Pet passport
• Rabies vaccination
• Tapeworm treatment (dogs only)

Taking Your Car to Brisbane

Britannia Movers can now help to make it possible for you to take your car with you. There are a few standards that your vehicle must comply with if it’s to be allowed into Australia, but we can walk you through the process. If your car is approved and passes the import standards you will be subject to duty charges.

Money Transfer

Money is a necessity for when you arrive in Brisbane. You will inevitably need to make payments when you first enter Australia. Britannia Movers International can help advise you on the different foreign currency exchange services available to help protect you from exchange rate fluctuations and save you time and money on international payments.

Moving to Brisbane from the UK

It takes over 22 hours to fly from the UK to Brisbane but as it’s a popular destination there are a number of flights to choose from.

You have the option to have a stopover in a variety of different places including the United Arab Emirates, France and the Netherlands. These trips that contain an intermission in another country are often cheaper.

The flight is a long one so plan your sleeping pattern accordingly to help cope with jet lag. One way to do that is to fly during the day and not at night so that you don’t lose much sleep while flying.

Visas for Brisbane

In order to move to Brisbane and to stay there you will need a visa. There are a large number available that differ depending on your circumstances. This can get complicated but fortunately the Australian Department of Immigration website has a clever visa finder tool that will help you whittle down all the visas until you find the correct one for you. However, this is also something Britannia International Movers can assist you with.

To live in Brisbane permanently, expats have the following options:

• Skilled work visa (sponsored or nominated)
• Skilled work visa (not sponsored or nominated)
• Distinguished talent visa
• Invest or business visa
• Parent, child or family member visa
• Partner or spouse visa

If you are at all confused about your visa options for Brisbane get in touch with us today on 0845 600 6661 or visit the Australian Department of Immigration website.

Living in Brisbane

Brisbane is the state capital of the ‘Sunshine State’ Queensland and is Australia’s closest eastern city to Asia. With a population of 2.27 million the city is incredibly multicultural with approximately 19% of the population speaking a language other than English at home.

Known as ‘Brizzle’ to locals, the city is relatively cheap and has an abundance of different food available. Brisbane is also home to the largest city hall in Australia and has exciting job prospects for its young people following a number of international office developments.

Brisbane Weather

Brisbane has more sunny days than the majority of Australian cities. The temperature rarely drops to below 10 °C and is probably not the place to go if you’re looking for a career in skiing. Last year the city had a mean temperature of 22.2 °C throughout the year and it’s gets a lot hotter in the summer season.

Despite this Brisbane is known for its severe thunderstorms, so make sure you remember to pack an umbrella.

Winter in Brisbane is normally pretty dry with average temperatures going between 11-21°C. In June the sun will set early at 5pm which is something that takes some getting used to for British expats.

Brisbane Average Temperatures and Rainfall

Jobs for Expats in Brisbane

Brisbane is home to some of the largest businesses in the country, some of their key industries include:

• Mining and Resources
• IT and Software
• Food and Drink
• Manufacturing
• Logistics and distribution
• Aviation
• Higher education

These well-known companies have given Brisbane a thriving economy and some excellent job prospects to its expatriates.

Finding a Job in Brisbane

There are a number of different ways to find a job in Brisbane. Britannia Movers recommends that you spend some time prior to your departure looking at job opportunities that are available online.

Check the different job fields Brisbane is known for or the different occupations that are in demand. Make sure your CV is up to date and all your online profiles are professionally maintained.

Education

The Australian education system is globally renowned, and Brisbane has a large number of different schooling options for expatriates. These students will go on to have a good choice of strong universities for them to choose from with a total of over 300 degrees available.

Griffith University, the first to offer degrees in Asian studies and environmental studies, currently has 43,000 students from 131 different countries.

Compulsory schooling runs from the ages of six to 16 with children attending both primary and secondary education.

Cost of Living in Brisbane

Australia is well known for having higher living costs than other countries but is still incredibly affordable due to its high national living wage. This makes general living costs generally very affordable in Brisbane.

Brisbane is cheaper than a lot of its rival cities in Australia, ranking ahead of Sydney, Perth and Melbourne.

Australian Currency

The Australian Dollar is the country’s official currency and is used in Brisbane and throughout Australia. It is often shown as AUS, $A or (most commonly) $. Each dollar is made up of 100 cents and notes come as 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 AUD. Denominations of coins include 1 and 2 AUD and 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.

Opening a Bank Account in Brisbane

Many major banks in Brisbane will allow you to open up an account with them prior to you arriving in the country, some of them up to a year before.

Britannia Movers recommend that you do this at the very latest, within six-weeks of your arrival. During this period banks will give you grace and you won’t be required to provide proof of address and utility bills to open an account, after this period opening account might be more difficult.

Some of the most popular banks in Brisbane are the National Australia Bank, Citibank, QLD and the Bank of Queensland.

Cost of Everyday Items

Check out some of the items you are likely to purchase regularly whilst living in Brisbane below. Prices are shown in Australian Dollars and converted to UK pounds so you can see how prices match up.

Eating Out in Brisbane

The melting pot of incredible multi-culturalism in Brisbane has certainly affected its food industry. Some of the best street food from around the world can be picked up in Brisbane.

Whether you are looking for a cheap takeaway or a fancy restaurant, Brisbane has something for everyone. With a number of high quality supermarkets and farmers markets, eating at home can be just as good.

A selection of the city’s most iconic dishes includes Kentucky fried duck, sand crab lasagne, sashimi tacos and potato gnocchi.

Public Transport in Brisbane

The compact and well-structured city means that it is reasonably easy to navigate most areas on foot. However, for those who need to travel longer distances there are a number of different transport options available.

The city has numerous public transport systems available and with affordable train and bus services you shouldn’t have any issues getting around. The TransLink gocard is often purchased by those living in Brisbane. The pre-purchased electronic travel card gives users the option to travel with ease on the bus, train and ferry services.

Brisbane is also home to Australia’s first dedicated rail link for those wanting to travel to the airport. This 20-minute trip is available at regular intervals throughout the working day and stops at five inner-city stations.

Renting in Brisbane

The cost of renting a property in Brisbane will vary depending on the style of accommodation you are looking for. The best way to find the right home for you is to contact an estate agent, of which there are many available. Estate agents tend to have a strong knowledge of the area and are well positioned to help you find the home best suited to you.

Unlike in the UK, property viewings tend to have multiple people at once. This is a common theme throughout the city.

When you settle on a property you will most likely be asked to pay a bond up front. This bond is typically around 4-weeks rent as is used to protect the landlord from any money you may owe at the end of your tenancy.

Students travelling to Brisbane have the option of a ‘home stay’ in which an Australian family will open up their home. The student will become a part of the family and get the unique experience of sharing in their daily life. This is a great opportunity for anyone wanting to get a first-hand taste of Brisbane culture.

Buying a House in Brisbane

As an expat you need to be granted permanent residency before you will be allowed to purchase any real estate in Brisbane. Like many cities around the world the housing prices will increase the closer you are to the city centre.

Prior to departure it is worth researching the different properties available online and deciding which one would be best suited to your needs. After that the process is fairly straightforward, mortgage lenders in Brisbane will be able to walk you through the finer details.

Public Holidays Brisbane

There are 12 national public holidays per year in Brisbane:

• New Year’s Day – 1^stJanuary
• Australia Day – 26^thJanuary
• Good Friday – changes annually (usually March/April)
• The day after Good Friday
• Easter Saturday – changes annually (usually March/April)
• Easter Monday – changes annually (usually March/April)
• ANZAC Day – 25^thApril
• Labour Day – 4^th Monday in May
• Royal Queensland Show – changes annually (August 16^th/15^th/14^th)
• Queen’s Birthday – 2^nd Monday in June
• Christmas Day – 25^thDecember
• Boxing Day – 26^th December