Despite a host of newly emerging popular expat destinations, Australia maintains its position as the top location for expats worldwide, and especially for Britons. The country is home to the largest British expat community around the globe, with 1.4 million Britons living there permanently according to a recent survey from Natwest.
Australia is a diverse place, an island continent boasting a beautiful and exotic landscape, hip multicultural cities, great climate, a strong economy and a range of job opportunities. It’s a great place thus whether you are a student looking to experience a new life abroad, a businessman looking for new opportunities, or a pensioner looking for a great place to retire and whether you are moving with your family, your partner or alone.
Britannia Movers International has decades of experience in conducting successful removals to Australia. This is our first article in our series about moving to and living in Australia. If you’ve decided to take the plunge to move Down Under, are still researching the perfect destination or just want to find out more about this beautiful country, we hope our articles will help.
In this first article, we’ve collected some of the essential things you should keep in mind when preparing for the move to OZ.
1. Getting a Visa
Before planning your relocation any further, it’s essential to apply for a visa or at least ensure that you have good chances of getting one. The visa you choose will depend on whether you want to study, find a new job abroad, have already secured a job or are following your partner abroad. The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s website has all the necessary information and you can also apply for a visa through their website.
Australia has just recently introduced a new visa application system, which has made it more difficult to get an Australian visa. If you have the right professional skills, manage to secure employment from the UK or are relocating to follow your partner, it should be relatively easy to get a visa.
2. Job and Career Opportunities
Unless you are moving to Australia to retire, finding a suitable job will most probably be a priority once you move Down Under. The good news is that in the current economic crisis that has made the employment situation considerably worse in the UK and America compared to a few years ago, has not had a destabilising effect on the Australian economy. Australia’s economy is still going strong, and unemployment rates stand at around 5%. That said, it is harder to get a work permit than it was even a decade ago, so you will have to be able to offer a skill in demand or find employment before relocating. Occupation categories that are in high demand include IT, health and medical services, hospitality, education, consulting, trades, manufacturing and engineering.
3. Living Costs In Australia
Many expats moving to Australia find that living costs are higher than in most of Europe, especially in some of the larger cities. According to Mercer’s latest cost of living survey, many Australian cities rank among the top, including Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. This is mostly due to the Australian dollar being strong compared to the British Pound or Euro. Salaries are however also on average higher, so unless you are planning to convert your savings from the UK or Europe to Australian dollars, you’ll actually have a very similar or even higher quality of life in terms of your finances.
4. Research Australia Before the Move
Researching your overseas destination is important, wherever you are moving to, but as Australia is such a diverse and vast country, it’s important to know where you are moving exactly. Living conditions, employment opportunities, the cultural life and even the climate vary among the different Australian states and cities, so make sure to do as much research as you can. If possible, visiting the country before you move is a great idea as it will help you understand what it’s actually like to live there.
