A Little Introduction to… Moving to Australia
Posted by Adam Solomon on July 11th, 2017.
With 21,000 miles of stunning golden coastline, sub-tropical rainforests and deserts spread over 3 million square miles, Australia is nothing if not diverse.
It’s laid back culture and impressive employment opportunities have also made it one of the world’s most popular expat destinations. However, given its distance from Europe, making the decision to head Down Under is not one that can be taken lightly.
To help you get started we’ve put together a little introduction to the processes involved and what you can expect once you’re there.
Why Should I Move to Australia?
Whether you’re comparing housing, income, jobs, community, health or simply life satisfaction, Australia tends to have the UK beat. The OECD Better Life Index ranks Australia extremely positively, most notably in quality of life, and if you’re worried about safety, Australia has 6 cities that rank in the top 50 safest places in the world.
In regards to the climate, you probably have some preconceived notions about heat, and you’re not wrong, but the sheer size of Australia means that the weather can be very varied. Yes, it’s predominantly hot, but the north is extra hot – tropical even, with humid weather and even some seasonal monsoons. Southern Australia is less hot; the weather is temperate and even has distinct seasons with cool winters that can get as low as 7°C. Don’t expect too much rain, though, as rainfall is generally quite low throughout Australia.
The urban environment, especially the nightlife, is diverse – in the cities you’ll find all the bars, clubs and restaurants you’d expect. Sydney in particular is known for its impressive range of venues, while the Gold Coast is typically the place people go for large, extravagant parties – think Spring Break!
Hectic nightlife not your cup of tea? That’s fine. If a bit of sedate sightseeing is more your thing, the land down under can provide. Australia is a world renowned for both magnificent man-made attractions and natural wonders. It contains a whopping 19 World Heritage Sites that range from the Sydney Opera House and Daintree Rainforest to Bondi Beach and the Great Barrier Reef, so there’s plenty to keep you occupied.
How Can I Move to Australia?
The process of emigrating to Australia can vary depending on a wide range of factors – including your marital status, work history, whether you have sponsorship, your age and if you have children. But there’s plenty of information out there to help you figure out which method is right for you.
If you’re looking for permanent residency, you’ll need to apply for one of the following:
- A skilled worker’s visa
- A distinguishing talent visa
- An investment or business visa
- A Partner or spouse’s visa
- A Parent, child or family member’s visa.
However, the easiest way of finding out your eligibility is to complete the assessment criteria form.
Should you end up applying for a visa, bear in mind that Australia operates a point based system and the visa application process can take a minimum of 3 months.
If you want to try-before-you-buy you can also enter Australia on a ‘Visitor Visa ETA’.
The ETA is required for anyone looking to take a short-term trip – it lasts for up to three months and is relatively cheap; it’ll only cost you AU$20. However, on arrival you may be asked to provide evidence that you can support yourself during your stay and indeed afford a return ticket back home.
Key Takeaways
- With a visitor visa you can stay in Australia for 3, 6 or 12 months.
- The visa options available to you are wide and encompass a lot of variables, the quickest way of finding out which one you need is to use their visa calculator.
- Australia is as wide as the distance between London and Moscow – there’s a lot of space.
- In 1892 a group of disgruntled Australians, angered by their government, attempted to start their own ‘New Australia’ by going to Paraguay and setting up a colony. Once they got there, some of the Australians within the disgruntled group of Australians, became disgruntled with their fellow Australians and went away and started their own new colony, a few miles away. Eventually Paraguay got tired of it all and dissolved New Australia and its disgruntled offshoot nations.
- Kangaroos can’t go backwards. Ever.
- The minimum hourly wage in Australia as of 2017 is A$17.70
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