All guides
Guides to moving to Australia
Each guide covers one subject, with a 30-second summary and links to official sources. 34 guides so far.
Who’s moving?
Step 1: Research
Open this stepIs it right for us?
Is Australia right for you?
Who it suits, what a normal week feels like, the weather and the distance from home.What people wish they’d known
The things British movers say surprised them most, so you can plan for them.Laws and rules that catch people out
Biosecurity at the airport, driving rules, vaping, drinking and smoking in public, and beach safety.Work and pay
Finding a job in Australia
Where jobs are advertised, which skills are in demand, how sponsorship works and what jobs pay.Getting your qualifications recognised
Skills assessments for your visa, and registering or licensing to work in your profession.Working in Australia
Hours, directness, informality, flexible work, the right to disconnect, public holidays and the commute.Reading an Australian job offer
Salary versus package, super on top, awards, sponsorship costs and what to ask before you sign.+ calculatorYour rights at work
Hours, leave, the minimum wage, notice, redundancy and help if things go wrong.Home, family and health
The cost of living in Australia
Rent by city, bills, food, transport and childcare, with a monthly budget by household.+ calculatorChoosing a city
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra compared on climate, rent and lifestyle.Schools in Australia
The school year, starting ages, types of school, fees on a temporary visa and later university choices.Visa routes to Australia
The main work, skilled, working holiday, partner and parent visas, what they cost and who can come with you.Healthcare and Medicare
Who gets Medicare, what the UK agreement does and doesn’t cover, private cover, and the tax penalties for not having it.Step 2: Making the move
Open this stepBefore you fly
Telling HMRC you’re leaving
UK residence, the P85, split years, and how Australia taxes you once you arrive.Your UK home: let, sell or keep
What each choice means for tax, your mortgage and council tax once you live in Australia.UK pensions and moving to Australia
The frozen State Pension, voluntary National Insurance after April 2026, and transferring to Australian super.Bringing medicines to Australia
How much you can bring, the paperwork to carry, posting more later, and getting prescriptions once you arrive.Moving money from the UK to Australia
Exchange rates, safe transfers, your UK accounts and ISAs, and the cash you need to rent.+ calculatorMoving pets to Australia
Permits, the rabies blood test, the 180-day wait and quarantine in Melbourne.Shipping your belongings to Australia
How long sea freight takes, cleaning for biosecurity, the customs form and bringing a car.Your first 30 days
Your first 30 days in Australia
What to do first, in what order, and why the order matters.+ calculatorYour tax file number and Australian tax
Getting a TFN, how much tax you pay in 2026–27, payslips and your first tax return.+ calculatorOpening a bank account in Australia
Opening an account before you fly, proving who you are, fees, PayID and starting your credit history.Finding a home to rent
Where to look, how inspections and applications work, and how to compete without a local rental history.Rental scams: how to spot them
The warning signs, how to check an agent, and where to report a scam.Renting: bond, leases and bills
Bonds by state, rent in advance, condition reports, rent rises, pets and connecting the power.+ calculatorDriving: your licence and a car
How long you can drive on a UK licence, swapping it without a test, and buying and registering a car.Phone, internet and staying in touch
Getting a SIM, setting up home broadband and keeping in touch with the UK.Your first weeks
Your first day at work
The forms you’ll fill in, how super and payslips work, and what to expect on day one.Food shopping and eating out
The supermarkets, what a weekly shop costs, buying alcohol, and eating out without tipping stress.Making friends in Australia
How the first year usually feels, where friendships start, and keeping in touch across the time difference.The partner at home
Work rights, getting your skills recognised, what government help you can and can’t get, and building a life of your own.Superannuation explained
Australia’s workplace pension: how much goes in, choosing a fund, and getting it out if you leave.Building a credit history in Australia
Why you start from zero, who keeps your credit file, and how to build a good record.Step 3: Living here
Coming soonYour first Australian winter and summerWeekends and tripsChanging jobs and visasWills and guardianshipVisa renewal and permanent residency reminders
Step 4: Helping others
Coming soonGroups near youBuddying a newcomerAnswering questions from people on the way
Step 5: Moving on
Coming soonA leaving checklistYour end-of-service paymentSettling back into the UK