Moving to Australia from the UK: A starter guide

Gert Svaiko

28.12.22 (updated more than 1 year ago)

8 minute read

Dreaming of a new life Down Under? You’re not alone, as Australia is the most popular global destination for UK expats, with almost 1.2 million¹ of them living there.

Australia has lots to offer British newcomers, including a shared language and culture, and a close relationship with the UK (despite being so far apart geographically). It boasts scorchingly sunny weather, great quality of life and beautiful beaches, along with friendly people and lots of space for outdoor living.

But just how easy is it to move there? In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about moving to Australia from the UK. This includes visas, cost of living, finding a place to live and much more.

We’ll even throw in a handy tip that could save you a bundle on your relocation costs. Open a Wise account and you can send and receive money internationally for low fees and the fair mid-market exchange rate. Whether you need to whizz a rental deposit payment over to Australia before your move or send cash back to the UK later on, Wise has you covered.

Learn more about the Wise account

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

Living in Australia - what you need to know

For starters, here are a few of the basic facts you need to know about Australia if you’re considering moving there:

Currency - Australian Dollar (AUD)
Main language - English
Population - approx. 26.2 million²
Number of British expats - approx. 1.2 million¹
Most popular cities for expats - Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide.¹

As you can see, there is a large British expat community in Australia, so you’ll have plenty of support when you arrive.

Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to Australia?

Before moving to a new country, you need to make sure you can afford to live there.

In general, the cost of living in Australia is about the same as in the UK, except in a few key areas. For example, groceries are up to 40% more expensive, and you could also pay more for public transport and rent. However, utilities tend to be cheaper.

Let’s take a look at a few average prices for common spending categories in Australia, compared with the UK:³

A three-course meal for two people costs around £55 in Australia, the same as the UK
A draught beer is around £5, compared to £4 back in the UK
A loaf of bread is around £1.55, compared to £0.92 in the UK
A monthly public transport pass is approx. £83, compared to £65 in the UK
Rent for a one-bedroom city centre apartment is around £1,120, compared to £894 in the UK.
Utilities for a typical apartment are around £131 a month, compared to £185 in the UK.

As for purchasing a property, this can also be more expensive in Australia. For example, the price per square metre to buy a city centre apartment is around 17% higher than in the UK.

Although of course, when it comes to the cost of living in any country, it depends where you live and what you typically buy.

Healthcare system

The Australian healthcare system is known to be efficient and excellent, but do newcomers and non-citizens have access to it?

The public universal healthcare system, Medicare, provides free or reduced doctor’s appointments, medicines and essential hospital treatment. You can access it as a UK citizen on a visit to Australia, due to the UK and Australia having a reciprocal healthcare agreement in place.⁴

But if you move there, you’ll need to start paying income tax (which is how Medicare is funded, through a special tax levy) to access the system as a permanent resident. However, many Australians also have private health insurance too, using it in combination with the public healthcare service.⁴

Taking out a policy could be a good idea as a newcomer, as many services (such as dentistry) and medicines aren’t free. It’s good to know you and your family are fully covered from the moment you arrive, so there aren’t any unexpected medical bills to worry about.

Opening an Australian bank account

An Australian bank account will make life easier as a new arrival, especially when it comes to paying rent and covering everyday expenses. And if you get a job or expect to receive income from elsewhere, a bank account will be essential for paying in your earnings.

The good news for British expats is that it’s reasonably straightforward to open an Australian bank account as a non-citizen. Some major banks, such as NAB, CommBank, ANZ Bank and Westpac, may even let you open your account online or over the phone while you’re still based in the UK.

To open an everyday transactions (current) account from outside Australia, you’ll need to show enough qualifying ID documents to meet the 100 point check system that most Australian banks use.⁵ Each type of ID is worth a certain number of points. If you wait until you arrive, you should only need to show your passport.

It’s a good idea to contact the bank in advance to ask which documents you’ll need, but generally speaking you should have the following ready:⁵

Your passport
Visa and immigration documentation
Australian address
Date you’ll be arriving in the country (if you’re not already living there)
Employment and salary details.

And, as an alternative to traditional bank accounts, check out the Wise account. You can send, receive, and spend in multiple currencies, including British pounds and Australian dollars. Wise offers transparent, low fees and all transactions in foreign currencies are made using the fair mid-market exchange rate.

Check out the Wise account

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

Finding a job in Australia

If you have the right to work in Australia, you’ll need to start job hunting. You can potentially do this before you leave the UK, or wait until you arrive if you have enough money to support yourself.

Here are some good places to start your search:

Careerone
Adzuna
Seek- also a good resource for careers and job hunting advice
Workforce Australia
GradAustralia- a good option for graduates.

Of course, if you’re entering Australia on a work-stream permanent residence visa, you may already have a job with a sponsoring employer lined up.

Finding somewhere to live in Australia

Australia’s major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Perth tend to be the most attractive destinations for new expats.¹

But there are plenty of other options, especially if you’re looking for cheaper prices. For example, many Brits love affordable Adelaide and there’s a tight-knit expat community there. Alternatively, you may prefer scenic Hobart in Tasmania, known for its relaxed country atmosphere.

It could be a good idea to make a few trips out to Australia to get a feel for your chosen city or region, and to scout out places to rent or buy.

But to start your search in the UK, here are some handy links to try:

You can buy property in Australia as a non-citizen, but there are certain rules and restrictions you’ll need to follow.

Can I move to Australia from the UK?

Australia’s immigration policy is notoriously strict and operates on a points-based system, which makes a permanent move there as a non-citizen quite difficult. But it’s far from impossible, especially if you have family connections to Australia, are a skilled worker or have an Australian employer sponsoring you to come over and work.

How to get an Australian visa

There are a few potential routes into Australia for British citizens. These include:⁶

Family-stream permanent residence visa. This is for applicants with partners, children or dependent relatives of Australian citizens or permanent residents.
Work-stream permanent residence visa. This is for people with an Australian employer sponsoring them to work in Australia. You may also be able to get this visa if you have a particular set of skills valued by Australia.
Business or investment-stream permanent residence visa. These visa types are for entrepreneurs wanting to start new businesses or invest in Australia, and sponsorship by a government agency is usually needed in order to apply.

You can explore the full list of Australian visa types here. Getting a visa for Australia isn’t easy or quick, and there’s likely to be a lot of paperwork required. But you’ll need to jump through the required hoops and put in a strong application if you want to start a new life in Australia.

What’s the cheapest way to get to Australia from the UK?

The most common way to get to Australia from the UK is by boarding a plane. The cheapest month to do so is June, and it’ll cost around £179 one-way.⁷

However, these cheap prices are usually limited and the average price for a one-way trip is around £700-£800 if you book well in advance.

How long does it take to get to Australia from the UK?

If you’re taking a flight to get to Australia, then the time it takes depends on the destination city and if you have a direct flight or multiple stops.

For example, it takes around 20 hours to get from London to Perth with a direct flight (one refuelling stop included). But, the cheapest flights could take around 35-38 hours with 3 stops.⁸

Options for retiring in Australia

Australia is a popular destination for UK retirees, but just how easy is it to get a visa and retire in Australia?

Well, you can potentially apply under one of the permanent residence visa categories covered above. This could be the easiest route, especially if you have family connections in Australia.

The other option is to go through the retirement visa pathway to permanent residency. The eligibility criteria for this is quite narrow though, as you need to have previously held an Australian retirement visa or investment retirement visa.⁹ However, you can also access the pathway by applying for a parent or contributory parent visa.

More details on the retirement visa pathway are available on the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website.

The other major thing for UK retirees to consider before moving to Australia is pensions. You can receive your UK state pension in Australia, by applying to the International Pension Centre.

You may also be able to transfer other personal pensions over to Australia, so you’ll have all your retirement savings in one place. Make sure you choose a Qualified Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS) from the HMRC approved list, otherwise you could face a huge tax bill.

Save on your relocation costs to Australia with Wise

Before moving to a new country, you’re likely to have lots of costs to cover. Some of these, such as real estate costs, visa application fees and rental deposits, will need to cross borders.

Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and Australia (and all over the world) for low fees and the fair mid-market exchange rate.

You can also use Wise once you arrive in your new home. For starters, you can spend in AUD from the moment you step off the plane using your contactless Wise card. It works in 175 countries and automatically converts to the local currency when you spend, so you don’t need to change money or carry cash around.

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

So, there you have it - everything you need to know about moving to Australia in one handy guide. We’ve covered all the essentials, from the tricky task of getting a visa to scouting out a great place to live Down Under.

Whether you’re retiring, working, studying or moving to Oz with your family, you should now be all set to plan your big move. The best of luck on your Australian adventure!

Sources used for this article:

Homeaffairs.gov.au – United Kingdom
Worldometer - Australia population (2021)
Numbeo - Cost of living in Australia compared to the UK
MoveHub - Healthcare for expats in Australia
Wise – Opening a bank account in Australia
Home Affairs.gov.au - permanent residence visas
Skyscanner - London to Australia
Skyscanner - Flights from London to Perth
Home Affairs.gov.au - Retirement visa pathway

Sources checked on 21-Dec-2022.

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.