If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already decided that moving to Australia is the best decision of your life. You’re not alone: More than one million people from all over the world are making the move to Australia every year! But don’t let the excitement get ahead of yourself—moving to another country is a big deal and it can be stressful if you don’t prepare properly before you arrive in your new home.
Visa application
To apply for a visa, you must complete an online or paper application form. You will need to provide documents and information about yourself, including where you intend to live in Australia and how much money you have. The Department of Home Affairs will then assess your application based on this information and decide whether or not you are eligible for a visa.
Know your skillset
- You need to know what skills are required for your visa type.
- You need to find out if your skills are in demand.
- The Australian government has published a list of occupations that are considered skilled (and therefore eligible for certain visas). This list is updated regularly and can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website, under SkillSelect.
- If you’re not sure which categories your job falls into, feel free to contact us or schedule an appointment with our Migration Consultant
Where in Australia?
When deciding where to live in Australia, it’s important to consider the following factors:
- Cost of living: The cost of living can vary greatly depending on which city or state you choose. For example, Sydney has a higher cost of living than Melbourne or Perth. The further away from the capital city you go, the cheaper it gets.
- Job opportunities: Depending on your profession and skillset, there will be different areas of Australia that may have better job opportunities for you than others.
- Climate: This can be a big factor when choosing which part of Australia to move to because even though most parts are warm year-round, some areas experience cooler temperatures during winter months (June–August) while other locations will experience milder winters and hotter summers (December–February). If you’re moving from somewhere cold like Canada or Russia then this might not be an issue at all!
Research living costs and the job market
Before you move to Australia, it’s important to research the cost of living as well as the job market. You’ll want to know what kind of salary you can expect and whether or not there are any jobs available in your field. If you’re moving with your family, it might also be helpful to learn about schools and childcare options in Australia.
To give you an idea of what a day in the life is like for someone who lives in Australia:
- An average lunch at a fast food restaurant will set you back about $12 USD
- A pair of jeans at Aldi or Kmart costs around $35 Australian dollars
How long will the process take?
As with most immigration processes, the length of time it takes to move to Australia on a skilled visa depends on whether you’re applying for a temporary or permanent visa. Temporary visas take about six months to process, and permanent visas can take up to 12 months.
For example, if you apply for an employer-sponsored 457 visa that allows you to work in Australia for up to four years (with the option of applying for an extension), this will be much faster than applying under the General Skilled Migration Program where there’s no sponsor involved. The same goes when applying through family sponsorships—the more closely related you are with your sponsor in Australia, the faster your application will go through.
Moving to Australia takes time, money, and effort. Make sure you’re prepared for a lengthy process.
If you’re serious about moving to Australia, there are a few things you should know. First, it will be a long process—you’ll probably have to wait up to a year for your visa to be approved and processed. Second, your employer needs to give you an employment contract before you submit your visa application. Third, if you don’t have enough money saved up for yourself during the waiting period (the Australian government expects applicants to be able to support themselves), then they won’t approve your application. If any of these factors don’t work in your favor as an applicant, then it’s highly unlikely that moving is going to work out for you in the end.
But if all goes well…
Moving to Australia is a big step, and it can be a daunting process. The good news is that if you have the right skillset and meet all of the requirements, you will be able to get yourself here sooner rather than later. Just make sure that you are prepared for what lies ahead!
