Immigrating to Australia: Expectation vs Reality
Where are you getting advice about immigrating to Australia?
If it’s from anyone but a licensed immigration advisor, you might have the wrong information.
That’s not the position you want to be in if you’re about to spend thousands on visas and relocating your family.
Let’s rather get your immigration off to a good start by clearing up 10 common misconceptions about immigration to Australia.
1. All I need to do to immigrate is get a relative in Australia to sponsor me.
WRONG. This a common assumption, but the truth is that a family member can only sponsor you in these specific instances:
- You’re a skilled migrant with an occupation on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) list and you have an eligible family member who lives in regional Australia.
- You have an eligible child in Australia who can sponsor you for a parent visa.
- You’re the only remaining relative of an eligible family member in Australia – and even if you are, the remaining relative visa has a processing time of up to 30 years!
If you don’t meet these requirements, you’ll have to explore other avenues to immigrate to Australia.
2. I only need 65 points to apply for an Independent Skilled Visa (Subclass 189)
NOT ENTIRELY TRUE. Yes, you must get at least 65 points in your points test but that’s only to enter the Expression of Interest (EOI) pool for the Independent Skilled Visa.
The demand for Skilled Independent visas is very high and only the highest ranked applicants by points score are selected to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
3. I don’t have to take an English test for my skilled migrant application because I hold an eligible passport
NOT QUITE. Some passport holders are indeed exempt from doing a compulsory English test but most skilled migrants still have to take an English test because they need the extra points.
If you decide to take one of the approved English proficiency tests and you score ‘proficient English’, you’ll add 10 points to your application BUT if you have ‘superior English’, you can add 20 points to your Expression of Interest points score.
4. I’ll easily find a job once I’m in Australia
MAYBE, MAYBE NOT. It’s quite possible that you could find a job in a week or two but it could also take a couple of months.
How quickly this happens would depend on a number of factors like what you can offer employers, the job market in your specific industry and Australia’s overall economic health.
That’s why it’s a good idea to go to Australia with enough funds to survive for at least 6 months without an income – plan for the worst, but hope for the best.
Have a read through our blog posts on how to get a job in Australia and how to ace your interview to make your job hunt more successful.
5. If I study in Australia, I’ll get permanent residency
NOT QUITE. Studying in Australia in itself does not grant you permanent residency – but studying in Australia could put you on the path to becoming a permanent resident.
Your eligibility for Australian residency after studying in the country would depend on a number of factors, including the occupation you’re in, your work experience, your age and your English language proficiency.
6. My work experience will definitely be recognised in Australia when I apply for a skilled migrant visa
NOT NECESSARILY. Your work experience must meet the requirements as set out in ANZSCO. This includes the tasks you must be able to perform in your job.
Your industry’s relevant assessing authority will assess your experience, skills and qualification and then make a recommendation as to your suitability to work in Australia. The outcome of this assessment can be that your skills are ‘suitable’ or ‘not suitable’.
Some assessing authorities might also make a recommendation that you must register with professional body or complete certain additional tests or programmes.
7. I can live and work wherever I want to in Australia
PERHAPS. You can live and work anywhere in Australia if you manage to qualify for a Skilled Independent Visa.
However, if you qualify for any other work visa, the criteria dictate that you have to work in regional Australia or in the city where your sponsoring employer requires you to work for the sponsoring company.
‘Regional Australia’ is most locations outside of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
8. Our pets move in on the same day we do
NO. Australia has strict pet import regulations and all pets entering Australia, except those from New Zealand or Norfolk Island, are subject to 10 days of quarantine.
When entering Australia from another country through New Zealand, your pet must be quarantined in New Zealand, then remain on the island for 90 days in quarantine before entering Australia.
Our advice is to arrange your pet’s quarantine organised as soon as you’ve received the import permit.
9. I’m getting free healthcare in Australia!
NOT NECESSARILY. Australia’s public healthcare system, Medicare, is available to Australian citizens and permanent residents and some temporary residents, and it covers certain medical costs in part or in full. These medical costs are:
- Seeing a GP or specialist
- Test and scans, like x-rays
- Most surgery and procedures performed by doctors
- Eye tests by optometrists
If you don’t qualify for Medicare, you’ll have to have private health insurance to cover your health and medical costs.
10. I’m going to spend my weekends exploring all the different parts of Australia!
NOT SO FAST. Australia is not only a country – it’s also a continent and it’s massive. In fact, Australia is the 6th largest country in the world. It’s larger than India and most of Europe could find into Australia!
Finding that hard to believe? Europe covers an area of 10,18 million km² – Australia is not much smaller at a size of 7,692 million km².
You’re definitely going to need more than weekends to explore this vast country! And you’re probably going to be better of flying to where you want to go.
Feel like you need more realistic advice?
Our Australian immigration advisors have helped hundreds of families and individuals with their immigration to Australia. They’ve encountered just about scenario you can imagine!
To speak with our team, simply book a consultation call. We’ll set you up with the correct information – the reality not the expectation – about immigrating to Australia.
