Intergate Emigration operates out of South Africa and Germany. We have a number of licensed immigration agents for both Australia and New Zealand. You enjoy the peace of mind that comes from being helped by qualified and experienced experts.

Immigration News: October 2022

In October, the Australian Government published a Ministerial Direction for prioritising skilled visa applications. The government also announced streamlined requirements for temporary visa applicants in Australia.

1. Skilled visa processing priorities

A new Ministerial Direction for prioritising skilled visa applications came into effect on 28 October 2022.

In line with the Direction, the Australian Government will prioritise skilled visa applications for the health and education sectors and offshore permanent and provisional applications. It’ll apply to all skilled visa nominations and applications yet to be decided and new applications lodged.

The aim is to improve skilled visa processing times and clear visa backlogs. Shorter processing times will benefit visa applicants and assist small businesses with critical labour shortages it has to fill quickly.

The Direction also restores priority to Accredited Sponsors and signals the end of the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) and critical sectors.

“The PMSOL was outdated and no longer reflected the critical workforce shortages seen across Australia,” said the Australian Government in a statement. “Applications with occupations that were on the PMSOL or in critical sectors will continue to be processed efficiently given the improvements in visa processing since the Government committed additional funding and staff to reduce processing times,” the government added.

2. Streamlined requirements for temporary visa applicants in Australia

​The Australian Government announced that it is streamlining requirements for temporary visa applicants in Australia.

Going forward, only some eligible visa applicants must undertake relevant medical examinations and/or chest x-rays.

That will include visa applicants that:

  • have applied for a medical treatment, temporary protection or a provisional visa,
  • expect to incur medical costs or require medical treatment,
  • intend to work as (or study to be) a doctor, dentist, nurse or paramedic,
  • will enter a hospital, aged or disability care facility (if there is a higher tuberculosis risk),
  • are pregnant and intending to have the baby in Australia,
  • will work or train at an Australian childcare centre,
  • are aged over 75 years (if applying for a visitor visa),
  • have had previous household contact with tuberculosis, or
  • are requested to do so by the Department of Home Affairs

Other temporary visa applicants in Australia are not required to undertake medical examinations and chest x-rays to meet the health requirement.

These arrangements apply to the following visas:

  • 401 Temporary Work (Long Stay Activity)
  • 403 Temporary Work (International Relations)
  • 405 Investor Retirement
  • 407 Training
  • 408 Temporary Activity
  • 410 Retirement
  • 417 and 462 Working Holiday
  • 461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary)
  • 476 Skilled – Recognised Graduate
  • 482 Temporary Skill Shortage
  • 485 Temporary Graduate
  • 500 Students
  • 590 Student Guardian
  • 600 Visitor
  • 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary)
  • 995 Diplomatic (Temporary)

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9 of Australia’s top recruitment agencies

Eager to live and work in Australia but overwhelmed by the prospect of having to find a job? No idea where to start or who to contact?

Then we might have what you’re looking for – a list of Australian recruitment agencies.

You’ll find some of Australia’s top recruiters on this list. Their areas of expertise range from IT and mental health to construction and mining.

1. Randstad

Founded in the Netherlands in 1960, Randstad was established in Australia in 2009. Randstad has several offices across Australia and specialises in several key industries, including education, engineering, health and social care, IT, and trades and labour.

www.randstad.com.au

2. JPS Medical Recruitment

JPS Medical Recruitment specialises in the recruitment of healthcare and medical professionals. Their areas of expertise are aged care, allied health, general practice, hospital doctors, medical imaging, and senior appointments.

www.jpsmedical.com.au

3. Australia Wide Engineering Recruitment

Australia Wide Engineering Recruitment offers specialist engineering, technical and manufacturing recruitment services. The company has offices in Melbourne and Sydney, and its recruitment consultants are engineers themselves, which means they know the engineering industry inside out.

www.australiawide.com.au

4. Clicks IT Recruitment

Clicks IT Recruitment is one of Australia’s top five IT recruitment agencies. Clicks recruit across all IT sectors, including development, cyber security, and business information, and have vacancies across Australia.

https://clicks.com.au

5. Stellar Recruitment

Stellar Recruitment has been providing recruitment solutions and advice since 2006. The company has won numerous awards, including Outstanding Large Agency of the Year and individual team members being named Recruitment Leader of the Year. Stellar Recruitment’s areas of expertise range from mining and energy to agriculture and logistics.

www.stellarrecruitment.com

6. Aptus Personnel

Aptus Personnel is a team of specialist consultants in the built environment space. The recruiters connect job seekers with opportunities in Buildings, Land and Infrastructure, Construction, and Architecture, Planning and Design. You’ll find their office in Melbourne.

https://aptuspersonnel.com.au

7. Brightside Recruitment

Brightside Recruitment provides recruitment, consultancy, and support to organisations and individuals within the welfare, NPO and charity sectors. The company services specific sectors, including psychology, allied health, mental health, aged and disability, and child, youth and family.

http://brightsiderecruitment.com.au

8. Building Partners Recruitment

Building Partners Recruitment offers recruitment services to skilled people in architecture, engineering, construction, and trades. The company has worked alongside top industry brands such as A.G.Coombs, AE Smith and the ARA Group.

www.buildingpartnersrecruitment.com

9. Hays

Hays offers recruitment services in a wide range of industries. These industries include education, energy, manufacturing and operations, oil and gas, sustainability, and technology. You’ll find vacancies in 41 Australian cities and towns listed on their website, a salary guide and a section with career advice.

www.hays.com.au

How can a recruiter help you?

Using a recruiter is free, so there’s no reason not to work with one when you’re job hunting in Australia.

Here’s how it’ll benefit your job search:

  • Recruiters are experts in their fields who can give you industry information and tips to help you succeed in your job search
  • Recruiters often know about jobs not being advertised on job boards or social media
  • Specialist agencies in your industry have connections in the companies you should approach
  • Recruiters can help you with your CV and advise you on your career path.
  • When you apply for a job, the recruiter follows up on your application, so you don’t have to
  • Using a recruiter is free!

Our advice?

Seriously consider working with a recruitment agency!

Many Australian employers use recruiters to screen candidates, especially for specialist and high-level jobs. Also, with a recruiter by your side, especially when you’re job hunting before you immigrate, you have a much bigger chance of finding the perfect job.

Please note: Intergate Emigration is not affiliated or associated with any of the above recruiters.

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Can you immigrate to Australia if you’re over 50?

can you immigrate to Australia if you are over 50

can you immigrate to Australia if you are over 50

With strict age restrictions in place for most work visas, one might wonder, “Can you immigrate to Australia if you’re over 50?”

The good news is that there are visas that allow people over 50 to immigrate to Australia, which falls into these three categories:

  • Global Talent Visa
  • Parent Visas
  • Business Innovation and Investment Visa

Let’s take a closer look at each visa.

1. Global Talent Visa (subclass 858)

The purpose of the Global Talent Visa is to attract the world’s best and brightest talent to grow Australia’s economy. You’ll be eligible to apply if you are highly skilled in one of these 10 target sectors:

  • Resources
  • Agri-food and AgTech
  • Energy
  • Health Industries
  • Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space
  • Circular Economy
  • DigiTech
  • Infrastructure and Tourism
  • Financial Services and FinTech
  • Education

You must also be able to attract a salary that meets the high-income threshold of AUD162,000. This figure is adjusted annually on 1 July.

While there is no age restriction on the Global Talent Visa, the Department of Home Affairs requires that an exceptional benefit to the Australian community be established if you’re older than 55 years of age.

2. Parent Visas

There are several parent visas available to the parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents and Eligible New Zealand (ENZ) citizens:

  • Aged Parent visa (subclass 804): You must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia.
  • Contributory Aged Parent visas (subclasses 864 and 884): You must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia.
  • Contributory Parent visas (subclasses 143 and 173): You must apply as a retiree.
  • Parent visa (subclass 103): You must apply as a retiree.
  • Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa: You’ll need an approved Parent Sponsor to apply.

The other requirements for these visas range from meeting the balance-of-family test to meeting health and character requirements. Please contact us if you’d like to discuss the requirements in detail.

3. Business Innovation and Investment Visa (subclass 188)

The subclass 188 visa is a four-year provisional visa. It is the first step towards permanent residency. You’ll apply for permanent residency through the Business Innovation and Investment Visa (subclass 888).

The requirements to meet under the subclass 188 visa will depend on the stream under which you apply:

  1. Business Innovation stream: You want to establish, develop and manage a new or existing business in Australia.
  2. Investor stream: You want to make a designated investment of at least AU$2.5 million in an Australian state or territory and maintain business and investment activity in Australia.
  3. Significant Investor stream: You are willing to invest at least AU$5 million into complying investments in Australia and maintain business and investment activity in Australia.
  4. Entrepreneur stream: For startup and early stage entrepreneurs who have been endorsed to develop their concepts and been nominated by a State or Territory government agency.

For the Business Innovation, Investor and Entrepreneur streams, you must be under the age of 55. That’s not much older than 50, so don’t take too long to apply if you’re already 50.

Want to know if you’re eligible for immigration to Australia?

If you’re almost 50 or older than 50 and would like to know if you qualify to immigrate to Australia, please do not hesitate to book a consultation call with our licensed advisor.

You’ll not only discover your visa options, but also find out how the immigration process works, and learn what costs are involved.

Our team looks forward to hearing from you. Let’s get to you to Australia as soon as possible!

 

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Immigration News: September 2022

In September, South Australia opened its Business Migration program, and Migration Tasmania opened the next interim stage of its Skilled Migration State Nomination Program.

Continue reading for the details.

South Australia’s Business Innovation and Investment Program is open

South Australia’s Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) is open for the 2022-23 program year.

The Business Migration program is designed to attract high-quality business owners, investors and entrepreneurs who can create genuine and sustainable economic opportunities in South Australia that’ll benefit the state’s economy, local businesses and workforce.

Four visa streams under the Subclass 188 visa

The Business Migration program has four visa streams available for nomination under the Business Innovation and Investment visa (Subclass 188):

  • Business Innovation Stream (188A)
  • Investor Stream (188B)
  • Significant Investor Stream (188C)
  • Entrepreneur Stream (188E)

South Australia has received an interim allocation of only 70 nomination places, so competition is stiff.

It is no surprise that applicants for the Business Innovation Stream (188A) must submit an Intention to Apply (ITA) for consideration.

Interim opening for the Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program to Gold and Green pass candidates

The 2022-23 Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program is opening in stages.

In this stage, candidates who meet the minimum requirements of the Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa and have at least one gold or green priority attribute can register their interest in nomination by Migration Tasmania.

Eligible candidates must receive an invitation from Migration Tasmania before applying for nomination, and candidates who are nominated will be able to apply for a work visa.

Migration Tasmania has said it’ll release information about the next interim stage soon.

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Australia increases Migration Program intakes by 35,000 places!

migration intake increase

migration intake increaseOn Friday, 2 September, the Australian Government announced that it’s immediately increasing the 2022-23 Migration Program intakes by 35,000 places to 195,000.

That decision was only one of several resolutions made at the Jobs and Skills Summit on 1 and 2 September.

The Summit was held to agree on actions to help build a stronger economy and a stronger Australia, and it brought together businesses, unions, and industry to address shared economic challenges.

Below we’ll summarise all the actions and strategies the Australian Government undertook with regards to immigration.

Immediate actions from the Jobs and Skills Summit

The Australian Government committed to actions to build a bigger, better trained, and more productive workforce during its Jobs and Skills Summit. The Summit also laid out priorities for further work and future action.

For immigration, the Government committed to take the following immediate actions to address skills shortages and strengthen the migration system:

  • Increasing the permanent Migration Planning level to 195,000 in 2022-21 to help ease widespread, critical skills shortages
  • Providing AUS$36.1 million in additional funding to accelerate visa processing and resolve the visa backlog
  • Increasing the duration of post-study work rights by allowing two additional years of stay for recent graduates with select degrees in areas of verified skills shortages to strengthen the pipeline of skilled labour in Australia
  • Extending the relaxation of work restrictions for student and training visa holders until 30 June 2023 to help ease skills and labour shortages
  • Widening the remit of the National Housing Infrastructure Facility, making up AUD$575 million available to invest in social and affordable housing. The funding can be used to partner with other tiers of government and social housing providers and to attract private capital.

The Government’s areas for further work

In addition to the immediate actions agreed upon during the Skills and Job Summit, the Australian Government also committed to reviewing Australia’s migration system’s purpose, structure, and objectives to ensure it meets the challenges of the coming decade.

The Government will also progress work to:

  • Assess the effectiveness of the skilled migration occupation lists
  • Expand pathways to permanent residency for temporary skilled sponsored workers
  • Raise the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold following engagement on equitably setting the threshold and pathway for adjustment
  • Reform the current labour market testing process following consultation with unions and business
  • Bring forward a package of reforms to address the migration worker exploitation during 2023
  • Examine the potential for industry sponsorship of skilled migration
  • Embed a role for Jobs and Skills Australia’s analysis of skill shortages in setting priorities for the skilled migration program
  • Consider policies to address the regional labour shortages and how to improve small business access to skilled migration.

Furthermore, all levels of government will work together to ensure infrastructure, housing and social services are well planned to meet the needs of a growing population.

The Government has also committed to implementing the recommendations of the Migrant Workers’ Taskforce to tackle migrant worker exploitation.

In summary

The Australian Government has committed to actions and future strategies to build a stronger labour market and economy to benefit all Australians.

That includes addressing skills shortages and strengthening the migration system.

The first step was increasing the Migration Program planning levels by 35,000 to 195,00 places in total for the 2022-23 Migration Program Year.

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Immigration News: August 2022

Australia’s 2022-23 Migration Program year officially started on 1 July, and states and territories have started to open. To date, Victoria, ACT, Queensland and South Australia have opened, with Tasmania to follow soon.

1. Victoria Skilled Migration Program

Victoria’s Skilled Migration Program opened on 11 August 2022. It’s open to applicants living in Victoria and overseas. It provides two visa pathways – the subclass 190 and 491 visas:

Victoria will assess Registrations of Interest (ROIs) for these visas until May 2023. The state encourages applicants who weren’t selected to apply during the 2021-22 Migration Program to submit a new ROI for the 2022-23 program.

Five priority occupation groups

Victoria will prioritise five occupation groups to address its most urgent skills shortages when selecting ROIs:

  • Healthcare and social services
  • Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
  • Advanced manufacturing, digital and innovation economy
  • Chef, cook, accommodation and hospitality managers – for the 491 visa
  • Early childhood, secondary and special education teachers

2. Victoria Business Innovation and Investment Program

Victoria’s 2022-23 Business Innovation and Investment program opened on 30 August.

The program is open to applicants in Victoria and overseas and provides Business and Investor migrants with a pathway to permanent residency in Victoria.

There are four visa pathways available:

  • Business Innovation Stream (Subclass 188 Visa)
  • Investor Stream (Subclass 188 Visa)
  • Significant Investor Stream (Subclass 188 Visa)
  • Entrepreneur Stream (Subclass 188 Visa)

3. ACT Skilled Migration Program

The ACT received an interim allocation of places for the 2022-23 program year. The territory can invite applicants living in the ACT and overseas, and its program provides two visa pathways:

  • Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): 800 places
  • Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491): 1,920 places

The ACT manages its migration program through the so-called Canberra Matrix system, which is the ACT`s ranking system.

Minimum scores in the ACT Matrix will remain high (i.e. around 85 points for a 190 nomination while the 491 minimum score required will be lower.)

The demand for ACT nomination far exceeds the annual allocation of nomination places. There is no guarantee that your Matrix score will be ranked, even if you meet the eligibility criteria.

4. Queensland State Nomination Program

The Queensland State Nomination Program 2022-23 has opened for subclass 190 and 491.

This program year is open to applicants living in Queensland and overseas, offering skilled migrants a pathway to permanent residency in Queensland.

Migration Queensland does not have an ROI (Registration of Interest) process, unlike many other states.

Instead, Migration Queensland assesses all eligible EOIs lodged in the SkillSelect system that meets its requirements and eligibility criteria.

Successful candidates will receive an email invitation to lodge a full state nomination with Queensland and will have to submit further required documents where required.

Invitations will go to the highest points per occupation. Migration Queensland may also consider other requirements in cases where there are many EOIs for a particular occupation on the same points – e.g. regional location and years of work experience.

EOIs will remain in the queue based on their original points score.

5. Tasmania Skilled Migration Program

Tasmania has received an interim skilled visa allocation of nomination places for the 2022-23 program year.

Tasmania’s interim allocation includes:

  • Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): 2,000 places
  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491): 1,350 places

The Department of Home Affairs will revisit this allocation after the first quarter of 2022-23 to ensure that it keeps addressing the state’s skill shortages appropriately.

The 2022-23 program opens in August

The Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program will open during August:

Phase 1:

The initial phase will include successful candidates carried over from the 2021-22 year, as well as the selection, invitation, and nomination of candidates in the Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles pathway.

It is advisable for overseas candidates interested in Tasmanian nomination to ensure their SkillSelect EOIs are up-to-date and reflect the profiles published on the Migration Tasmania website.

Furthermore, overseas applicants must have an occupation listed on the Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles list, and overseas applicants can’t register in the Tasmania Gateway without being contacted by Migration Tasmania.

Phase 2:

The second phase will open the program to high-priority ‘Gold Pass’ and ‘Green Pass’ applicants.

Phase 3:

The final phase will open the program to registrations of interest from all eligible candidates.

Tasmania will provide further details regarding each phase of the reopening as the program’s opening progresses.

6. South Australia Skilled and Business Migration Programs

South Australia’s 2022-23 General Skilled Migration program is open.

The South Australian Government has published a revised skilled occupation list, outlining the skills it has to fill through overseas talent and migrants already living and working in the state.

South Australia’s list is one of Australia’s most expansive, with skilled migrants able to seek state nomination from over 500 occupations.

The number of occupations open to overseas migrants has returned to pre-COVID pandemic levels with over 470 occupations this year, up from 380 in 2021-22.

The focus is on highly skilled migrants in in-demand and growing industries and economic sectors

The 2022-23 Skilled Migration will prioritise nominations for skilled migrants:

  • with backgrounds in in-demand industries, such as Health, ITC, Education, Engineering, Agribusiness and Trades, or
  • who can bring their skills to growing sectors such as Hi-Tech/Digital, Health and Life Sciences, Green Energy, Defence, Space and Cyber Security.

Want to stay up to date with immigration news out of Australia? Sign up for our newsletter!

Join our monthly newsletter if you want to stay up to date on Australia’s immigration changes. It’s as simple as clicking here and submitting your email address. We don’t share your details and you can unsubscribe at any stage (but we don’t think you will).

 

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Moving to Australia as a family: 6 Tips for parents

moving to australia as a familyRemember the last time you told your teenager ‘no’? It didn’t necessarily go down well, did it?

Teenagers can be challenging!

Now imagine telling your teen that they’re moving away from everything and everyone they know because your family is moving to Australia. That’ll be much more difficult to deal with than a ‘no’.

Don’t worry, though!

While moving overseas with children is not easy, it’s not Mission: Impossible either. As parents, you can make it a pleasant (even enjoyable!) experience for children of all ages with these six tips:

1. Breaking the news

Don’t wait until it’s time to pack up the house before telling your children you’re moving to Australia! Break the news as soon as you’re confident it’ll happen. Your kids will need time to process and get used to the idea.

Get them on board by explaining the reasons for the move and telling them more about Australia.

Focus on things that would get your children excited. Do they like to swim? Tell them about Australia’s beautiful beaches. Make it real by looking at photos and videos on Instagram and Youtube.

Encourage your children to ask questions, too. Give them honest answers in return. Your children must know they can come to you with their concerns, fears and questions right from the start.

Finally, make it clear that this is an adventure the family is taking on as a team and that you’ll need to work together for a successful and happy move.

2. Continue to communicate

It’s critical to check in with your children throughout the emigration process. Find out how they’re feeling. Your kids are going to experience a range of emotions!

You can keep the conversation casual. Chat with your children on the drive to school. It might also be a good idea to have one-on-one conversations. Children often feel more comfortable when talking to mom or dad alone.

Whatever your children’s emotions, let them get it all out. Your job is to listen and let your kids know you are there for them throughout this journey.

3. Let your kids explore Australia

Your children won’t know what to expect unless you’ve visited Australia before. That could make the prospect of moving Down Under even more daunting!

Introduce them to your soon-to-be-home with online guides, Youtube videos and age-appropriate books. You’ll also find many articles online with facts about Australia specifically for children.

Once you know where in Australia you’ll settle, research the city and neighbourhood together. You can ‘walk’ through areas with Google Street View.

Let your children guide the research by letting them choose the places they’d like to visit after you’ve arrived. Some places to suggest are parks, libraries, museums, zoos, and swimming pools.

Once your children are familiar with the sights and sounds of the city, ask them where they’d like to go first. Set a date for soon after you arrive. That’ll give your kids something to look forward to.

4. Make your children feel involved

You must make children part of the process, especially teenagers. It helps them feel like their feelings and opinions matter and gives them a connection to their new home.

For example, let your children decide how they’d like to decorate their bedroom. You can also let them decide which of their belonging they’d like to pack or leave behind.

Give some input but don’t control the decision-making.

You can get teenagers involved in the bigger decisions. Get their input on the neighbourhoods where they’d like to live, what schools they’d like to attend, and show them houses you’re considering.

You don’t have to let your teens make the final decision on anything, but consulting them on matters that’ll affect them, and taking their feedback on board, will make a huge difference in their attitude towards the move.

5. Make time to say goodbye

Let your children see their friends as often as possible before moving day. Let them often see grannies, grandpas, and other beloved family members.

It’s also essential to let children understand that their friendships and relationships with family aren’t coming to an end. Explain that they can stay in touch and make an effort to do so once you’ve settled in Australia.

Before you go, organise farewells with friends and family. You could host one big party or organise smaller get-togethers that are easier to manage.

Farewells will allow everyone to say goodbye before you leave. It’ll create great memories too! Take lots of photos, frame them, and put them up in your new home.

6. Make the big day exciting

Kick off your family’s adventure on a high note by making the moving day special! Here are some ideas:

  • Go for one last walk through your neighbourhood the night before you leave
  • Prepare a special breakfast on the day and sit down to have it together.
  • Take a family photo in front of your house and keep it to frame later.
  • Let grandparents drive you to the airport to give everyone extra time together.
  • Ask each family member to share what they love most about where you’ve lived and what they’re most excited about your new home on the way to the airport.
  • Pack an activity pack for each child, and hand them to your kids at the airport.

In summary

When you’re moving overseas as a family, open and regular communication with children is critical to address their feelings and concerns. Listen more than you talk!

To get your kids on board and looking forward to what lies ahead, involve them in the process and let them explore their new home online or through books. Giving your children the chance to say goodbye to their friends and family is also essential. Don’t leave without doing so!

The final step to success is making the moving day special. There’ll be no time for tears when everyone is excited about the family’s new adventure.

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Expat Insider 2022: How does Australia compare to the world?

InterNations has released the results of their annual Expat Insider survey – and Australia did well!

The survey quizzed expats on topics ranging from their financial situation to career prospects, and expats in Australia rated the country highly in most categories.

Overall, Australia ranked at the 9th position!

What expats think of Australia

Expats in Australia rated the country highly for offering employment prospects, a rewarding business culture, the multitude of leisure options and great weather, and the ease of settling in.

 

1. Great employment prospects

When it comes to employment prospects, 62% of expats in Australia are happy with the local job market. The global satisfaction rate is much lower at 47%.

Expats are also happy with their work-life balance. That might have a lot to do with Australia’s weekly working hours being less than elsewhere in the world. On average, expats Down Under work an average of 35.9 hours, while the global average is 40.2.

A Dutch expat said about Australia that “there is an emphasis on family and not career, and there is a good understanding of juggling both.”

2. Rewarding business culture

Most expats in Australia feel that the country’s business culture supports flexibility, and according to 65% of expats, it also encourages creativity and thinking outside the box.

What is more, the business culture also supports independent work and flat hierarchies.

Beyond that, 70% of expats feel paid fairly for their work versus 62% globally. Another 70% are happy with their job security, compared to the global average of 59%.

3. Plenty to do and great weather to boot

It should come as no surprise that expats in Australia love the leisure options in the country.

Australia ranked in 9th place for leisure options and snagged the top spot for opportunities for recreational sports! A South African expat said, “there are plenty of team sports for the children to play.”

Expats are also happy with Australia’s climate and weather, which doesn’t come as a surprise. Australia enjoys sunny summers, with mild winter temperatures in most parts of the country.

4. Easy to settle in

Starting over in a new country is hard! Thankfully, when you move to Australia, it’s easy to settle in.

No less than 75% of expats said they find it easy to get used to Australia’s culture, as opposed to 62% globally.

Furthermore, 65% of expats said they feel at home in Australia. It helps that 72% of expats perceive Australians as generally friendly and that 65% of expats have a personal support network.

An Iranian expat said Australia has a calm and relaxed environment, while a British expat reported that “there are no problems here, it is an easy lifestyle.”

The drawbacks? Housing and the cost of living

Any country has its drawbacks; for Australia, these are housing and the cost of living.

Only 50% of expats said it’s easy to find housing, and 61% are unhappy with housing affordability. The latter is much higher than the global average of 43%.

Expats in Australia are also unhappy with the general cost of living, ranking 30th out of 52 countries in the Personal Finance category. In this category, Internations quizzed expats on their satisfaction with their financial situation, the general cost of living, and whether their disposable household income is enough to lead a comfortable life.

However, despite Australia’s poor performance in personal finance, 71% of expats felt that their disposable household income did meet their needs.

How does the Expat Insider survey work?

For the 2022 Expat Insider survey, 11,970 respondents representing 177 nationalities and living in 181 countries or territories worldwide had to evaluate life abroad.

What factors into the ranking?

The overall ranking of each country was determined by the answers of respondents to questions across five categories:

  • Quality of Life: Travel and Transit, Environment and Climate, Leisure Options, Health and Well-being, Safety and Security
  • Ease of Settling: Local Friendliness, Finding Friends, Culture and Welcome
  • Working Abroad: Career Prospects, Salary and Job Security, Work and Leisure, Work Culture and Satisfaction
  • Expat Essentials: Digital Life, Admin Topics, Housing, Language
  • Personal Finance

Expats were also asked to respond to the question, “All things considered, how happy are you with your life abroad in general?”

Who responded to the survey?

The Expat Insider survey breaks down the statistics of respondents as follows:

  • Gender: 48% female, 52% male
  • Relationship status: 55% in a relationship, 45% single
  • Family status: 80% without dependent children abroad, 20% with dependent children abroad
  • Age: 45.9 years on average
  • Level of education: 82% with a university degree (2% with no degree, 8% high school graduate, 8% commercial/technical/vocational training)

What countries were in the top 10?

The top 10 countries overall were:

  1. Mexico (#2 in 2021)
  2. Indonesia (#31 in 201)
  3. Taiwan (#1 in 2021)
  4. Portugal (#5 in 2021)
  5. Spain (#16 in 2021)
  6. UAE (#18 in 2021)
  7. Vietnam (#10 in 2021)
  8. Thailand (#14 in 2021)
  9. Australia (#7 in 2021)
  10. Singapore (#13 in 2021)

Top findings from the top three countries

1. Mexico:

Expats in Mexico are happy with their finances and the ease of settling in. They describe the locals as friendly and find it easy to make friends among locals.

Expats are also happy with Mexico’s culinary variety, dining options, and natural environment, but 36% of expats are unhappy with the local air quality.

Regarding admin matters, 64% of expats found it easy to get a visa to move to Mexico, but 53% struggled with the local bureaucracy.

Overall, 91% of expats are happy with their life in Mexico.

2. Indonesia:

Just like expats in Mexico, those in Indonesia are happy with their personal finances. In fact, 64% said their disposable household income is more than enough to lead a comfortable life.

Indonesia also scored highly on the Expat Essential Index, mainly because housing is easy to find and afford.

Indonesia received its worst results in the Quality of Life Index. Expats are unhappy with the quality of medical care in Indonesia, the availability of green goods and services, and the infrastructure for cars.

Overall, 91% of expats are happy with their life in Indonesia.

3. Taiwan:

Taiwan ranks best in the Quality of Life Index. Expats find healthcare affordable and widely available, and they find Taiwan safe.

Taiwan also scores well for the ease of settling in and personal finances. In fact, 70% are satisfied with their financial situation.

When it comes to work, 85% of expats in Indonesia feel fairly paid for their work. However, expats are unhappy with the local business culture’s lack of flexibility, creativity, and flat hierarchies.

Overall, 73% of expats are happy with their life in Taiwan.

Want to read the complete Expat Insider survey?

If you want to know more about Australia’s performance on the 2022 survey, click here to download it from InterNation’s website.

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10 Best universities in Australia (2023)

best universities in australia

best universities in australia

The Australian National University ranks number 30 on the 2023 QS World University Rankings.

Do you know how many universities were included in the ranking? Just over 1,400!

That means the Australian National University is in the top 2% of universities globally.

Here’s more about Australia’s best university and the nine other universities that made up Australia’s top 10 in the QS rankings:

1. Australian National University (ANU): Canberra

  • Ranking: #30
  • Undergraduate Programs: 574
  • Postgraduate Programs: 146

The Australian National University (ANU) is consistently Australia’s highest-ranking university. The university is renowned for its exceptional teaching, research, and small classes.

More about the Australian National University (ANU)

  • ANU has seven academic colleges that house several schools and research centres that specialise in a range of disciplines:
    • Arts and Social Sciences
    • Asia and the Pacific
    • Business and Economics
    • Engineering and Computer science
    • Health and Medicine
    • Law
    • Science
  • Australia’s top university has more Nobel Laureates among staff and alumni than any other university in the country.
  • ANU is in Canberra, but the university also has other campuses in the ACT, New South Wales and the Northern Territory that support the university’s teaching, learning and research.
  • Some examples of ANU’s research programs include:
    • Environment and Sustainability: Biodiversity, climate change, earth and environmental sciences, energy alternatives, and resource and environmental management
    • Health and Medicine: Combating diseases and conditions, health policy, mental health and cognition, and population health
    • Future Security: Food security, resilience and adaptation, secure networks, security policy, and strategy and defence
    • See the complete list of programs on ANU’s website
  • ANU has 150 cultural, social, and educational clubs, including a chess society, cooking, dance and debating clubs, a science revue and a sign language collective.

2. University of Melbourne: Melbourne

  • Ranking: #33
  • Undergraduate Programs: 207
  • Postgraduate Programs: 204

The University of Melbourne educates around 65,000 students, including 30,000 international students from over 130 countries worldwide.

More about the University of Melbourne

  • The University of Melbourne is Australia’s leading research university and offers degrees in:
    • Arts
    • Biomedicine
    • Commerce
    • Design
    • Fine Arts
    • Music
    • Science
    • Agriculture
    • Oral Health
  • The University of Melbourne’s curriculum includes ‘Breadth Study’, which allows you to go beyond your study area. You could, for example, learn a new language or how to play an instrument.
  • Student life at the University of Melbourne includes various cultural activities, over 200 clubs and societies, and superb sports facilities.

3. University of Sydney: Sydney

  • Ranking: #41
  • Undergraduate Programs: 95
  • Postgraduate Programs: 228

The University of Sydney prides itself on its excellence in research and teaching and offers the broadest range of academic programs in Australia.

More about the University of Sydney

4. University of New South Wales (UNSW): Sydney

  • Ranking: #45
  • Undergraduate Programs: 116
  • Postgraduate Programs: 127

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) educates over 60,000 students from 130 countries and prides itself on being known for “innovative, pioneering research and high-quality education with a global impact”.

More about the University of New South Wales:

  • UNSW has seven faculties:
    • Arts, Design and Architecture
    • Business
    • Engineering
    • Law and Justice
    • Medicine and Health
    • Science
    • UNSW Canberra
  • The university’s main campus is in Kensington, Sydney, with two more campuses in the city and a campus in Canberra.
  • UNSW ranks third in Australia and 27th in the world for graduate employability
  • The university fosters a culture of innovation and is “world leaders in solar power, sustainable materials and quantum computing.”

5. University of Queensland (UQ): Brisbane

  • Ranking: #50
  • Undergraduate Programs: 116
  • Postgraduate Programs: 209

The University of Queensland is known for “excellence in teaching, learning and research”.

It’s not just empty words!

In 2021, UQ ranked in the top 50 in the U.S. News Best Global Universities Ranking and the Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities, and in the top 100 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities and the Times Higher Education World Rankings.

More about the University of Queensland:

6. Monash University: Melbourne

  • Ranking: #57
  • Undergraduate Programs: 127
  • Postgraduate Programs: 214

Monash was founded in 1958. In the 64 years since then, Monash has grown from a single campus to a world-renowned university with a presence on four continents.

More about Monash University:

  • Monash has three international teaching locations, six campuses, and more than 100 partner universities
  • The university has over 150 active fields of research in areas as diverse as drug development and domestic violence, and more than 4,700 Higher Degree by Research students
  • Monash has 10 faculties offering numerous study areas:
    • Art, Design and Architecture
    • Arts
    • Business
    • Education
    • Engineering
    • Information technology
    • Law
    • Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
    • Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
    • Science
  • Monash offers students the opportunity to start their degree in Australia and continue it at any of their 100 international partner institutions.

7. University of Western Australia (UWA): Perth

  • Ranking: #90

The University of Western Australia is not only one of the world’s top universities but also a massive part of Perth’s cultural scene. The UWA is the founder of the Perth Festival, and its campus is home to several galleries, museums, and theatres.

More about the University of Western Australia:

  • The University of Western Australia has over 25,000 students, including more than 4,000 international students
  • UWA achieved five stars in the Good Universities Guide 2021 for Teaching Quality, Student Demand, and Student:Teacher Ratio.
  • The university has 22 schools and 12 study areas:
    • Agricultural, Environmental and Biological Sciences
    • Architecture, Design and Planning
    • Business and Commerce
    • Data and Computer Science
    • Education
    • Engineering
    • Health and Biomedical Science
    • Humanities and Social Sciences
    • Law
    • Music and Fine Arts
    • Physical Sciences and Mathematics
    • Psychology
  • The university also has 39 research centres and institutes and published 5,901 research publications.
  • UWA is the best university in Australia for on-campus events and activities, according to the International Student Barometer Survey. The university has:
    • State-of-the-art gym and sports facilities and equipment
    • Over 160 clubs and societies
    • Australia’s most active Student Guild
    • Numerous campus cafés, plus a grocery store, pharmacy, ATM, and more

8. University of Adelaide: Adelaide

  • Ranking: #109
  • Undergraduate Programs: 360
  • Postgraduate Programs: 198

The University of Adelaide prides itself on being a university with world-class degrees “infused with cutting edge research and technology that encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and communication.

It’s not all talk, either! The University of Adelaide has produced 109 Rhode Scholars, 5 Nobel Laureates, and 130 Fulbrights Scholars.

More about the University of Adelaide:

  • The University of Adelaide has over 23,000 students from more than 100 countries, including China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia.
  • The University has three faculties, each with a number of schools and disciplines:
    • Arts, Business, Law and Economics
    • Health and Medical Sciences
    • Sciences, Engineering and Technology
  • Researchers at the University of Adelaide have contributed to game-changing inventions throughout history. Today, the research areas at the university include:
    • Agriculture
    • Food and Wine
    • Creativity and Culture
    • Defence
    • Cyber and Space
    • Energy, Mining, and Resources
    • Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change
    • Health and Biotech
    • Societal Wellbeing
    • COVID-19
  • Most of the university’s research is rated as ‘Above or Well Above Standard’ by the Australian Research Council’s Excellence in Research Australia program.
  • The university is recognised in South Australia as a significant contributor to the state’s health, wealth, and cultural life.

9. University of Technology Sydney (UTS): Haymarket

  • Ranking: #137
  • Undergraduate Programs: 184
  • Postgraduate Programs: 124

The University of Technology Sydney is a public university of technology, part of the Australian Technology Network (ATN) of universities. Its purpose is to ‘advance knowledge and learning through research-inspired teaching, research with impact and partnerships with industry, the professions and community.

More about the University of Technology Sydney:

  • The University of Technology Sydney offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses across 13 course areas:
    • Analytics and Data Science
    • Business
    • Communication
    • Design, Architecture and Building
    • Education
    • Engineering
    • Health
    • Health (GEM)
    • Information Technology
    • International Studies and Social Sciences
    • Law
    • Science and Mathematics
    • Transdisciplinary Innovation
  • UTS has exchange agreements with 185 universities worldwide so that UTS students can study at any of these universities during their degrees.
  • The university’s research centres are world-class, and its research focuses on six areas:
    • Health
    • Future Industries
    • Sustainability
    • Infrastructure
    • Communities
    • Transdisciplinary innovation

10. University of Wollongong: Wollongong

  • Ranking: #185
  • Undergraduate Programs: 458
  • Postgraduate Programs: 158

The University of Wollongong has 10 campuses and is one of the 20 best modern universities in the world.

More about the University of Wollongong:

  • UOW has four faculties offering a wide range of study areas:
    • Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities: Communication and Media; Creative and Performing Arts; Education; Geography; Humanities and Human Inquiry; International Studies; Liberal Arts; Literature and Language; Psychology and Human Behaviour; Social Sciences and Advocacy
    • Business and Law: Accounting, Finance and Economics; Business, Marketing and Management; Law
    • Engineering and Information Sciences: Engineering, Computer Science and Information Technology; Mathematics and Statistics; Physics
    • Science, Medicine, and Health: Environmental and Biological Sciences; Chemistry; Health; Medical Science; Nursing; Science
  • Aside from its Australian campus, Wollongong also has campuses in the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. UOW also has a presence in China and Singapore and established partnerships with numerous international education institutions.
  • UOW has global sports programs that invite promising talent to Wollongong. These individuals benefit from professional coaching while gaining an education at one of Australia’s best universities.
  • The university has world-class sports facilities and more than 60 sporting teams, from water polo to rugby.
  • UOW has eight research institutes and facilities solving some of the world’s biggest challenges:
    • The Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS)
    • Molecular Horizons
    • Australian Health Services Research Institute (AHSRI)
    • Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI)
    • Early Start
    • Smart Infrastructure
    • Sustainable Buildings Research Centre
    • Global Challenges Program

Choose Australia for an excellent education!

It’s evident from the 2023 QS World University Rankings that Australia is a great place to study.

Narrow down at which university you’d like to study by choosing a course, considering the activities you’re interested in, and deciding where in Australia you’d like to live.

It’s safe to say that you can’t go wrong with so many great universities – no matter where you choose to study!

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FAQs: Immigration to Australia

immigration to australia

immigration to australia

Do you have questions about immigration to Australia? We bet you do! That’s why we’ve decided to answer the questions we often get from our clients.

Go ahead – bookmark this page immediately. Then start reading!

1. Can anyone immigrate to Australia?

No, it is not anyone who can move to Australia. You must be eligible for an Australian visa to immigrate to Down Under.

2. What are the different types of visas for Australia?

Australia offers visas that enable migrants to do the following:

3. Can a 50-year-old immigrate to Australia?

Yes, Australia has visa options for people 50 or older:

4. What do I do if I want to work in Australia?

To work in Australia, you must qualify and successfully apply for one of Australia’s work visas. You can also work in Australia as the spouse, partner, or fiancé of an Australian or eligible New Zealander.

5. What skills does Australia need?

Australia needs skilled workers in hundreds of occupations in various fields ranging from education to health. These occupations appear on Australia’s skilled occupation lists, of which there are four:

  • Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
  • Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)
  • Regional Occupation List (ROL)
  • Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)

You can speak with our licensed advisor to find out if your occupation is on a skilled occupation list and if you qualify for a work visa.

6. Can I move to Australia as a tiler/nurse/architect/etc.?

Your ability to immigrate to Australia depends not only on your occupation – even if that occupation is on a skilled occupation list.

You’ll also have to meet Australia’s other immigration and work visa requirements. That’s why it’s critical to do an eligibility assessment to see if you can immigrate to Australia to live and work there.

7. How do I start a business in Australia?

As a foreigner hoping to immigrate to Australia as an entrepreneur, you must qualify for a Business Innovation Stream (Provisional) visa (subclass 188).

The subclass 188 visa is a pathway to permanent residence. If you meet the requirements, you could go on to apply for PR through the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888).

Everything else you need to know, from how to choose a business structure to the taxes you have to register for, can be found in this blog post.

8. What’s the first step if I want to immigrate to Australia?

The first step is always an eligibility assessment to see if you qualify to live in Australia. The assessment will show if you’re eligible for a visa and will also detail the next steps.

While there are free online assessments available, it’s wise to get a licensed advisor to do your assessment. An advisor that’s licensed and registered with MARA is up to date on all immigration regulations and accountable for the advice they give.

9. What are the costs to consider when moving to Australia?

There are various costs to consider. These include but are not necessarily limited to:

  • Visa application fees
  • Immigration advisor fees if you work with an advisor
  • Flights to Australia
  • Relocation costs, including your household goods and pets

You must also consider these costs:

  • Australia’s cost of living
  • Housing – compare renting vs buying a home
  • School fees if you have children
  • Banking costs
  • Healthcare if you don’t qualify for Medicare
  • Buying a car if you’re not shipping yours

10. How long will it take to process my application?

The answer to this question depends on the visa you’re applying for. External factors such as the number of applications in the system might also affect your application.

Our advisors will be able to give you time estimates once it’s clear for which visa you qualify.

11. Can my parents immigrate to Australia?

Yes, your parents are allowed to join you in Australia subject to them meeting the immigration requirements. Australia’s parent visa options are:

Please be aware that the processing times of some of these visas are extraordinarily long.

12. Can I take my pets?

You’ll be glad to know that you are allowed to take your furry friends to Australia. However, a short list of cats and dogs are unfortunately not allowed into Australia.

Those dogs and cats that can enter Australia must have the following:

  • Pet import permit
  • Microchip
  • Compulsory treatments and blood tests before departing for Australia
  • Rabies vaccination within one year of entering Australia – other vaccinations may also be necessary

You can read more about taking your pets to Australia on our blog.

13. Can a medical condition stop me from immigrating to Australia?

Yes, medical conditions could stop you from immigrating to Australia. If you’re concerned about a medical condition, it’s best to get advice from our licensed advisor.

14. Can I immigrate to Australia with a criminal record?

You must be of good character to live in Australia and remain of good character. Unfortunately, you might not be able to immigrate to Australia if any of the below applies to you:

  • You have a substantial criminal record.
  • Your past and present criminal or general conduct show that you are not of good character.
  • There is a risk that while you are in Australia, you would:
    • engage in criminal conduct;
    • harass, molest, intimidate or stalk another person;
    • vilify a segment of the Australian community;
    • incite discord in the Australian community or a part of it; or
    • be a danger to the Australian community or a part of it.
  • You have been convicted, found guilty or had a charge proven for one or more sexually-based offences involving a child.

You can get all the visa character requirements on the Department of Home Affairs website.

15. How long before I can get Australian citizenship?

Permanent residents are eligible for Australian citizenship after living in the country for four years. The main requirements are that you have been:

  • Living in Australia on a valid visa for the past four years (at the time of your application).
  • A permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen for the past 12 months.
  • Away from Australia for no more than 12 months in total in the past four years, including no more than 90 days in total in the past 12 months.

You can read more about Australia’s citizenship requirements on the Home Affairs website.

Didn’t see your burning questions about immigration to Australia?

Our blog is the perfect place to get answers to your questions. It covers various topics related to immigration to Australia. Alternatively, book a consultation call to speak directly with our licensed advisor.

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