Living in Australia: 7 Tips to help you settle in
The first few months of living in Australia is guaranteed to be a roller-coaster ride. You’ll start a new job and set up a house. At the same time, get used to everything that’s new. And it might be a lot!
Fortunately, there are ways to make the settling-in period easier.
For starters, you’ll need to acknowledge that it’s going to be tough. After that it gets easier.
1. Accept that the first few months will be hard
You’re living in Australia. You are thousands of miles away from everything that’s familiar.
It’s going to be tough. Perhaps tougher than you thought.
Get through the hardest patches by cutting yourself some slack. It’s okay to feel scared, isolated, disappointed or homesick. Many expats, if not most, feel the same way in the first few months!
Keep on talking too – to your partner, about how you feel. Sit down for regular chats with your kids also. They might not speak up about their feelings without a bit of a nudge.
2. Get connected as quickly as possible
We’re talking cell phones and internet here. The quicker you’re set up on both, the quicker you’ll be able to connect with friends and family back home again. It’ll be just what you need to get through the tougher moments.
3. Establish a routine
Routine makes most of us feel safe. You know what to expect and when to expect it. This feeling could help your mental state massively while you’re trying to deal with and adjust to a million new things.
Establish routine by drawing up a weekly schedule for the family. Add work, activities, even grocery store trips.
Then put the schedule on the fridge where everyone can see it. You’ll feel much more in control of your situation in no time.
4. Explore your new home
The best way to get to you know your new home is by exploring it.
Take a walk or do a sightseeing tour. Sit down at a local restaurant and talk to locals. Get on the public transport system. Find out about festivals, sports days…anything that’ll introduce you to the local way of living and doing.
The sooner you get to know your city, the sooner it’ll start feeling like home.
5. Make new friends with locals as well as other expats
Making friends is about much more than establishing a social circle. It’s about connecting with locals who can give you advice, information and support.
Here are a couple of ideas if you need them:
- Introduce yourself to neighbours, colleagues and other expats as soon as possible.
- Get back into a hobby or take up a new one and join a hobby group.
- Join a sports club if you’re sporty.
- Shop at your local grocer, go to the pub on the corner, have a breakfast at a local eatery and strike up conversations.
- Look for Meetup groups in your areas.
- Join an expat club or group.
6. Make time to relax
The first few months of living in Australia won’t only be hard, it’ll be stressful too. Don’t let it get to you!
Make time in that schedule you created for downtime too. It could be a massage, going for run, painting, a day out with the kids – whatever works for you.
7. Deal with homesickness
You could do the best job possible at adjusting to your new life, but still get homesick. It usually happens to most expats at some stage. It’s a normal part of adjusting to life overseas.
Keep your heart and head happy by focusing on the positives of living in Australia. And believe that your homesickness will get better – because it will.
Don’t forget that you can always pick up the phone or switch on Skype for a chat when you’re missing home too much.
A final note on settling into living in Australia
Remember why you made the move. You did it for a reason. Just focus on getting connected, exploring, setting up a routine and making new friends. You’ll be a fully-fledged, happy Australian before you know it.
- Published in Immigration Advice, Our latest posts, Your family and Australia
Introducing the Temporary Sponsored Parent visa for Australia
In November of this year, the Australian government will officially introduce the temporary sponsored parent visa.
This new visa will allow Australian citizens and permanent residents, as well as eligible New Zealanders, to bring their parents to Australia to live with them for up to five years at a time.
Understandably Australians has met this announcement with a considerable amount of enthusiasm.
Anyone who’s emigrated, or who are about to emigrate, will tell you that leaving parents behind is one of the hardest things to do when emigrating, if not the hardest.
Concerns around existing parent visas prompted the new visa
Australia currently has six parent visas under the Family category. The costs associated with these visas are enormous! You can expect to pay up to AU$32900 for your visa. This price tag is a massive stumbling block for the average person trying to move to Australia.
The other concern hopeful immigrants have is that parent visas for Austalia take years to finalise. In some instances as long as 30 years!
Don’t believe us? See for yourself – it’s true for the parent visa, aged parent visa and subclasses 864 and 143 of the contributory parent visa.
This means even when the visa is more affordable, the waiting times make moving to Australia little more than a pipe dream.
The temporary sponsored parent visa now puts living in Australia within reach for a much greater number of parents
As mentioned earlier, the temporary sponsored parent visa will allow the parents of Australians to join their children for a period of up to five years at a time.
The five year visa will come at a cost of AU$10 000, while a three year visa will cost AU$5000. This AU$5000 is significantly less than any of the current parent visas.
There has been no announcement yet on how long the processing time for the temporary sponsored parent visa will be. However, taking into consideration that Australian immigration wants to address concerns around timelines, it is most likely safe to assume that applicants won’t have to wait years on an outcome.
Here are answers to five of the most frequently asked questions on the new visa
There has been a lot of questions from Australians and their parents already on the new temporary sponsored visa. Here are five of the most frequently asked plus their answers:
Who is eligible to apply?
- Parents (biological or adoptive) and step-parents of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens.
- Step-parents can only apply if they are still in a married/de facto relationship with a biological parent of the sponsoring Australian child.
- Only one set of parents per household can be sponsored at a time.
What requirements must a parent meet to qualify for the visa?
Parents must meet a number of requirements, including:
- Their child must be approved as a sponsor.
- Meeting the identity, health and character requirements.
- Not having outstanding public health debt in Australia.
Parents will also be required to hold, and maintain, health insurance from an Australian provider valid for their intended period of stay in Australia.
What requirements must a sponsor (the child) meet?
The sponsor for a temporary parent visa must meet a number of requirements in order for their sponsorship to be approved. These will include that the sponsor must:
- Be a biological, adoptive or step-child of the parent.
- Provide valid evidence of their identity.
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Be 18 years or older.
- Have lived in Australia for at least four years.
- Meet a household income requirement.
- Meet character requirements.
- Accept legal liability for any outstanding public health debt their sponsored parent accrues. This requirement is in place to reduce the cost to the Australian government of health services for temporary parent migrants.
More details will be announced closer to the introduction in November 2017
The Australian government still has to release some details around the temporary sponsored parent visa, such as the sponsorship requirements and the application process. These details are expected much closer to the November introduction date.
The easiest way to stay in the loop is to follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn for updates.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact us on +27 (0) 21 202 8200. Our advisers will be happy to help you understand this new visa better.
- Published in News, Our latest posts, Your family and Australia
Tips for immigrants when applying for a mortgage in Australia
The Land Down Under is a top destination for immigrants across the world. With a stunning natural beauty, a favourable climate, a strong and growing economy, a world-class education system, and a multicultural society, it is no wonder so many are attracted to work, study, or live in Australia.
Buying a new home in Australia
The local government has introduced policies to make it easier for immigrants to settle into life in Australia. And with housing being a basic need for newcomers, the government has several programmes for making the house buying process an easier experience.
Real estate is booming in Australia and the property available is largely varied. However, take note that apartments in the city can be much more expensive than double storey homes in the outer suburbs. This is mainly due to the current housing shortage, particularly in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.
Eligibility criteria when applying for a mortgage in Australia as an immigrant
Funds for a new home must be a major part of your financial planning when relocating. Banks and lenders in Australia provide loans for immigrants and may even have special mortgage products or ‘non-resident loans’. However, you should take note that because immigrants generally don’t have credit files yet, banks and lenders will usually use different criteria for eligibility. This may include the following:
- Visa status – Your visa type is a major factor in determining the amount you can borrow and repayment schemes.
- Employment – It is beneficial to have guaranteed employment in Australia before applying for a mortgage. Your local and overseas work history may also be included in the screening process.
- Ability to repay – This includes your minimum income, living expenses, and repayment of other current debts.
- Assets – They may assess your assets and liabilities and compare these with your age and income.
- Security – They may assess the value and saleability of the property (usually the one you are buying) that you are giving as security for your loan.
Since they do not have access to your credit history in your country of origin, some banks and lenders may also ask for evidence of overseas bank accounts and liabilities to see how you manage your money. Some may also require you to have an account with a bank in Australia.
Your borrowing power as an immigrant
It used to be that almost all temporary visa holders in Australia could borrow up to 95% of the property value. However, due to recent changes to lending policies and stricter requirements, this now applies only to:
- Those with a spousal visa;
- Those waiting for permanent residency;
- New Zealand citizens living in Australia.
According to Migration Alliance, borrowing power for temporary residents has been reduced to 60-70% of property value. There are some lenders who allow you to borrow up to 80-90% if you are financially stable and have employment security.
Additional helpful tips
- There are some differences in applying for home loans in Australia compared to other countries. Banks may be more conservative but more disorganised. They may require more documents and take longer in processing your mortgage application.
- If you have the resources, work with experts in Australian immigration, real estate, mortgage brokerage, and other professionals who can make your relocating and house buying experience simpler and faster.
- Pay off any existing debts and be in a good financial position to have better chances of getting a more attractive and faster home loan offer.
- Do your research before immigrating so you already know your financing and housing options in Australia, as well as the necessary documents you have to prepare and bring with you.
- Published in Life in Australia, Our latest posts
Discover all the steps in the Skilled Nomination visa (subclass 190) application process here
There are five steps in the Skilled Nomination visa (subclass 190) application. It is impossible to lodge your final application without completing each step – and you have to stick to the order of the process.
Our clients often come to us not knowing this or with incorrect information in hand. Either of these situations could lead to visa applications with errors, failed applications, huge financial losses and disappointment.
The only way to protect yourself from this is to know what the steps in the skilled nomination visa application process are (and to work with a registered migration agent).
Today we’ll not only tell you what each step is, but also share what should happen at each step.
Let’s get to it. The steps in order are:
1. A comprehensive assessment
Your skilled nomination visa (subclass 190) application must start with a skilled migration assessment, also known as a points test.
This is because Australia operates on a points system for immigration, which means anyone hoping to emigrate to Australia must score above a certain points threshold to be eligible to do so.
Anyone who doesn’t manage to meet the points requirements will unfortunately not be able to emigrate to Australia.
You can probably tell why the assessment is the first step? That’s right. If you don’t know your points score there is no way of knowing whether or not you should go ahead with your visa application.
But what happens if you do lodge an application without getting a proper assessment done?
The unfortunate truth is that the chances of getting a rejected outcome increase exponentially. This would inevitably mean that you pinned your hopes on something that was not possible from the start and spent your life savings on a dream that is not attainable.
Who can do an assessment for you?
Our advice is to always enlist the services of a licensed immigration agent if you are seeking professional help:
- Only licensed immigration agents (or those who are exempt) are governed.
- Only licensed immigration agents can be held accountable by MARA (Migration Agents Registration Authority), the recognised professional body in Australia.
2. Expression of Interest
You’ve completed an assessment with an immigration agent and you meet the Australian points requirement. Now it is time to submit your Expression of Interest.
The Expression of Interest is how you show your interest in applying for a skilled nomination visa. It is an online form in SkillSelect and it asks a series of questions about your skills. For instance, you’ll answer questions about your work experience and English competency. You do not submit any supporting documents at this stage.
The purpose of the EOI is to determine your eligibility for the specific visa you’re interested in. For example, the nomination visas under the Queensland or Tasmanian Programmes.
Employees as well as state and territory government agencies in regions you’ve indicated an interest in will be able to access your EOI.
3. EOIs are reviewed and applicants selected
This is when states and territories will consider all EOIs and select the skilled workers they wish to nominate.
4. Invitation to apply
Should you be selected and you have submitted a points score in excess of the required pass mark, you will receive an invitation to apply for a visa from the SkillSelect system.
Your invitation to apply will stipulate and share the following with you:
- The subclass under which you are being invited to apply.
- The time frame within which you have to make your application.
- Any additional information that you should include with your application, if applicable.
What happens if you do not get an invitation to apply?
Your EOI will stay in the SkillSelect for a maximum of two years should you not get an invite.
However, it is a fact that the number of people who want to migrate to Australia are higher than the number of available places. Unfortunately this means some EOIs won’t get an invitation to apply.
5. Submit your visa application
Once you’ve received your invitation to apply, you can start preparing your visa application. Now is when you’d submit all the supporting documentation necessary for your application, as listed in the document requirements for the visa you’re applying for.
Once everything is in order, you can submit your application.
Don’t forget what the most important part of the Skilled Nomination visa (subclass 190) application process is!
It is of course the assessment. Getting a comprehensive assessment done right at the start is the only way to know if you qualify to live and work in Australia.
Remember too that you should get your assessment done by a licensed immigration agent. It’s the best way to get an accurate score and the right advice for your emigration journey.
- Published in Immigration Advice, Our latest posts, Working in Australia
The latest changes in Australian immigration: Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187)
Earlier this month, on 1 July 2017, the latest changes in Australian immigration came into effect.
We’ve previously written about the abolishment of the 457 visa so today we wanted to share the new legislation around two of the other most-affected visa categories:
- The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)
- The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187)
Please note that the changes made to these visas were the same as both fall under the Employer Sponsored category. The affected areas are:
- English language requirements
- Skill exemption
- Age
- Genuine need
- The nominee
English language requirements
- Applications for ENS and RSMS made under the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream lodged on or after 1 July 2017 will require, at a minimum, an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or equivalent test score of 6 in each component to prove competent English.
- The English language skills exemption have been removed for those who have nominated earnings of at least equivalent to the current Australian Taxation Office top individual income tax rate of AUD 180 001. However, this salary-based exemption will continue to apply to applications lodged before 1 July 2017 and still under consideration.
Skill exemption
The skills assessment exemption for applications made under the Direct Entry (DE) stream for both ENS and RSMS has been removed for those who have nominated earnings at least equivalent to the current Australia Taxation Office top individual income tax rate of AUD180 001.
However, as is the case with the English language skills exemption, this salary-based exemption will still apply to applications lodged before 1 July 2107 and still under consideration.
Age
- Applicants under the ENS and RSMS Direct Entry (DE) stream must be under the age of 45 (as of 1 July 2017). This applies to visa applications lodged on or after 1 July 2017. Please ask your agent about age exemptions.
- The age requirement for the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream remains the same (50 years old) until 1 March 2018 when the age limit will become 45 years old.
Genuine need
All ENS and RSMS TRT stream and DE stream nominations must now provide evidence of ‘genuine need’ for the applicant to work in the nominated position.
Nominee
ENS and RSMS DE nominations must now include information about the identity of the nominee.
Need clarification on these latest changes in Australian immigration?
Then don’t hesitate to call us to chat to one our agents to get clarification. You can reach us at +27 (0) 21 202 8200 or send an email.
Our advise is to contact us sooner rather than later so that you can start your emigration process as soon as possible – and before changes are made that could negatively affect your chances of moving to Australia.
- Published in News, Our latest posts, Working in Australia
Skilled nomination applications for ICT occupations in Victoria reopen on 1 July 2017
Skilled nomination applications for ICT occupations in Victoria were temporarily closed in 2016 due to the large volume of applications received.
Originally this temporary hold was going to be lifted on 30 March 2017 but it was extended until 30 June 2017.
The state stuck to this timeline and as such ICT applications under the Victorian Skilled and Business Migration Program reopens on Saturday, 1 July 2017.
Here’s how you now have to apply
The Victorian Government anticipate that the number of applications will again be high, so the state has amended the application process for ICT occupations.
On their website, the Government say the changes were made to “reduce processing times and hopefully improve your experience with our program.”
The new application process works as follows:
- Ensure that you meet the Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s (DIBP) Skilled Nominated visa (190) requirements as well as Victoria’s nomination requirements.
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and indicate your interest for Victorian nomination.
- IF you are selected for nomination – submit an online application for nomination within 14 days of receiving your invitation to apply.
- IF you are nominated – receive a SkillSelect invitation.
- Submit your visa application within 60 days.
There are certain exemptions to this process, so please speak to your immigration agent to find out more about these and how you may be affected.
How Intergate can help with applications for ICT occupations in Victoria
If you are interested in working in ICT in Victoria, our team can assess you to see if you meet the requirements. If you do, our advisor will assist you along the rest of the application process.
- Published in News, Our latest posts, Working in Australia
South African government to keep track of South Africans spending more than 3 months abroad
A new piece of legislation that has appeared in the South African Department of Home Affairs’s White Paper on International Migration has ruffled feathers this week.
Government to keep track of certain South Africans expats
This piece of legislation – i.e. it is not law yet – states that South African citizens who plan to be out of the country for longer than three months will soon be compelled to register with the government. The purpose of this is keeping track of South Africans abroad and curbing the high emigration rate.
The White Paper also detailed South Africa’s main emigration and immigration targets to be reached by 2063; how South Africa plans to deal with the flood of immigrants from neighbouring African countries; and policies that would include the free movement of people within the SADC.
It is the first time emigration control has appeared in Home Affairs policy and according to reports, it is directly attributed to the high number of skilled workers and taxes leaving South Africa.
Here’s what you should do about this…
“If you are thinking of emigrating, now might be the time to start”, says Stuart James, Intergate Emigration Director.
The new piece of legislation might not make emigration impossible, but it could very well complicate the process for you and your family.
Starting is simple – all you have to do is book a consultation call with us so that we can determine if you qualify to live in Australia.
- Published in Immigration to Australia, News
MUST READ – 457 visa abolished!
On 18 April 2017, the Prime Minister of Australia, Hon Malcolm Turnbull, and the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Hon Peter Dutton, jointly announced that the Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) will be abolished and replaced with the completely new Temporary Skilled Shortage (TSS) visa. This new visa will support businesses in addressing genuine skill shortages.
Here are more details about this change:
What has already changed?
The abolishment of the 457 visa is in effect as of 19 April 2017. This means you cannot lodge a 457 visa application any longer.
Has changes been made to the approved occupation list?
The first phase of a number of intended changes to the approved occupation list for the subclass 457 visa has already been implemented, with amendments made to the existing legislative instrument that specifies approved occupations for the programme.
The instrument referred to above has two schedules and lists the occupations that are approved for the purposes of the subclass 457 visa.
As of 19 April, the lists contained in these schedules have been renamed:
- The Skilled Occupation List (SOL) is now known as the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
- The Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List (CSOL) is now known as the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).
In addition, some significant changes have been made to the occupations eligible for temporary and permanent skilled migration.
From a subclass 457 visa perspective, this includes:
- 216 occupations removed from the list of eligible occupations; and
- Caveats added to 59 other occupations.
What still has to change?
As mentioned earlier, these changes forms the first phase of a number of intended changes. The next phase of changes will be implemented on 1 July 2017.
These changes include:
- Possible further adjustments to eligible occupation lists.
- An expansion of client cohorts for whom mandatory skills assessments are required.
- Minor changes to the training benchmarks for subclass 457 sponsors.
- The subclass 457 programme will no longer be excluded from standard policy around penal perks – with police certificates required to be provided from countries a visa applicant has lived in as per current policy for other visa subclasses.
How does this all affect you?
The degree to which you’re affected will depend on where you are in your migration. It’s best to contact us so we can speak to you about your options going forward.
If you have not started your application, it would unfortunately mean that the 457 visa is no longer an option for you.
Either way, keep up with developments following us on Facebook or LinkedIn. We will share updates as and when announcements from Australia happen.
- Published in Immigration to Australia, News
The 4 most popular cities in Australia for foreigners: Which one is for you?
You can find people from all over the world in just about every town and city in Australia. Look at the settlement patterns closely and you’ll see a list of four most popular cities in Australia for foreigners form very quickly. These are the cities expats flock to and they are:
- Sydney;
- Melbourne;
- Perth; and
- Adelaide
But how do you know which of these four cities is the best fit for you? Could you ever know without actually visiting each city?
Well, you might never know 100% without spending time in each city, but if you research a couple of things, you will definitely get a much better idea of which city you’ll adapt to most easily.
Here’s the good news – we’ve done the legwork for you.
We’ve looked at a couple of basic but important factors, compiled a list and we share this list below. All you have to do is read and compare.
For each city, we’ve looked at:
- What makes the city popular – The unique things about the city that attracts expats.
- The lifestyle – How do the people in the city live?
- How to get around – The public transport options that are available.
- Accommodation – Who lives where and the affordability of housing; and
- Living costs – The average cost of 14 items in each city.
Let’s get to our comparison of the four most popular cities in Australia for foreigners…
Sydney
Sydney attracts more immigrants than any other city. This can certainly be prescribed to the dynamic atmosphere and balmy weather of this multicultural city.
Sydney is also known for its vibrant cultural scene and is considered to be one of Australia’s most prominent business hubs.
While some might say Sydney is not the best city for families, many foreigners with children have chosen Sydney and are happy with their new home.
1. Lifestyle
If Sydney’s lifestyle can be described in one word it’ll be ‘laid back’, with many Sydney residents pursuing outdoor activities.
Sydney is also known for providing working professionals with an attractive work-life balance. Australian employees get at least four weeks of paid leave each year, general health benefits and contributions to superannuation.
2. Accommodation
Sydney’s western suburbs are popular with families because you can secure larger properties at good prices. The eastern suburbs and the foreshore of the harbour are the most expensive, followed by the picturesque northern beach suburbs. Students prefer apartment living and often choose Sydney’s inner suburbs.
3. Getting around
Sydney has an extensive public transport, consisting of trains, buses, ferries, light rail trains, trams and taxis. Thanks to this varied public transport system many expats living in or close to the city get by without a private vehicle. Of course the further away you move from the city, the more likely you’ll be to invest in a car, as owning one would make getting around a lot easier.
4. Living costs
Let’s look at some basic costs:
Food
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district: AU$16
- 1L whole fat milk: AU$1.36
- 500g local cheese: AU$11
- Bread for two people for one day: AU$2.70
- 500ml domestic beer in the supermarket: AU$5.13
Housing
- Monthly rent for furnished accommodation (85m²) in EXPENSIVE area: AU$3,713
- Monthly rent for furnished accommodation (85m²) in NORMAL area: AU$2,738
- 1-month utilities for two people in 85m² flat: AU$273
Transportation
- 1L of gas: AU$1.43
- Monthly ticket public transport: AU$165
Healthcare
- Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes): AU$76
Entertainment
- Basic dinner out for 2 in a neighbourhood pub: AU$53
- Two movie tickets: AU$39
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city: AU$4.29
For more costs under each category, go to the Sydney page on Expatistan.
Melbourne
Melbourne is a fascinating city that blends European style with Australian’s easy-going attitude to life.
This is a city where the citizens like to eat, toast and dance their way through life, so you’ll find a thriving music scene in Melbourne as well as a vast array of cafés, restaurants and bars.
Lifestyle
As mentioned above, Melbourne has a vibrant lifestyle. In addition to dance clubs and places to eat or drink, Melbourne also offers world-class sports facilities, fabulous shopping opportunities and a lively nightlife. As you might be able to guess by now, Melbourne is a very young city.
Accommodation
You’ll find that accommodation in Melbourne vary in range and standard, but it’s becoming increasinly scarce across the board.
Most expats opt to rent property, a common and practical decision due to the expensive costs attached to buying property. Luckily, rent in Melbourne tends to be more affordable than in other capitals.
If you’re moving with a family, you’ll obviously want to look at houses instead of flats. There are houses available in most areas of Melbourne, but to find affordable rentals, you’ll have to move away from the central business district.
Getting around
Like Sydney, Melbourne has a well-developed public transport system, consisting of rail, tram, bus and taxis services. However, unlike Sydney, Melbourne is a bicycle-friendly city, meaning you can also get around on your bicycle if you so wish.
Should you live outside of the city itself, you’d want to invest in a car. The good news is that Melbourne’s city centre is not short of parking, so you could easily drive into town for work.
Living costs
For ease of comparison, we’ll look at the same costs as we did for Sydney:
Food
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district: AU$16
- 1L whole fat milk: AU$1.27
- 500g local cheese: AU$9
- Bread for two people for one day: AU$2.53
- 500ml domestic beer in the supermarket: AU$5.20
Housing
- Monthly rent for furnished accommodation (85m²) in EXPENSIVE area: AU$2,558
- Monthly rent for furnished accommodation (85m²) in NORMAL area: AU$1,983
- 1-month utilities for two people in 85m² flat: AU$359
Transportation
- 1L of gas: AU$1.41
- Monthly ticket public transport: AU$144
Healthcare
- Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes): AU$64
Entertainment
- Basic dinner out for 2 in a neighbourhood pub: AU$56
- Two movie tickets: AU$38
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city: AU$4.31
For more costs under each category, go to the Melbourne page on Expatistan.
Perth
Perth, situated on Australia’s west coast, is still rather small in comparison to cities on the east coast, but more and more foreigners are flocking here to take advantage of lucrative job opportunities.
It’s especially young families who settle in Perth, as the city is not only beautiful but clean and safe too. Many young people also choose to live in Perth, as the city offer a sedate and wholesome environment with many opportunities for outdoor activities.
Lifestyle
People in Perth are very friendly and it’s probably due to enjoying the best of beaches, food, wine and weather Australia has to offer.
You’ll find that people in Perth like to get together at one another’s houses to enjoy a barbeque, beers and each other’s company. This is not to say that Perth doesn’t offer options for shopping or bar hopping. It’s just that the most people in Perth prefer their social life with a touch of homeliness.
Accommodation
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation in Perth. It comes in all shapes and sizes, ranging from flat and houses to studios and luxury apartments. The standard of accommodation also varies greatly.
Getting around
While the public transport system in Perth might not be as diverse as in Sydney or Melbourne, it is still extensive as well as reliable. The system includes buses, trains and taxis.
As before, you might want to invest in a car if you live outside of the city, especially if you have a family.
Living costs
We’ll look at the same costs as before:
Food
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district: AU$18
- 1L whole fat milk: AU$1.21
- 500g local cheese: AU$8
- Bread for two people for one day: AU$1.91
- 500ml domestic beer in the supermarket: AU$4.82
Housing
- Monthly rent for furnished accommodation (85m²) in EXPENSIVE area: AU$2,192
- Monthly rent for furnished accommodation (85m²) in NORMAL area: AU$1,631
- 1-month utilities for two people in 85m² flat: AU$505
Transportation
- 1L of gas: AU$1.37
- Monthly ticket public transport: AU$100
Healthcare
- Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes): AU$70
Entertainment
- Basic dinner out for 2 in a neighbourhood pub: AU$65
- Two movie tickets: AU$36
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city: AU$5.00
For more costs under each category, go to the Perth page on Expatistan.
Adelaide
Adelaide is more ‘small town’ than ‘big city’ thanks its sense of space and uncluttered urban geography. Highways aren’t backed up during peak hours and citizens large parks, warm weather and active social lives.
Lifestyle
The people of Adelaide live well! They love good food, good wine and festivals linked to food and wine. Vintage fashion and antiques are other great loves of Adelaide citizens.
At the same time, Adelaide has a reputation for relaxed living. This is evident when you shop at any of the retailers, where casual is king. You won’t find too many high-fashion options here, so you’ll have to head to the bigger cities to get your fashion fix.
Accommodation
Adelaide has the most affordable housing prices of any of the mainland capitals. Houses can be bought for a third to half the cost in the larger cities!
The same goes for rental properties, but overall accommodation in and close the city centre is more expensive than real estate in the suburbs.
When you get to Adelaide you’ll see that a many houses are old, as Adelaide is one of the older cities in Australia. You can choose to keep your house as is or choose to renovate it, as many expats do.
Getting around
While public transport is available in Adelaide, the system is not as extensive as in other larger cities in Australia. You might very well find it best to purchase a car once you arrive in Adelaide.
Living costs
Salaries in Adelaide are generally less than in other areas of Australia, but this is balanced out by a lower cost of living, especially when it comes to accommodation:
Food
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district: AU$15
- 1L whole fat milk: AU$1.53
- 500g local cheese: AU$10
- Bread for two people for one day: AU$2.05
- 500ml domestic beer in the supermarket: AU$5.92
Housing
- Monthly rent for furnished accommodation (85m²) in EXPENSIVE area: AU$1,910
- Monthly rent for furnished accommodation (85m²) in NORMAL area: AU$1,445
- 1-month utilities for two people in 85m² flat: AU$344
Transportation
- 1L of gas: AU$1.39
- Monthly ticket public transport: AU$99
Healthcare
- Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes): AU$52
Entertainment
- Basic dinner out for 2 in a neighbourhood pub: AU$48
- Two movie tickets: AU$33
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city: AU$4.78
For more costs under each category, go the the Adelaide page on Expatistan.
There you have it – a comparison between the four most popular cities in Australia for foreigner. If you still can’t decide where to emigrate to, remember that there are many more cities in this diverse and exciting country to choose from.
Sources: ExpatArrivals and Expatistan.
- Published in Immigration to Australia, Life in Australia
What is the Australian skilled migrant points test?
If you’ve done any research on migrating to Australia, you would have come across something called the ‘Australian skilled migrant points test’.
This points test is mistaken as being straightforward by most people, even easy enough to do without the assistance of an immigration adviser.
However, the truth is that the help of an adviser should be enlisted as there are many finer points to the test which should be taken into consideration.
Let’s start at the beginning…
What’s the Australian skilled migrant points test?
The skilled migrant points test is a clear, conscise and objective test which enables Australia to choose skilled migrants with the attributes and skill sets which are needed in the country.
All applicants under the skilled migrant category are required to take a test and get a minimum score in order to qualify for a visa.
What score is needed to pass?
As explained above, skilled migrant applicants must score a minimum mark to ‘pass’. This refers to the total number of points needed in order to fully qualify for the grant of a visa.
The minimum score is 65 points, but scoring more points is always better.
How do you earn points?
Points are awarded for various attributes and skills. Some of the areas for which points may be
awarded include:
- Your English language competency.
- Overseas employment experience.
- Australian employment experience.
- Your age.
- Educational qualifications.
- Studying done in Australia.
When must you take the points test?
You must take your Australian skilled migrant points test prior to the Expression of Interest.
In fact, without the minimum score of 65 points, you won’t be able to lodge an Expression of Interest for your skilled migrant visa.
What are the general skilled migration classes?
There are six skilled migration classes. These are:
- Independent Skilled (subclass 189).
- Nominated Skilled (subclass 190).
- Regional (Provisional) (subclasss 489).
- Temporary Graduate (subclass 485).
- Recognised Graduate (subclass 476).
- Skilled Regional (subclass 887).
Each of these classes is different and independent. Feel free to click on each one in order to learn more about it.
How do you know which skilled migrant class is the best option for you?
The option which you choose should be best suited to your unique situation and circumstances. This is why it’s beneficial to make use of a fully licensed Australian immigration adviser.
Such an adviser will be able to help you determine which skilled migrant visa is best for you. A licensed adviser will also be able to explain the points test to you and advise you on further steps to take.
Ready to speak to an licensed adviser?
Whether you want to complete an Australian skilled migrant points test or simply have more questions, give us a call on +27 (0) 21 202 8200. You’ll be put in touch with one of our advisers and you’ll be able to get the assistance you require.
- Published in Immigration to Australia