Can you immigrate to Australia if you’re 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 four categories:
- Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482)
- Global Talent Visa
- Parent Visas
- Business Innovation and Investment Visa
Let’s take a closer look at each visa.
1. Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482)
The Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482) allows Australian employers to sponsor skilled workers for positions there aren’t suitable Australians to fill available roles.
As suggested by its name, the Subclass 482 is a temporary visa. However, you could extend your stay after the expiry date of your visa or apply for a permanent residence if you’re eligible to do so.
Three visa streams
The Subclass 482 Visa has three streams through which skilled workers can apply for their visa:
- Short-term stream:
- You must be nominated to work in an occupation on the list of eligible short-term skilled occupations.
- You can work in Australia for up to two years, or for up to four years if an International Trade Obligation (ITO) applies. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to five years.
- Medium-term stream:
- You must be nominated to work in an occupation on either the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL).
- You can work in Australia for up to four years. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to five years.
- Labour agreement stream:
- You must be nominated to work in a specified occupation under the terms of a Labour Agreement.
- You can work in Australia for up to a maximum of four years, depending on the terms of the labour agreement. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to five years.
Further to being able to meet the requirements above, you must have at least two years of relevant work experience in your nominated occupation or a related field. You must also have a relevant skills assessment if it’s required for your occupation.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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:
- Business Innovation stream: You want to establish, develop and manage a new or existing business in Australia.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
- Published in Immigration Advice, Our latest posts, Retiring in Australia
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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- Published in Immigration to Australia, News, Our latest posts, Working in Australia
Australia increases Migration Program intakes by 35,000 places!
On 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 2022-23 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.
- Published in Immigration to Australia, News, Our latest posts
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:
- Skilled Nomination Visa (Subclass 190): Permanent visa for skilled migrants to live and work anywhere in Victoria
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491): For skilled migrants to live and work in regional Victoria and provides a pathway to permanent residency through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191).
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.
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- Published in Immigration to Australia, News, Our latest posts, Working in Australia
Moving to Australia as a family: 6 Tips for parents
Remember 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.
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:
- Mexico (#2 in 2021)
- Indonesia (#31 in 201)
- Taiwan (#1 in 2021)
- Portugal (#5 in 2021)
- Spain (#16 in 2021)
- UAE (#18 in 2021)
- Vietnam (#10 in 2021)
- Thailand (#14 in 2021)
- Australia (#7 in 2021)
- 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.
- Published in Immigration to Australia, Life in Australia, News, Our latest posts
FAQs: 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:
- Work in Australia as a skilled migrant or sponsored worker
- Set up and start a business
- Join an Australian or eligible New Zealand spouse, fiancé or life partner
- Join family – visas for parents and children
- Invest in Australia to obtain residency
3. Can a 50-year-old immigrate to Australia?
Yes, Australia has visa options for people 50 or older:
- Employer-sponsored visas: You must usually be under the age of 45 to apply, but some of these visas have exemptions to their age requirements
- Global Talent Visa: This visa allows exceptionally talented individuals to work in Australia, and it has no age limits
- Business Innovation and Investment Visa: You can apply for these visas if you’re under the age of 55
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:
- Parent visa (subclass 103): For retirees
- Aged Parent visa (subclass 804): Applicants must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia
- Contributory Aged Parent visas (subclasses 864 and 884): Applicants must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia
- Contributory Parent visas (subclasses 143 and 173): For retirees
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870): Allows parents to visit Australia for up to three or five years
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.
- Published in Immigration to Australia, Our latest posts
DAMA: Your pathway to PR
Are you looking for a pathway to becoming an Australian permanent resident? DAMA could be the solution.
It’s not as straightforward as skilled migration, though. You must also be willing to work in designated regional areas.
DAMA does have a huge advantage, however. Some applicants under this agreement could qualify for concessions, making it easier to be eligible for a work visa.
What is DAMA?
DAMA is not a visa subclass. It is an agreement signed between the Australian Government and a regional, state or territory authority.
The DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreement) enables the local authority to nominate and sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers for specific occupations.
Furthermore, DAMA occupations are a broader range than is available through the standard skilled visa programs, as DAMA agreements support each regional area’s unique circumstances and labour market needs.
Why should you consider DAMA?
There are three reasons why you should consider DAMA as someone who wants to live and work in Australia:
1. DAMA is a pathway to Permanent Residence
Under DAMA, you’ll apply for either a Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482) or a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491).
You’ll then apply for PR through the Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186) or the Permanent Residence (Skilled Work Regional) Visa (Subclass 191), subject to meeting the qualifying criteria. Generally, you’d have to have worked in your occupation for two to four years before applying.
2. DAMA occupations are broad
The Australian Government and local authorities negotiate DAMAs to address identified workforce shortages in a region, which means DAMAs cover additional occupations that are not on skilled occupation lists.
3. Lower entry requirements than standard migration programmes
DAMA agreements often allow concessions to standard visa requirements. These may include concessions to age, salary, work experience, or English language ability criteria, making it easier to qualify for a work visa under DAMA.
Here are some examples from DAMAs that are in place:
- The age limit for visa and PR applicants is raised from 45 to 55 for occupations with Skill Level 1 to 4, and up to 50 years old for Skill 5 occupations.
- IELTS scores of 5.0 overall, and a minimum IELTS score of 4.0 for individual bands, are accepted. For skilled migration, you must achieve an overall IELTS score of 7.0
- The identified market salary of a DAMA position must be at least the temporary skilled migration income threshold (TSMIT), but concessions could mean that the remuneration could be less. For instance, one concession from the Northern Territory DAMA stipulates workers must earn no less than 90% of the Northern Territory’s TSMIT.
- You only need 1 year of relevant work experience as opposed to 2 years as it’s usually required with a Temporary Skill Shortage visa.
How do you apply for a work visa under DAMA?
To apply for a Subclass 482 visa under DAMA, you must have nomination and sponsorship from an endorsed employer in a DAMA regional area.
1. Employer requirements
For the employer to be able to nominate and sponsor overseas workers, it must:
- Enter into an individual labour agreement under the conditions of the relevant DAMA
- Demonstrate efforts to recruit qualified and experienced Australians before recruiting candidates from overseas
- Meet salary and employment requirements
2. Visa applicant requirements
You must meet the following criteria:
- Be nominated in an occupation that’s on the relevant DAMA skilled occupation list
- Get a formal offer of employment from your employer, and your salary must meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) unless there is a concession in place
- Meet the English language requirements unless there is a concession in place
- Have the qualifications and experience necessary to work in your nominated occupations
How many DAMAs are there?
Australia has 12 DAMAs in place across six of its states and territories:
1. South Australia
2. Western Australia
3. Queensland
4. Victoria
5. Northern Territory
6. New South Wales
Get assistance with your DAMA application
The major drawcard of DAMA is that it’s a pathway to PR – and that you could qualify even if you’re over the age of 50.
You shouldn’t wait until you’re 50 to start a visa application under DAMA, though. Do it today!
Take the first step by booking a consultation call with our licensed advisor. You’ll find out if you meet the requirements to live and work in Australia. You’ll also learn more about the visa application process itself, including the costs.
Our advisor is licensed and registered with MARA, so you can rest assured that you’ll get advice you can trust!
- Published in Immigration to Australia, Our latest posts, Working in Australia
Australia vs Germany: How do the countries compare?
Are you considering a move from Germany to Down Under? Then you’ll want to read this article, where we explore how Germany compares to Australia.
We’ll do that by looking at data from some of the world’s renowned organisations and publications to see what life is like in each country. Of course, we’ll also share some basic facts worth knowing.
1. Snapshot comparison, courtesy of the OECD
For a side-by-side comparison of Australia and Germany, we’ll use each country’s scores on the latest OECD Better Life Index:
| Australia | Germany | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life Satisfaction: Happiness and well-being | 7.5 | 8.1 | ||
| Health: Life Expectancy and Health | 9.3 Life expectancy at birth in Australia stands at 83 years. | 7.1 Life expectancy at birth in Germany stands just above 81 years. | ||
| Income: Household disposable net income | 5.9 The average household net adjusted disposable income per capita is USD 37 433 per year. | 4.8 The average household net adjusted disposable income per capita is USD 38 971 per year. | ||
| Jobs: Employment figures | 8.6 Roughly 73% of Australians between the ages of 15 to 62 have a paid job, and Australians earn USD 55 206 per year on average. | 8.9 Roughly 77% of Germans between the ages of 15 to 62 have a paid job, and Germans earn USD 53 754 per year on average. | ||
| Work-life Balance: The ability to combine work, family commitments, and personal life | 4.4 In Australia, about 13% of employees work very long hours in paid work and spend 14.4 hours per day on average on their personal life. | 8 In Germany, about 4% of employees work very long hours in paid work, and full-time workers devote 15.6 hours of their day on average to personal care and leisure. | ||
| Education: Quality of and access to education | 8.6 The average Australian student scored 499 in reading literacy, maths and sciences. | 7.6 The average student in Germany scored 500 in reading literacy, maths and sciences. | ||
| Community: Social networks and a sense of community | 7.7 93% of Australians believe that they know someone they could rely on in time of need. | 6.2 90% of Germans believe that they know someone they could rely on in time of need. | ||
| Safety: Personal security | 7.4 About 67% of Australians feel safe walking alone at night. | 8.3 About 76% of Germans feel safe walking alone at night. | ||
| Housing: Housing conditions and affordability | 8.2 | 7 | ||
| Environment: Local living environments | 8.9 | 7.7 | ||
| Civic engagement: Voter turnout and broader public engagement | 8.9 | 5.3 |
2. Australia’s cost of living is higher than that of Germany – but its purchasing power is higher
According to Numbeo, your cost of living will be higher in Australia. For example, consumer prices are 20.30% higher, rent is 36.27% higher, and groceries cost 47.16% more.
However, Australia’s purchasing power is higher, so you’ll get more bang for your buck when living Down Under.
Let’s compare some everyday costs by looking at Sydney and Berlin. To keep things equal, we’re using USA dollars for our comparison:
Groceries:
| Sydney | Berlin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1L Milk | 1.25 | 1.07 | ||
| Loaf fresh white bread | 2.27 | 1.48 | ||
| 12 Eggs | 3.58 | 2.88 | ||
| 1kg Cheese | 8.76 | 13.58 | ||
| 1kg Chicken Fillet | 8.26 | 8.08 | ||
| 1kg Apples | 3.00 | 2.56 | ||
| 1kg Bananas | 2.45 | 1.80 | ||
| 1kg Tomatoes | 4.64 | 3.36 | ||
| 1kg Potatoes | 2.23 | 1.74 | ||
| Lettuce | 2.03 | 1.32 |
Rent:
| Sydney | Berlin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in the city centre | 1,782.99 | 1,254.12 | ||
| 3-Bedroom apartment in the suburbs | 2,223.71 | 1,610.97 | ||
| Basic utilities for 85m² apartment | 128.28 | 304.84 |
3. Australia has four of the world’s most liveable cities, according to The Economist
The 2021 Global Liveability Report from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) includes 140 cities from around the world, and Australia has four cities in the top 10:
- Adelaide (3rd)
- Perth (5th)
- Melbourne (8th)
- Brisbane (9th)
Cities had to do exceptionally well in their quality of life assessments to rank in the top 10 positions. The EIU looked at each city’s stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, infrastructure, and – unique to 2021’s report – how COVID-19 affected its quality of life.
4. Australia is the 12th happiest country in the world – Germany is the 14th
The World Happiness Report uses global survey data to report how people evaluate their own lives in more than 150 countries.
Australia scored 7.162 and Germany 7.034, placing the countries at numbers 12 and 14 overall on the Report.
Respondents were quizzed on happiness factors such as social support, the freedom to make life choices, and freedom from corruption.
5. Australia and Germany are two of the safest countries in the world
Australians and Germans live in countries free from domestic and international conflict, and both countries have high levels of societal safety and security. That makes Australia and Germany two of the safest countries globally, as illustrated in the Global Peace Index.
In the latest Index, Australia ranked as the world’s 16th safest country, while Germany ranked in 17th place, tying with Croatia.
6. Both countries offer free healthcare
Australia and Germany offer free healthcare. Here’s how each healthcare system works:
| Australia | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Public healthcare system | Australia’s Medicare and public hospital system provides free or low-cost healthcare for Australians. | Germany's free healthcare scheme is called GKV (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherun), and Germans who work and earn less than EUR64,350 a year must take part in it. |
| Who qualifies? | Medicare is available to: - Australian and New Zealand citizens - Permanent residents - Temporary residents covered by a Ministerial Order - People from countries with reciprocal agreements | Available to all residents. Non-residents must have private insurance coverage to access healthcare. |
| What does it cover? | Medicare covers part or all of the following services: - Seeing a GP or specialist - Tests and scans, like x-rays - Most surgery and procedures performed by doctors - Eye tests by optometrists - Some medicines Medicare doesn’t cover: - Ambulance services - Most dental services - Glasses, contact lenses and hearing aids - Cosmetic surgery | GKV covers: - Primary care with registered doctors - Hospital care - Basic dental treatment GKV does not cover consultations with private doctors, private rooms in hospitals or: - Alternative or complementary treatments - Dental implants - Glasses and contact lenses for adults |
| Private health insurance | Australia has private health insurance cover in addition to Medicare. There are two kinds of cover: 1. Hospital cover for some or all of the costs of hospital treatment as a private patient 2. General treatment cover for some non-medical health services not covered by Medicare, such as dental, physiotherapy and optical services. Australians are allowed to have either hospital cover or extras cover as well as both together. The Government provides a means-tested rebate to Australians to help with the cost. | Germans can choose to opt out of the state insurance plan and take out private health insurance cover but only if they: - Earn more than EUR64,350 a year - Is self-employed - A civil servant or other public employee Private health insurance covers a much wider range of medical and dental treatments than GKV. |
| More about each country's health care | - Australia has a Telehealth service through which you can see a health professional by videoconference or telephone if you can’t go to their office | - You are free to choose your own doctor - Public health insurance covers children until the age of 18 - Vaccinations for children in Germany are free - Employers in Germany contribute up a to maximum of EUR317.55 a month to private health insurance fees |
Further reading: www.expatica.com; www.health.gov.au; www.servicesaustralia.gov.au
7. Australia is MUCH bigger than Germany
Do not underestimate how big Australia is. Australia stretches across nearly 7.7 million square kilometres, making it the sixth biggest country in the world.
Germany, in comparison, takes up only 350,000 square kilometres – and can thus fit into Australia 22 times.
Let’s add some perspective, shall we? Driving from Hamburg in Germany’s north to Munich in the south will take you 7 hours and 51 minutes. But a road trip from Perth on Australia’s west coast to the Gold Coast on the east coast is estimated to take you nearly four days!
8. But Germany’s population is bigger than that of Australia
You might be surprised to learn more people live in Germany than in Australia. Roughly three times more, to be exact.
According to the Federal Statistic Office, Germany is home to 83.2 million, while there are 25.750 million living in Australia, according to the latest estimation of the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
That might seem strange due to the size difference between the countries but keep in mind that large parts of Australia are dry, arid and almost entirely uninhabitable.
In summary
Your quality of life is not going to be affected by moving to Australia. In fact, it might improve!
Both countries score highly in the OECD Index, and you’ll still have free healthcare. Australia is home to some of the most liveable cities in the world, though, and the Australians’ “No worries, mate” approach to life is the happier nation.
If that convinces you to make the move Down Under, contact us to find out how you can make this dream a reality.
- Published in Immigration to Australia, Life in Australia, Our latest posts
Australia’s capital cities: Where’s it cheaper to live? (July 2023)
1. Rent
Many of us spend a considerable chunk of our salary on rent each month, so let’s start with how much of your salary you can expect to allocate to rent.
| Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Darwin | Perth | Adelaide | Hobart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1-bedroom Apartment in the City | 2,293.63 | 3,297.91 | 2,537.74 | 2,080.00 | 2,530.15 | 2,160.29 | 1,400.00 |
3-Bedroom Apartment Outside the City | 2,848.26 | 4,045.66 | 2,523.03 | 2,773.33 | 2,719.77 | 2,556.22 | 1,886.67 |
Let’s assume you’re a single person or a couple, and you love the hustle and bustle of the city. You’ll see that a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre is most affordable in Hobart, Tasmania’s capital.
However, perhaps you’re immigrating as a family, and you want a 3-bedroom apartment in the suburbs. Hobart is again the most affordable city, with Brisbane being the next most affordable city to settle.
Naturally, your living costs will also include an internet connection, utilities like water and electricity, and municipal services. Here’s how much you could expect to spend in each city:
| Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Darwin | Perth | Adelaide | Hobart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage collection (85m² apartment) | 275.00 | 310.87 | 332.46 | 340.00 | 342.88 | 451.73 | 300.00 |
Internet (60 mbps or more, unlimited data, cable/ADSL) | 83.90 | 86.92 | 95.00 | 90.00 | 93.24 | 91.24 | 90.00 |
2. Groceries
To give you a good idea of what you’ll spend at the shops, we selected 11 items that all of us buy regularly.
Your basket of groceries will cost the least in Hobart. Darwin and Perth are the second and third most affordable cities.
| Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Darwin | Perth | Adelaide | Hobart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1L Milk | 2.31 | 2.75 | 2.33 | 1.70 | 2.74 | 2.34 | 2.04 |
Loaf of white bread | 3.69 | 4.03 | 3.63 | 3.20 | 3.49 | 3.94 | 3.21 |
12 Eggs | 5.60 | 6.01 | 5.89 | 6.37 | 6.55 | 6.34 | 5.26 |
1kg Local cheese | 18.13 | 15.17 | 15.70 | 11.20 | 13.71 | 23.48 | 9.12 |
1kg Chicken fillets | 13.70 | 13.18 | 12.95 | 12.40 | 13.70 | 13.41 | 9.75 |
1kg Beef round | 23.36 | 22.33 | 24.43 | 24.00 | 22.09 | 29.48 | 18.83 |
1kg Rice | 3.60 | 3.57 | 3.28 | 3.40 | 3.36 | 4.01 | 1.80 |
1kg Apples | 5.01 | 4.90 | 4.76 | 5.24 | 5.35 | 4.83 | 4.25 |
1kg Bananas | 3.82 | 3.86 | 3.79 | 3.55 | 3.93 | 4.45 | 3.50 |
Lettuce | 5.38 | 4.40 | 4.12 | 3.75 | 3.31 | 4.28 | 3.30 |
1kg Tomatoes | 7.35 | 7.57 | 7.01 | 6.33 | 6.70 | 7.43 | 7.88 |
1kg Potatoes | 4.06 | 3.78 | 3.58 | 5.38 | 3.31 | 4.70 | 3.33 |
Total cost | 96.01 | 91.55 | 91.47 | 86.52 | 88.24 | 108.69 | 72.27 |
3. School fees
Going to public school in Australia is free, although schools can charge ‘voluntary contributions’ for some items and events.
Let’s say, however, that you choose to send your child to a private institution. In this case, Darwin has the lowest monthly preschool fees, with Hobart coming in second place. The fees in both these cities are much lower than in the other capitals.
When it comes to primary school fees, it’s Hobart that’s most affordable and Darwin, while double the price of Hobart, is the second-most affordable city.
| Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Darwin | Perth | Adelaide | Hobart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Private preschool (or Kindergarten) - Full day for one child | 2,534.94 | 2,675.86 | 2,569.23 | 800.00 | 2,594.42 | 2,148.76 | 1,500.00 |
International primary school annual fee for one child | 30,550.00 | 24,497.62 | 15,820.83 | 10,000.00 | 22,832.00 | 19,064.92 | 5,000.00 |
4. Getting around
To go about your daily business in Australia, you can either take public transport or buy a car.
Taking public transport
Darwin is the clear winner when it comes to the cost of public transport. Your one-way ticket is going to be AU$3 while a monthly pass will cost you AU$63.48.
| Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Darwin | Perth | Adelaide | Hobart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1-Way Ticket on Local Transport | 4.60 | 5.00 | 4.75 | 3.00 | 4.50 | 4.50 | 3.90 |
Monthly Pass | 168.00 | 217.39 | 210.00 | 63.48 | 175.25 | 112.08 | 91.45 |
Buying a car
You’ll notice that there aren’t massive variances between new car prices across the seven capitals. The same is true for the cost of a litre of petrol, but we all know those cents add up quickly when filling up a car.
| Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Darwin | Perth | Adelaide | Hobart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (or equivalent new car) | 38,000.00 | 35,145.00 | 38,000.00 | 47,500.00 | 30,000.00 | 34,882.50 | 33,500.00 |
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (or equivalent new car) | 30,435.53 | 30,587.96 | 31,581.85 | 38,333.33 | 31,770.71 | 29,314.29 | 26,187.50 |
1L Petrol | 2.05 | 2.05 | 2.10 | 1.93 | 1.95 | 2.01 | 1.96 |
5. Going out for a meal
Enjoying a meal with friends is a favourite pastime for many of us. You get to unwind, catch up on each other’s lives, and have a good laugh or two.
Lunch at your local restaurant
Melbourne is cheapest for local, laid-back restaurants and a simple meal. Your meal and two drinks are going to set you back AU$33.38, which is much considerably less than the AU$50.77 you’ll spend in an Adelaide restaurant.
| Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Darwin | Perth | Adelaide | Hobart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Restaurant Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 25.00 | 25.00 | 27.00 | 21.50 | 30.00 | 35.00 | 25.00 |
500ml Draught Beer | 12.00 | 10.00 | 11.00 | 10.00 | 11.00 | 11.60 | 8.00 |
330ml Coke | 3.91 | 3.65 | 4.29 | 3.57 | 4.30 | 4.17 | 3.58 |
Total | 33.38 | 38.65 | 42.29 | 35.07 | 45.30 | 50.77 | 36.58 |
3-course Dinner at an up-market restaurant
Sometimes we like to treat ourselves and go to a restaurant with all the trimmings. Let’s imagine it’s your birthday. You want a three-course meal with a good bottle of wine. Your birthday dinner is going to cost the least in Hobart.
| Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Darwin | Perth | Adelaide | Hobart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3-Course Dinner at an Up-Market Restaurant | 130.00 | 140.00 | 150.00 | 110.00 | 140.00 | 185.00 | 100.00 |
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range; Brought from Home) | 20.00 | 20.00 | 20.00 | 20.00 | 20.00 | 20.00 | 13.50 |
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range; Brought from Home) | 150.00 | 160.00 | 170.00 | 130.00 | 160.00 | 205.00 | 113.50 |
6. Your morning coffee run
Grabbing a coffee on the way to work is such an integral part of our lives. Hobart is the most affordable city for a cappuccino and that bottle of water you grab to go with it. On mainland Australia, your coffee run is going to be most affordable in Darwin.
| Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Darwin | Perth | Adelaide | Hobart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cappuccino | 5.43 | 4.93 | 5.53 | 4.92 | 5.63 | 6.07 | 5.11 |
Bottle of Water | 3.50 | 3.42 | 3.56 | 3.40 | 3.65 | 3.35 | 2.30 |
Total | 8.93 | 8.35 | 9.09 | 8.32 | 9.28 | 9.42 | 7.41 |
In conclusion
Overall, Hobart offers the most affordable cost of living, if you’re willing to live in Tasmania.
Darwin is a good second choice if you’d prefer to stay on Australia’s mainland. This city in the Northern Territory has the lowest school fees and most affordable public transport options. Darwin also has the second-most affordable basket of groceries and its internet, utilities and municipal services costs the same as Hobart’s.
To decide where to live, consider these living costs together with each city’s lifestyle factors. You might decide that spending a bit more month is worth if it means you can live the life you’re seeking.
Note: All of the costs were taken from Numbeo, July 2023.
- Published in Life in Australia, Our latest posts