Moving to Australia: 9 Tips for setting yourself up for success

Are you considering moving to Australia for a better life? Do you want to do everything possible to realise this dream?

Then the nine tips we have for you today are just what you need. You’ll discover how to set your immigration up for success from the get-go.

Let’s get straight to it…

1. Start early

Moving to another country is one long list of to-dos! You have to apply for a visa, book movers, pack up your belongings, book flights, find a new home, etc., etc.

The key to managing it all without going crazy is starting early – long before you intend to say your goodbyes. The earlier you start, the easier it’ll be to deal with issues or surprises that may arise.

Our advice? Give yourself at least six months to a year if you can. Draw up a list of priorities and then get stuck in.

2. Explore your visa options

Your first priority must be exploring your visa options. The last thing you want to do is spend money on an application for a visa you don’t qualify for!

You have two options for finding out your visa options:

• Doing the research on your own
• Consulting with a licensed advisor

You’ll incur costs when going the second route but won’t regret the investment. A reputable licensed advisor will assess you against Australia’s immigration requirements to determine your best
visa options.

3. Get the right advice

Should you choose to trust your immigration to an advisor, you must make sure you’re speaking to a professional you can trust.

Check for a license from the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority, as that’s a stamp of approval from Australian authorities.

OMARA licensed advisors are authorised to give immigration advice and are held accountable for the advice they give.

4. Check your passport

You must have a valid passport to apply for a visa, so ensure your passport is still valid. The same goes for every family member involved in the migration application.

Ideally, your passports should be valid for at least another four years. Renewing your passport is advisable if the remaining validity period is three years or less.

Remember to also apply for passports for children who may still need to get passports.

5. Get your documents in order

Ensure that you have important documents, such as birth and marriage certificates, on hand. Many people underestimate how long it can take to get such documents from the relevant authorities.

Want to apply for a work visa? Then you must also have your CV and qualifications in order.

When you work with a licensed advisory, they’ll tell you precisely what documents you need and whether they should be original, colour copies, or certified.

6. Find a job

You won’t necessarily need a job to apply for a work visa, but lining up a job before you immigrate would make life much easier.

You can find suitable jobs by:

• Standing out from the crowd with an Australian-friendly CV and a cover letter which mentions that you qualify to immigrate to Australia
• Contacting recruiters in Australia for assistance with your job search
• Networking with connections in your industry
• Signing up for job alerts on career websites
• Identifying companies you’d like to work for and applying for available positions

7. Improve your English

Australia expects immigrants to speak a reasonable level of English. You might have to complete an English test to prove your abilities before moving to Australia. If English is not your first language, work with a tutor or an English Language teacher to improve.

8. Do plenty of research

It’s common knowledge that Australia is a beautiful and vibrant country, but you’ll have to know more as someone who wants to move there.

Here’s what you’ll have to research:

• The cost of living: You’ll have to be able to provide for your family on the salary you’ll earn. Everyday costs include groceries, clothing, transport, rent or bond repayments, utilities, schooling, and childcare. You can use our blog to start your research, but also consider joining Facebook groups for advice or reading blogs by expats.
• Cities, towns, and neighbourhoods: Read up on Australia’s cities and towns, and decide which areas suit your lifestyle best. While doing this, remember that some work visas only allow you to stay in designed regional areas. Once you have a list of suitable cities or towns, you can investigate specific neighbourhoods where you’d like to settle.
• Banking: You want to be able to set up a bank account shortly after arriving in Australia or even before you go. Find out how to do this as soon as possible to access funds when setting up debit orders or applying for credit.
• Healthcare: Medicare, Australia’s universal health insurance scheme, guarantees Australians can access a wide range of health and hospital services at low or no cost. You may want to consider private health insurance if you wear glasses, contact lenses or hearing devices because Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of these. Medicare also doesn’t cover dental services, ambulance services, elective and cosmetic surgery, services not on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), and services provided through the public health system.
• Schools and universities: It’s safe to assume that if you’re a tertiary student or parent, a big reason for your move is securing a good education for yourself or your children. Australia has world-class schools and universities across the country, but it’ll still be worthwhile to find a good fit for yourself or your children if you’re a parent.
• Importing your belongings and pets: Australia has strict import requirements, making it important to know what you can take and can’t. Import requirements also apply to pets. For example, some cat and dog breeds are not allowed in Australia.

9. Save for your move

Immigrating is expensive! It’s not only visa costs. You also must budget for expenses such as flights, insurance, international movers, a deposit on a new home, and buying furniture.

Setting aside money to cover these costs and any unforeseen expenses is essential. A good rule of thumb is three to six months of savings. Your research and personal circumstances will guide you on exactly how much you’ll need.

Here’s a tip – whatever the final number, add 10% to 20% on top of that as an emergency buffer.

To recap

To set yourself up for success when moving to Australia, you must ensure that you:

• Start early – The earlier, the better!
• Explore your visa options – You can’t immigrate without qualifying for a visa
• Get the right advice – from a licensed immigration advisor
• Check your passport’s validity – Renew it if it expires within the next three years
• Get your documents in order – such as birth and marriage certificates and your CV
• Find a job – It’s not necessarily needed, but it will make your life easier
• Improve your English – Australia has strict language requirements
• Do plenty of research – Understand the cost of living, decide where you’ll stay, read up on healthcare,
  and know how to open a bank account and what you can take with you
• Save for your move – Three to six months of savings, plus up to 20% as an emergency buffer

You’ll significantly minimise the chances of your immigration failing if you follow these tips!