Moving to Australia from the UK is a realistic option for many skilled workers and families, but the route depends on the visa. Points-tested visas usually turn on occupation eligibility, a skills assessment, age, English and points, while employer-sponsored routes depend on a qualifying role and sponsor. The lifestyle appeal can be strong, but distance from the UK and the upfront cost deserve equal weight in the decision.
This guide is for UK families and skilled migrants planning a long-term move. It covers the main visa routes, realistic budget planning, relocation timing, shipping and pet rules, and the practical setup work that starts once you arrive.
Visa settings, fees and occupation lists change. Before committing money or dates, verify the current requirements with the Australian Department of Home Affairs and the official skilled occupation list.
Should You Move to Australia? Key Considerations
For many UK families, the decision comes down to career opportunity and lifestyle on one side, and distance, housing costs and the disruption of a major international move on the other. The balance is personal, so compare your likely position in the city and occupation you are actually targeting rather than relying on national averages.
What can work in Australia’s favour:
- Climate and outdoor living. Warmer conditions in many regions can make outdoor activity easier to build into family life.
- Career options in shortage areas. Health, education, construction and several trades continue to show labour shortages, although the picture varies by occupation and region. The Jobs and Skills Australia Occupation Shortage List is a useful labour-market check alongside migration eligibility.
- A wide choice of cities and regional centres. Sydney and Melbourne are only part of the picture. Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and regional centres can offer very different combinations of jobs, housing and state nomination settings.
- Healthcare access. Permanent residents can generally enrol in Medicare. Eligible UK visitors may also receive medically necessary care under the UK-Australia Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, subject to its conditions.
- Lifestyle fit. Australia can suit families who value outdoor space and access to beaches, parks or regional communities, although commute times and working patterns still depend on the job and location.
What deserves more planning:
- Distance from the UK. A return trip is a major journey, so visits to family need more time and money than a European move.
- Upfront relocation costs. Visa charges, skills assessments, shipping, flights, temporary accommodation and housing setup can overlap before Australian income begins.
- Visa competition. For the 189, 190 and 491 routes, 65 points is the minimum threshold, but meeting it does not guarantee an invitation.
- Housing costs. Major-city rents can materially change the value of a higher salary, so compare net pay and local housing before choosing a destination.
- Loss of your UK support network. Childcare, family help and established social connections can be harder to replace than expected, especially early in the move.
The main migration routes include points-tested skilled visas, employer-sponsored visas and family or partner visas. Start with the visa pathway, then check the occupation and skills requirements attached to that route. The FCDO’s Living in Australia guidance is also useful for healthcare, tax and day-to-day residency basics.
Best Migration Visa Options for Moving to Australia Permanently
For skilled applicants, the main permanent points-tested routes are the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). The Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) is provisional and can lead to permanent residence through subclass 191. Employer sponsorship can start with the temporary Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), while the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) is a permanent employer-sponsored route.
Which option is realistic depends on the occupation, the applicable occupation list, your skills assessment, age and English for points-tested routes, and the employer and stream requirements for sponsored routes.
| Visa and subclass | Best suited for | Status / sponsorship | Main planning point |
| Skilled Independent (189) | Skilled workers without a sponsor | Permanent; no sponsor | Points-tested, eligible occupation, skills assessment and invitation |
| Skilled Nominated (190) | Applicants who match a state or territory programme | Permanent; state/territory nominated | Points-tested plus nomination criteria |
| Skilled Work Regional (491) | Applicants willing to live and work in designated regional Australia | Provisional; state/territory nominated or eligible family sponsored | 15 nomination/sponsorship points; potential PR via 191 |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (186) | Skilled workers nominated for an ongoing role | Permanent; employer sponsored | Stream-specific employer, skills, age and English requirements |
| Skills in Demand (482) | Skilled workers with an eligible sponsoring employer | Temporary; employer sponsored | Role, occupation, salary, experience and English requirements vary by stream |
For a points-tested route, the sequence is usually:
- Check the occupation and visa list. Use the current Home Affairs skilled occupation list; different lists and even different ANZSCO versions apply to different skilled visas.
- Complete the required skills assessment. Use the assessing authority shown for your occupation.
- Take an approved English test if required. Higher English results can add points.
- Submit an Expression of Interest. The SkillSelect EOI process covers subclasses 189, 190 and 491.
- Pursue nomination where appropriate. A subclass 190 nomination adds 5 points and a subclass 491 nomination or eligible family sponsorship adds 15 points, but each state and territory sets its own criteria.
Subclasses 189, 190 and 186 grant permanent residence if approved. Subclass 491 can lead to subclass 191 after the required period and conditions are met. A 482 holder may be able to transition to subclass 186; under the current Temporary Residence Transition stream, Home Affairs says applicants usually need at least two years of eligible sponsored full-time employment.
How Much Money Do I Need to Move to Australia?
A practical working budget for a family of four is often around £20,000 to £40,000 once visa-related costs, shipping, flights and the first weeks of settlement are combined. Singles and couples may spend substantially less, but there is no universal figure because visa charges, household volume, flight prices and housing costs vary so widely.
Treat the ranges below as planning allowances rather than official fees or quotes:
| Cost category | Indicative planning range for a family (GBP) | When it is usually paid | Budget note |
| Visa application, assessments and checks | £3,000 to £6,000 | Before departure | Dependants, medicals, police checks and testing can add to the total |
| International shipping | £3,000 to £8,000 | Before or around departure | Volume and service type drive the price |
| Family flights | £2,500 to £6,000 | Before departure | Season, baggage and routing matter |
| Pet relocation | £2,000 to £5,000+ per pet | Before departure | Vet work, permit, transport and quarantine can all contribute |
| Initial setup funds | £8,000 to £15,000 | First weeks in Australia | Temporary accommodation, bond, rent in advance, transport and household setup |
Replace every planning figure with live visa fees and actual supplier quotes before fixing the budget. Any financial evidence required by your particular visa is separate from the relocation budget and should be checked against the current visa criteria.
The largest variable is often not the visa fee but the combination of housing and household volume. A higher Australian salary can look attractive on paper, but the useful comparison is net household income after local rent, transport, childcare or schooling costs and private health cover where relevant.
Use our international removals cost calculator to turn the shipping part of the budget into a route- and volume-specific estimate early in the process.
Step by Step Guide to Planning a Move to Australia
A 12- to 18-month planning window is sensible for many families, but it is not a visa processing promise. Immigration timelines vary by subclass and case, so use live Home Affairs processing information for the visa and treat the schedule below as a project plan rather than a countdown.
If you are using a points-tested skilled route, a practical sequence is:
- Confirm the visa route and check the occupation against the current skilled occupation list.
- Complete the skills assessment required for that occupation.
- Take the English test and document any points claims you intend to make.
- Submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect and pursue state or regional nomination where relevant.
- Complete health, character and other visa evidence when required, then lodge the visa application after invitation.
- Research cities and suburbs against employment, housing, school access and transport.
- Arrange a removals survey and keep collection dates provisional while the visa is still undecided.
- Declutter, prepare documents and decide what will travel with you versus by sea or air.
- Commit to flights and irreversible housing decisions only when your immigration position and entry timing are sufficiently certain.
- Plan the first month in Australia, including temporary accommodation, banking, Medicare eligibility, schooling and local transport.
The same work can be grouped by stage rather than exact dates:
Early planning. Visa route, skills assessment, English testing, budget, schools and job market research.
Application stage. EOI or sponsorship work, nomination where relevant, removals survey, decluttering and pet planning.
After approval. Confirm collection, book flights, finalise UK property arrangements and secure temporary accommodation.
Moving week. Keep passports, visa records, medication, valuables and key documents with you rather than in the shipment.
First month in Australia. Tax file number, bank activation, Medicare enrolment if eligible, rental applications, school enrolment and state-specific driving licence requirements.
Shipping Household Goods and Pets When Moving to Australia
For most household moves, sea freight is the default because it is far more economical than air freight at furniture volumes. A sole-use container gives you dedicated space and more control over loading, while groupage or shared-container shipping is usually better for smaller moves because you pay for the volume you use.
| Shipping option | Best suited for | Indicative planning time | Practical trade-off |
| Sole-use 20ft container | Medium household moves | Roughly 8 to 10 weeks door to door | Dedicated space; timing still depends on sailing and clearance |
| Sole-use 40ft container | Large household moves | Roughly 8 to 10 weeks door to door | More capacity and control, higher overall cost |
| Shared container / groupage | Boxes, selected furniture and smaller moves | Roughly 10 to 14 weeks door to door | Lower cost for smaller volume; consolidation can add time |
| Air freight | Urgent essentials | Days rather than weeks | Fast, but expensive for bulky shipments |
These are planning ranges rather than guaranteed transit times. Sailing schedules, consolidation, port congestion, customs, biosecurity and final delivery can all change the door-to-door timing.
Australian biosecurity deserves particular attention. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry assesses personal-effects documentation and often requires inspection; items that have been in contact with soil, plants, animals or water can require cleaning, treatment, export or destruction at the importer’s cost. Clean and dry outdoor equipment, footwear, garden tools, sports equipment and wooden items carefully, and make the packing list specific enough for inspectors to identify risk items.
Pets need a separate timetable. Australia’s official guidance recommends beginning preparations at least six to seven months before export, depending on the country category and import conditions. Requirements can include an import permit, identity verification, rabies testing, veterinary treatments and post-entry quarantine. Use the Australian cat and dog import guidance as the primary source and the GOV.UK guidance on taking your pet abroad for the UK departure side.
Our shipping to Australia service covers UK collection, export documentation, sea freight, Australian customs and biosecurity clearance, and delivery to your address, with a survey and quotation before you commit.
Best Cities in Australia for Skilled Migrants
There is no single best Australian city for skilled migrants. Sydney and Melbourne have large, diversified labour markets, while Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide can offer different housing costs, sector strengths and state nomination opportunities. State programmes also change, so do not choose a city solely because an occupation appeared on an old nomination list.
| City | Common sector strengths | Housing / cost profile | Who may want to shortlist it |
| Sydney | Finance, technology, professional services, healthcare | High-cost major market | Applicants prioritising job density and large employers |
| Melbourne | Health, education, professional services, technology | High-cost major market | Families and professionals wanting a large, diverse city |
| Brisbane | Construction, health, professional services, resources support | Often below Sydney, but rising | Families balancing jobs, climate and housing |
| Perth | Mining, energy, engineering, construction | Market varies with resources cycle | Engineers, trades and resources-sector workers |
| Adelaide | Defence, health, education, advanced manufacturing | Often lower than Sydney and Melbourne | Applicants considering South Australian opportunities |
Use the table as a shortlist, not a ranking. Compare current salaries, rents, school catchments, commute times and the relevant state migration programme for your occupation before choosing.
A family with school-age children may prioritise housing and catchments. A single professional may prioritise job density. Engineers and trades may find the strongest opportunities in a different state from healthcare or education applicants. The city decision should follow the occupation and household budget rather than the other way round.
Tax, Banking and Healthcare Setup When Moving to Australia
The first month is mostly administrative, but several tasks affect payroll, healthcare and housing quickly.
- Tax file number. Apply through the Australian Taxation Office once eligible to do so, so your employer can withhold tax correctly.
- Australian bank account. Some banks offer pre-arrival setup, but activation and identity checks vary by provider.
- Medicare. Permanent residents can generally enrol. UK visitors who were living in the UK before arrival may also be eligible for medically necessary care under the reciprocal healthcare agreement; check the exact conditions for your visa and circumstances.
- Private health insurance. Some temporary visa holders need appropriate health cover as a visa condition, while other families buy private cover alongside Medicare for additional choice.
- Superannuation. Employers make super contributions for eligible employees, and you may be able to choose your fund.
- Driving licence. Conversion rules and deadlines are state- or territory-specific, so check the authority where you will live.
On the UK side, notify HMRC as required, review your National Insurance position and check the effect on any UK pension. GOV.UK’s moving or retiring abroad guidance covers the main departure tasks, while State Pension if you retire abroad is useful if retirement income is relevant.
Finding Rental Housing and Schools After Moving to Australia
Rental markets differ sharply between Australian cities, so many new arrivals use short-term accommodation while they inspect properties and build the paperwork needed for a local application.
In competitive markets, expect to provide identification, income or employment evidence and rental references. Bonds and rent-in-advance rules are set by each state or territory, so check the local tenancy authority rather than assuming one national figure. Treat property portals such as realestate.com.au and Domain as search tools, then verify the tenancy rules through the relevant government authority before signing.
Schooling is split across government, Catholic and independent sectors. Government-school enrolment can be strongly influenced by local catchment rules, while fee structures and admission processes differ for Catholic and independent schools. If school choice matters, check the catchment and enrolment rules before committing to a long lease.
Expert Viewpoint: Making Your Move to Australia Work
The safest way to plan the move is to separate reversible preparation from irreversible commitments. You can research suburbs, declutter, obtain a removals survey and prepare documents while the visa is in progress. Flights, property completion dates and a fixed collection date deserve more caution because a visa decision can move independently of your preferred schedule.
That distinction also makes the move less expensive to correct. Knowing your shipment volume early lets you compare container and groupage options without forcing you to ship before the visa is settled. Once the grant and entry conditions are clear, you can move quickly because the survey, inventory and budget work are already done.
A useful target is to arrange the removals survey a few months before the period in which you expect a decision, while keeping the actual collection provisional. That gives you a realistic volume and quote without treating an estimated visa date as a promise.
Use our international removals cost calculator for an early estimate, review our removals to Australia service, or contact us to plan the shipment around your immigration timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Australia from the UK
Is it worth moving to Australia from the UK?
It can be, particularly when your occupation, expected income and preferred location line up well. Compare the lifestyle benefits with housing costs, distance from family and the practical cost of relocating. A move that looks attractive on salary alone can feel very different once rent, childcare, transport and regular trips back to the UK are included.
How much money do I need to move to Australia?
A family of four might use £20,000 to £40,000 as an initial planning range for visa-related costs, shipping, flights and early settlement expenses, while singles and couples may need less. Treat that as a working budget only. Replace it with current visa fees, live flight prices and an actual removals quote before committing.
How easy is it to move to Australia?
It is possible for many applicants, but it is not automatic. For points-tested skilled visas, your occupation, skills assessment, age, English and points all matter. The current minimum for subclasses 189, 190 and 491 is 65 points, but Home Affairs makes clear that 65 points does not guarantee an invitation.
Can I move to Australia from the UK without a job?
Yes, potentially. The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) does not require employer sponsorship, but you still need an eligible occupation, a suitable skills assessment, enough points and an invitation to apply. A job offer can still make the financial side of settlement easier even when the visa itself does not require one.
Can I move to Australia with my pet?
Yes, if your pet meets Australia’s import conditions. The process can involve an import permit, identity and rabies requirements, veterinary treatments and quarantine. Australia recommends starting preparations at least six to seven months ahead for many cats and dogs, so use the official import guidance before fixing travel dates.
How long does it take to move to Australia from the UK?
Many families plan over roughly 12 to 18 months, but the visa can be much faster or slower depending on the route and case. Treat the immigration decision and the physical move as separate timelines. Sea freight can then add several more weeks, so use current visa processing information and a route-specific removals schedule rather than relying on one end-to-end estimate.
Starting Your Move to Australia
A well-timed move to Australia starts with three decisions: which visa route is genuinely available, which location works for your job and household, and how the physical move will fit around the immigration timeline. Once those are clear, the remaining work becomes much easier to sequence.
Shipping is usually the part you can prepare early without locking yourself into a visa date. A survey establishes the shipment volume, which determines whether groupage or a sole-use container makes sense, while early cleaning and inventory work reduces the risk of biosecurity delays later.
PSS International Removals coordinates the move from UK collection and export documentation through sea freight, Australian customs and biosecurity clearance, to delivery and unloading at your new address.
Use our international removals cost calculator for an initial estimate, compare options on our shipping to Australia page, or contact us to discuss the move in detail.
This guide is general relocation information, not immigration or financial advice. Visa subclasses, points thresholds, costs and biosecurity requirements change. Verify current details with the Department of Home Affairs and other relevant Australian authorities, and use a registered migration professional for advice on your personal immigration case.
