Moving to Australia from the UK

How to Move to Australia from the UK

To move to Australia and obtain your visa will depend on many factors, including your age, occupation and country of origin, although all applications for Australian visas are considered and processed using the same method and are assessed on similar criteria.

Although Australia is fast gaining a reputation for its strict stance on immigration, it still has one of the highest immigrant populations of any country in the world.

Many migrants each year emigrate to the country for its fantastic year-round weather, consistently growing economy and laid-back way of life.

The following are some of the most common visa categories:

• Australian Skilled Visas
• Australian Working Holiday Visas
• Australian Business Visas
• Australian Family and Spouse Visas
• Australian Employer-Sponsored Visas
• Australian Partner Visas
• Australian Student Visas
• Australian Investor Visas

Overview of Australian Immigrant Visas

As with many countries, some of the primary routes to emigrating to Australia are based on work visas, family visas, investment/ business development visas, and refugee and humanitarian protection immigration routes.

Family and Partner Visas

Some of the most popular visas under this category include the following:

Child Visa: The purpose of this visa is to allow children who are not Australian nationals to stay in Australia indefinitely, work, study, and apply for citizenship if eligible.

Dependent Child Visa: This visa allows the child to move to or reside in Australia until their parent’s Partner Visa application is approved.

Parent Visa: This visa category is designed to allow eligible parents to stay in Australia indefinitely, work, study, and apply for Australian citizenship if eligible.

Partner Visa: These visas come in temporary and permanent categories, and allow partners of eligible partners of Australian citizens or residents to join them.

Prospective Marriage Visa: The visa allows individuals to come to Australia to join their Australian-based fiancé or prospective spouse.

Working and Skilled Visas

Business Innovation and Investment Visa: The purpose of this visa is to allow eligible businesspeople to come to Australia to continue their investment activities on a permanent basis.

Global Talent Visa: This visa is for eligible individuals who have an internationally recognised record of achievement in the area of a profession, sport, the arts, academia or research.

Employer Nomination Scheme: The visa allows eligible individuals who are nominated by an employer to come to Australia for permanent residency and work purposes. The subcategories include the Direct Entry stream, the Labour Agreement stream, and the Temporary Residence Transition stream.

Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa: This visa has been designed for individuals who have lived, worked, or studied in a designated region in Australia on an appropriate visa in the past.

Temporary Activity Visa: This temporary visa allows eligible individuals to come to Australia for the purpose of short-term, temporary work and to participate in events endorsed by the Australian government.

Temporary Skill Shortage visa: This visa allows foreign workers to fill positions that cannot normally be filled by an Australian worker.

How to become a permanent Australian resident

It may be possible to become a permanent resident of Australia if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Some of the most common ways to obtain permanent residency are via skilled work visas and family visas.

There are strict eligibility requirements for each permanent visa, meaning that you must demonstrate to the Australian border authorities the reasons why you qualify for the visa.

You may be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship after you hold permanent residence for a qualifying period of time.

What are the benefits of permanent residence in Australia?

Some of the most common reasons people apply for permanent residence include the following:

• You are entitled to live and work in any area of the country
• Your family members are eligible to move in with you
• Your children are entitled to free education (up to a certain level)
• You can apply for permanent residence on behalf of your family members
• You may be eligible to apply for citizenship following a number of years of holding permanent residence
• You can travel freely to and from Australia in the first five years

There is no single route to apply for Australian residence because there are a number of potential options available.

Guide to Australian work visas for UK citizens

There are Australian work visas available for the following categories of workers:

• Skilled workers
• Individuals who undertake specific activities
• Highly specialised workers
• Trainees on short-term visas
• Experienced businesspeople
• Individuals who are investors

Some of the most popular employment visas include the following:

Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Direct Entry Stream) requirements

• Individuals must have the necessary skills to undertake the job
• Individuals should be on the list of eligible skilled occupations
• Applicants must be nominated by an Australian employer
• They must meet the health and character requirements
• They must have a competent standard of English
• They must be under the age of 45
• They must read or understand the Life in Australia booklet and agree to sign the Australian Values Statement

Skilled Independent Visa requirements

• Applicants must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency and to apply
• Aged under 45 years old
• The role is on the list of eligible skilled occupations
• Individuals have the relevant skills to undertake the role
• You have obtained at least 65 points on the immigrations points system
• Have a competent level of English
• Meet health and character requirements
• Read or understand the Life in Australia booklet and agree to the Australian Values Statement

Temporary Skill Shortage Visa requirements

• Hold a substantive visa or a Bridging Visa (A, B, or C) and have a history of complying with previous conditions of visas
• Nominated by an approved sponsor to fill a role on the eligible short-term skilled occupation list or the medium and long-term strategic skills list
• Have worked in your field of expertise for at least two years
• Other health, skill, character, language, and value requirements

Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa requirements

• Nominated by an Australian state, government agency, or eligible relative. Asked to apply by submitting an expression of interest
• Aged under 45 years old
• Other skills, language, occupational, health, and value requirements

Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist Visa) requirements

• Must have highly specialized skills, knowledge, or experience to undertake work in an Australian business
• Hold adequate funds to maintain yourself
• Other health and character requirements

Distinguished Talent Visa requirements

• Applicants must be nominated
• Must contribute to Australian society economically, socially, culturally, artistically, or in the areas of academia or sports
• Are internationally recognised with a demonstrable record of achievement in their area of expertise
• Other language, health, character, and value requirements

Do UK citizens need a visa to visit Australia?

Depending on where you are from, you may be required to apply for a visa to visit Australia.

If you are a UK citizen, you do not need to apply for a visa. You will have to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) in advance of travel.

This allows you to come to Australia for short periods of time for tourist or business visitor reasons.

UK citizens are entitled to stay for 90 days on the ETA without a visa. Once issued, the ETA is typically valid for 12 months following date of issue.

What do I need to visit Australia?

As a UK citizen, you need to use a valid passport in order to enter the country.

It is recommended that your passport is in date for at least six months when you travel, owing to restrictions by some airlines and countries.

You will also need a credit or debit card (or valid online Paypal account) as well as a valid email address.

How long does it take to process the Australian ETA?

In most cases, the standard processing time is fairly immediate.

There is a cost of $20 AUD to use the ETA app.

What information is needed for the ETA form?

The ETA will ask you for the following information:

• Complete the personal detail and general information section
• Choose how fast you want your application to be processed
• Complete the questionnaire based on your individual circumstances

Who can apply for an Australian family visa?

Depending on the visa and immigration status you hold, you may be eligible to apply for an Australian family visa.

The following categories of individuals may be eligible to apply for Australian family visas:

Australian citizens or permanent residents

There are a number of visa options that are available for eligible individuals.

These include:

• Partner Visa
• Prospective Marriage Visa
• Tourist Stream
• New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa
• Sponsored Family Stream
• Frequent Traveller Stream
• Aged Dependent Relative Visa
• Carer Visa
• Parent Visa
• Aged Parent Visa
• Dependent Child Visa
• Child Visa
• Adoption Visa

Visa holders inviting family members

In order to apply to bring a family member to Australia, it is important to first identify if the visa will be issued on a temporary or permanent basis.

It is also advisable to check whether the individual wants to enter the country once or multiple times, and this will influence the type of visa that can be applied for.

Returning Australian with overseas-born family

If citizens living abroad wish to bring their non-Australian national family, it may be necessary to apply for citizenship by descent.

You may then be able to apply for a passport on their behalf if the citizenship application is approved.

How Much Does it Cost to Move to Australia From the UK?

Moving to Australia is costly, and you’ll need a significant amount of money before and after your arrival. Some visas also require a specific amount in your bank account, and prices will double if you are travelling with a family.

If you plan to immigrate to Australia from UK on any visa, there are certain base costs you will be required to pay (note that these currency conversions are estimates):

• Migration skills assessment: £350
• Notary fees: £80
• Medical check: £340
• Police certificate application: £55
• Visa application fee (to the Australian government): £2,300
• Visa application preparation fee: £4,500
• Total visa application costs: £7,625
• One-way flight: £800
• Shipping your belongings: £5,000
• Rental property deposit (bond): £1,200
• Rent paid in advance: £600
• Monthly health insurance: £90

Australian Entry Requirements

If you plan to migrate to Australia from UK, you will have to meet certain requirements for any visa option you choose. The most common visa pathways are the skilled migration visa, family or partner visas.

For instance, if you were to choose the Skilled Migration visa for work, you must be:

• Be under 45 years old.
• Have a skill from Australia’s list.
• Pass a skills assessment by the right authority.
• Get an invitation to apply.
• Score enough points based on age, qualifications, and English skills.
• Sometimes, have a valid sponsor, but not always.
• Be aware that some visas might not be open for applications, like the Skilled Regional visa.

For most skilled migration visas, the Australian government charges at least £2,300 for one person and £6,300 for a family of four, including two kids under 18.

Processing times vary from 6 months to 2 years, so it’s vital to submit an accurate visa application to avoid wasting time and money.

Is it possible to emigrate to Australia with a criminal record?

Having a criminal record can make moving from the UK to Australia more complex, but it may still be feasible depending on the nature of your offense. The Australian Department for Home Affairs will assess your criminal history by obtaining a police clearance certificate from the UK.

Based on the seriousness of your prior convictions and various other considerations, they will determine whether you meet the requirements of this assessment.