Getting Residency to Emigrate to Australia

Facts and information about gaining residency and citizenship Down Under for Britons who want to live in Australia

According to a recent article in the Sunday Times, more Britons are emigrating to live in Australia than at any other time before.  In part this is because the rules for getting residency to emigrate to Australia eased last year, but in part because the way of life, the standard of life and the cost of living in Australia are seen as so much more favourable by increasing numbers of British citizens.

If you’ve long dreamed of starting a new life for you and your family on Australia’s sun kissed and sandy shores, you need to understand the rules of residency and citizenship so that you can get your paperwork in order ready for your relocation abroad.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship is the place for you to begin, and it is this governmental department that gave the Sunday Times the statistics about the number of Brits moving to live down under.  According to the figures received, some 23,223 Brits emigrated to live in Australia between 2006 and 2007, which is a significant increase on the 2004 figures of 18,000 and actually double the number of Britons moving to Australia just ten years ago.

The vast majority of those who emigrate do so under the ‘skilled migrant’ residency class with around 3,800 having emigrated because they had family in Australia during the 2006 – 2007 period.  If you’re interested in getting residency to emigrate to Australia you first have to decide which method of application approach is most applicable to you – i.e., under which scheme you stand the best chance of being accepted under…

You will need to visit the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s website to determine whether you should apply for residency under the broad categories of worker, business person or family member and then you can drill down further to see which visa option is right for you.  As the majority of Brits living in Australia have gained residency under the GSM or General Skilled Migration category, it’s wise to look at this one first if you are unsure of how to proceed.

Under this programme you build up points based on everything from your age to your qualifications, your English language ability and your skills, work experience and also the demand that exists in Australia for your particular skill set.  If you achieve 120 or more points you can apply for residency to move Down Under via this programme.  You will also have to undergo some basic medical checks and be proven to be of ‘good character.’

Once you’ve gained residency in Australia and relocated the family Down Under, there may come a point when you decide to go the next step and gain citizenship.  The rules have recently changed but basically, if you have been permanent resident in Australia for four years you can begin thinking about gaining citizenship.  You will again have to prove you are of ‘good character’ in case the Australian sun has had a detrimental effect on your nature!  And you will need to have been resident in Australia for four years including having spent twelve months as a permanent resident immediately before your application and you must not have spent more than twelve months outside of Australia in the four years that you have so far held residency. 

On top of meeting these criteria you will now also have to sit a citizenship test where you will be examined on your understanding of Australia, the way of life, the history, politics and even social culture.

If you want more information we suggest you contact Australia House which is the Australian embassy in London.  Because residency and citizenship rules can change, you will get the most up to date information from the Australian embassy or Department of Immigration and Citizenship.