If emigrating to live in Australia to enjoy life “down under” is your dream come true the prospect has become far easier in recent months – in fact, The BBC is reporting that Aussies are welcoming certain Britons with open arms. If you happen to be fairly young and have a labour skill to offer, the good news is the Aussies really want you! With a shortage of skilled workers starting to impact Australia the country has put together a fast-track programme for migration.
Britons who work in such fields as teaching, medicine, accounting, computer technology and even skilled construction labour will find themselves more likely to gain working entry to Australia now. This doesn’t mean of course that Australia isn’t still keen on self-supporting retirees…so if you’re interested in going to live, work or retire to Australia there are immigration options available for you and in this article we look at living in Australia and what to consider before you move.
Moving to live in Australia requires some paperwork in advance. Britons who want to join their nearly 23,400 countrymen who migrated between 2005 and 2006 will find that they do have to file for visas for entry and residency. It is generally considered best to apply for residency from Britain prior to immigrating although it is possible and encouraged to visit first and even secure employment in advance.
If your professional skill set falls outside one of the desired industries demanding skilled workers, take heed when considering Australia; immigrants as a group do have a higher unemployment rate than native Australians…
According to the Australian Government’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship, immigrants on the whole experience a 7.5% unemployment rate – although the figure for immigrants specifically from English-speaking countries runs at about 4.6% which tracks with the overall unemployment rate in Australia.
Beyond finding a job or making sure your pension income is in order, if you’re a Briton dying to join your countrymen down under there are other things to carefully consider - some things expatriating Brits should think about include: -
• Travel expenses. Moving to Australia is an expensive proposition. The cost of a one-way airline ticket can run to GBP 3,500 or more. This initial travel to the country and any subsequent round trips to visit family and friends back in Britain will set you back a lot of money. This doesn’t include the costs of relocating household goods and personal effects either…so do factor all this in mind when seriously considering whether living in Australia is right for you.
• Fitting in. While the challenges of fitting in are greatly reduced for Brits in Australia thanks to the lack of a language barrier and the fact the same basic culture pervades in both nations, Australia is still a world apart from Europe! Getting used to the climate, people and pace of life might take some time.
• Impacts on family. If you’re intending to move to Australia with an entire family in tow, make certain the decision is one that is best for everyone involved.
Picking up sticks and moving to Australia has become easier for Britons but this is still a very substantial relocation – so take the time to carefully consider the options and see if this type of move is really right for you and your family before you commit to buying real estate in Australia and relocating for good.
