Australia is a country that always has a strong appeal. Be it because of its size, its vastness, its cities or its lifestyle, many young people from all over the world choose to intern in this country. And many of them fall in love with Australia and want to move there.
Australia is a little smaller than China, but has only 25 million inhabitants. The capital is Canberra. The official language is English, and the currency is the Australian dollar. Australia is located in the southern hemisphere, so the seasons are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere. Australia is a country of immigrants, only 2% of the population is indigenous (Aboriginal). All others are descendants of the Europeans who immigrated here from 1800 on. In a narrower sense, however, there are about 6.5 million immigrants.
Due to the large number of immigrants, who make up almost 1/3 of the population, and the huge demand for entry visas, Australia has had a very strict anti-immigration policy. Until a few years ago, it was very easy to get a work visa. Now it has become much more difficult.
In any case, it is not difficult to go to Australia for an internship, but it is difficult to stay there permanently or for a long time. The possibility of working as an au pair should not be underestimated, given the high demand.
Move to Australia
To enter Australia, you first need a visa, and there are many different types. The approval periods for temporary visas are quite short. They range from a few days for tourist visas and working holiday visas to a maximum of one month for study visas. You can check the Australian government website at the list of visas. There you can also check which type of visa is best for you and create a personal account to manage your application.
All visa applications can be made online. If you have any doubts or want to be on the safe side, you can contact a immigration agency
Let us see the most popular visas
Tourist visa
- Tourist visa,v(subclass 651) is valid for one year and allows you to enter and stay in Australia for up to 3 months at a time. This visa could be a good option for anyone who wants to test the waters before moving. First, it allows you to find out if you like the country, and second, it allows you to send your application to companies to look for sponsors. If you want to enter Australia with your family, you will need to apply for a visa for each member of your family, including those under 18, even if they are included in your passport. Cost of the visa: free
Work visa
- Temporary Skill Shortages, (subclass 482) you can apply for the visa if you are qualified to work or train in a skilled occupation, if you speak English well, if you have experience in your occupation, and if you have found a sponsor. You can apply for a visa when your employer submits your sponsorship application and selects you as a candidate.
- Permanent visa, (sub classe186), is a permanent residence visa for highly skilled workers. It allows you to work and reside in Australia.
- Working holiday visa, (sub classe 417), all people who have not reached the age of 30 (or 35 in some countries) can apply for it. With this visa you can stay and work in Australia for 12 months. However, you cannot work for the same employer for more than six months. Therefore, it is ideal for seasonal jobs in agriculture, tourism or as an au pair. It is also possible to attend language courses that do not exceed 17 weeks. The visa must be used within one year from the date of issue. During the entire period of validity of the visa, free entry and exit is possible.
Student visa
Student Visa, (subclass 500). This visa can be applied for at any age and allows you to enter Australia with your family. To apply, you must be regularly enrolled in a course of study: English, university, profession (e.g. cook, mechanic, etc.), sport (e.g. teacher of martial arts, yoga, swimming, etc.). You must have an amount in a savings account that will allow you to support yourself and your dependents, if any, throughout the duration of your stay.
In any case, you can work part-time (20 hours/week) during the course and full-time (40 hours/week) during the vacations. There are many options: if studying is not your first goal, you can attend a part-time course (one or two days per week). On the other hand, if you are serious about studying, you can attend a full-time course.
In any case, you should take some money with you. Living in Australia is very expensive, and until you find a job, you will only have expenses. When you start working, you will be able to make a living and live with dignity. This visa is not temporary, it is valid for the duration of the course plus one additional month. The visa is renewable. Cost of the visa: 575 Australian dollars. This visa could also be a good option for those who want to move to Australia to work. You can organize interviews and send a resume.
There are many other visas, but these are the most popular for entering Australia.
Take five minutes to answer these questions:
- What would you like to do in Australia? A temporary experience or a permanent move?
- How old are you?
- What kind of work are you looking for?
- What are you able to do? Is your occupation on the list of missing skills?
- What would you be willing to do?
- How good are your English skills?
- Would you like to study in Australia to learn a trade?
Based on your answers, it is easy to find out which type of visa suits you best.
Move to Australia, useful resources
- Beginning a Life in Australia, official government guide
Move to Australia, what to do once you arrive
- Once you arrive in Australia, the first thing you need to do is apply for a tax number (TFN). You do not need it to work, but without it you will have to pay a much higher percentage of taxes (32% instead of 15%). That’s why you need to apply for it online. You will need to provide a mailing address because the code will be mailed to you within a few weeks.
- Then you need to open a checking account. All you need is your passport and the address of your residence (the hostel address is fine). You need to do this immediately, because after 6 weeks after your arrival, the procedures for opening an account become more complicated
- Health care is free and guaranteed by the Australian health care system (medicare), but it is better to take out private health insurance while you are still abroad or after your arrival for two reasons:
- medicare does not cover everything, you will have to pay for some services yourself
- medicare only covers the first 6 months of your stay, after that you will have to take out private insurance in any case
Moving to Australia, finding accommodation
Australia is a huge but unpopulated country with not many big cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and the capital Canberra, where 60% of Australians live. The remaining 40% live in small towns or tourist resorts. The rest is wild country. Most foreigners live in Melbourne and Sydney.
Renting a house in Australia is generally easy as there is a large supply of houses.
Here are some websites for house hunting:
- Gumtree, one of the most popular websites in Australia
- Flatemate Finder, shared apartments
- Flamates, shared apartments
- Domain, popular website
- Real Estate, real estate website
When signing the contract, you must present your passport, entry visa, employment contract, and references, and make an advance payment of three/four months’ rent and a security deposit, which will be returned to you when you move out. Rental prices, especially in major cities, are very high; in Sydney, a studio apartment in the outer suburbs costs about $1,200 per month, and in the center it can even reach $2,000. And in other cities it does not look much better. In any case, with patience and constant searching, it is possible to find something reasonably priced.
Move to Australia, cost of living
You can check the cost of living in any Australian city on the Numbeo. Keep in mind, however, that wages are in proportion to the cost of living and will allow you to live well. In any case, the ideal solution upon arrival is shared accommodation. Both because of the lower cost. (It is enough to pay a month in advance), and because it is not necessary to have an employment contract and references.
Finally, I would like to reiterate how important it is to speak English. Learn it before leaving and do not listen to those who tell you it is not important, (unless you want to spend 12 months on a farm) and return to your country as you left it.
