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🇦🇺 Moving to Australia: what you actually need to know

Australia has a points-based permanent residence system similar to Canada's, combined with a robust temporary skilled worker visa scheme. The cost of living, particularly housing in Sydney and Melbourne, has risen sharply and now rivals London and New York. Australia's state and territory nomination programs are increasingly the most practical path to permanent residence for most skilled workers.

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Visa routes

Your main options for moving to Australia

Skilled Independent Visa. Subclass 189

Points-based, no employer or state sponsorship required. Minimum 65 points from the SkillSelect points test. Skills assessment from the relevant authority required first (engineers: Engineers Australia, accountants: CPA or CA, IT: ACS). Processing: 6–18 months depending on demand. Invitation only via SkillSelect.

Employer Nomination Scheme. Subclass 482 (TSS)

Temporary Skilled Shortage visa. Employer-sponsored, 2–4 year stay. Occupation must be on the Short-Term or Medium-Term Skilled Occupation List (MLTSSL). Can lead to subclass 186 permanent visa after 3 years.

State and Territory Nominated. Subclass 190

State or territory nominates you for permanent residence. Adds 5 points to your SkillSelect score. Each state has its own occupation priorities and income requirements. Often faster than the 189 for in-demand occupations.

Working Holiday Visa. Subclass 417/462

For people aged 18–30 (35 for some nationalities). 1-year stay, work permitted. Can be extended to 3 years by doing 88 days of regional work in specified industries (agriculture, mining, construction). A common way to test Australia before committing to PR.

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Cost of living

What it actually costs to live in Australia

Sydney

AUD 3,800–6,000/month (€2,300–3,600)

Rent for a 1-bed: AUD 2,500–3,500 in inner suburbs. Groceries, transport, and utilities add AUD 1,000–1,500.

Melbourne

AUD 3,200–5,500/month (€1,900–3,300)

Slightly cheaper than Sydney. Strong arts, culture, and café infrastructure. Weather is notoriously variable.

Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide

AUD 2,500–4,000/month (€1,500–2,400)

More affordable than the major east coast cities. Brisbane has grown rapidly since the 2032 Olympics announcement.

Key steps

What to do and in what order

Skills assessment

Must be completed before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect. The relevant assessing authority depends on your occupation. Processing varies: Engineers Australia takes 6–8 weeks, ACS (IT) 4–6 weeks. Start this at least 3 months before you plan to submit your EOI.

English language test (IELTS or PTE)

Required for the points test. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is also accepted. CLB equivalent of at least 6 in each skill (IELTS 6.0). Higher scores improve points.

Submit EOI in SkillSelect

An Expression of Interest is not a visa application: it is a statement of interest. You are invited to apply based on your points score. Scores are released in invitation rounds. Check current cut-off scores for your occupation on the Home Affairs website.

Get your TFN (Tax File Number)

Applied for online through the ATO (Australian Tax Office) once you have your visa. Issued within 28 days. Required for employment and tax purposes.

Australia's universal health insurance for eligible visa holders. Register at a Medicare service centre with your passport and visa. If your country has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia (UK, Ireland, Italy, etc.), you may be covered immediately.

Common mistake

The points test score you have today may not be the score that gets an invitation. Cut-off scores vary by occupation and round. Check the historical cut-off data for your ANZSCO code before assuming your score will be sufficient: for popular codes, scores of 90+ are increasingly common.

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