Thinking of moving overseas from Australia? Well, you are not alone. Apparently, there are over a million Australian-born people living and working overseas at any given time.
Maybe you are moving for love. Or you want to build a career in an industry that thrives in another country. Perhaps you just want to experience a new culture or live a prominent way of life in another country. Whatever your reasons for emigrating from Australia, the process is not straightforward.
Indeed, not only does it involve meticulous research and preparation, but it also requires meeting certain obligations. So, with that in mind, the process can seem a little overwhelming.
But fear not! We are here to help.
Here are our 7 tips for moving overseas in 2024 you should focus your attention on.
Moving Overseas Tips
If you are serious about relocating from Australia to another country, it is a good idea to read this moving overseas guide from Muval. However, here are some things to consider.
Research the country
Although you might have a romanticized view of living in another country, it is worth taking the time to understand fully what living there will entail.
This should involve learning about its culture, laws, weather, tax and healthcare system, unemployment levels and cost of living, among many other things.
Once you have gained a full appreciation of this, you can make a more informed decision as to whether moving there is the right thing for you to do.
Organize your finances
If you have made your mind up to relocate to another country, you should start to get your finances organized.
Moving overseas can be a very expensive proposition. So, you should calculate how much it will cost you to do so. This should involve getting quotes from a few removalist companies who specialize in international moves and working out how much your transit fare over there will be.
You should also establish a weekly budget for living overseas, including cost of rent or mortgage, groceries, running a car, insurances, medical cover etc.
It would be wise to establish a contingency fund, too, with at least six month’s worth of living costs set aside in case of unforeseen circumstances, like loss of income or an inability to work due to injury.
Apply for your visa
It doesn’t matter what country you want to move to. You will need a visa for most of them if you want to live there permanently.
Typically, the kind of visa you will need will depend on your reason for moving to that country. For example, if you are moving to work there, you will need a different visa for that purpose than you would if you want to relocate to be with a romantic partner of that nationality.
The process of applying for a visa will vary depending on the country you want to move to. Therefore, it is a good idea to check with your local consulate in that territory to ascertain the most up-to-date requirements.
Gather your important documents
Whilst your visa application is being processed you should take the opportunity to gather other important documents, as you’ll want to take them when you move.
This should include your birth and wedding certificates, driver’s licence and passport, some of which you will need for your visa application.
All of these documents should be originals and, where appropriate, in date. If any of these will not be valid before you intend to move, you should take steps to make sure they are prior to you leaving Australia.
Buy your ticket
Once your visa has been approved, you’ll have a specific amount of time available before you have your passport stamped in your new country of residence, otherwise your application could be null and void.
For this reason, you will need to buy your air or boat ticket. Try to secure one that gives you enough time to organise the logistics of your move and say a proper goodbye to the family and friends you will be leaving behind.
Work out what you will do with your possessions
Before your international move, you will need to work out what to do with your possessions.
Some you might want to ship overseas to where you will be staying – though to do this, you will need to secure accommodation first.
If you only intend moving overseas for a couple of years, you could put them into storage. Alternatively, and especially if your move abroad is a permanent one, you could sell unwanted items, donate them to charity, recycle them or dispose of them at the refuge tip.
