Moving to Australia: A guide for ex-pats

With 42% of its population born abroad and an average age of only 37 years, Australia has a modern, vibrant and young society. Australia, where the mother tongue is English, is a rich country, famous for its quality of life, multicultural cities, and incredible natural beauty. It is not surprising that it is a very popular destination for ex-pats who want to move to the southern hemisphere.

Essential information on Australia

Population: 23.13 million

Number of Italian residents (2012): 133.123

Most popular cities for ex-pats: Perth, Brisbane, and Sydney

Currency: Australian dollar

Official language: English

Main industrial sectors: Mining industry; manufacturing; Finance; Media; Instruction; Agriculture; Logistics and transport; Tourism

What visas and documents do you need?

Italian citizens need a visa to live and work in Australia, which visa to request depends on your personal situation and your intentions if you want to move permanently or simply work there for a couple of years.

The Australian Government's Department of Immigration and Border Protection has a comprehensive guide. If you have an Australian parent then you could probably apply for an Australian passport without needing to apply for a visa. know more Australia visa Singapore

Life cost

The most expensive city in Australia is Sydney, it is not surprising that its popularity among Italian ex-pats in recent years has diminished. Cities like Perth and Brisbane are instead seeing an increase in arrivals. In recent years, the cost of living in Sydney has risen to such an extent as to create a so-called "ping pong effect" - some ex-pats have returned to their countries since they can no longer bear the costs of the city.

However, there is not only bad news: Australian cities - even Sydney - are always cheaper than cities like London, and the Australian economy is much more solid than in Europe. For a detailed description of daily living costs, take a look at our dedicated page - so you can get an idea about prices.

Organize your finances

Hardly anyone who has dealt with the Italian banking system can complain about the Australian banking system. Some banks allow you to open an account even before your arrival. The largest institutions are the Commonwealth Bank; Westpac; Australia and New Zealand Banking Group and National Australia Bank. These institutes offer branches throughout the country and complete banking services to the consumer.

Once you have opened your Australian account, register on TransferWise to transfer money between your Italian and Australian accounts without having to pay ridiculous bank commissions.

Search and find work

Most ex-pats who move to Australia in the long term do so through 457 Business Visa, reserved for skilled workers who are sponsored by an Australian employer. Another known option (for those under 31) is the Working Holiday Visa, which allows the visitor to work for six months. The mining industry, engineering, the oil and gas sector, renewable energy, construction, operations, and commercial management are all fields in shortage of personnel that will make it easier to obtain a 457 visa, even if the process can always be arduous.

Cities like Perth are experiencing a boom in the mining sector, attracting an incredible number of qualified ex-pats. In general, the Australian work culture is really relaxed, and there is often a social as well as a working environment. Workplaces can be surprisingly informal compared to Italian ones, even with regard to clothing.

Find a place to live

In the most famous cities, the rental market moves quickly. The process is similar to the Italian one - find an apartment or a house that you like, go to look at it and apply. You will need to provide proof of income, and the references are very important - ideally, one from your previous landlord who declares that you have paid the rent on time. If you do not have a credit history or it is your first time renting in Australia, you may be asked to pay a deposit along with the application (which will be reimbursed if the application fails).

It is illegal for a real estate agent to favor one application rather than another - the selection is made based on the temporal order of receipt, so move quickly.

Education and schools

Australian public education is free and of a high standard. There is a lot of sport in Australian schools and children can do almost any sport, from cricket to softball - and certainly surfing if you live near the coast.

The main difference between the Italian school system is that the school year runs from January to December instead of September to June. Each state is responsible for regulating its public (state) and private schools, so take a look at the education website for the area you are thinking of moving to. If you want to enroll your children in an international school, find a complete list here. know more Australia visa Singapore

Health care

The Australian health system is a mix of public and private and is managed by a system called Medicare. Australian taxpayers pay 1.5% of their earnings (2.5% for higher incomes) and the rest is financed by central government funds. The quality of care is extremely good, which is reflected in the fact that Australia has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. Although ex-pats have the right to access the health system if they need it, they must pay private health insurance. If you want to apply for the 457 visas, you will need to prove that you have sufficient minimum coverage to receive the visa.