Australia is still the number one destination for Brits moving abroad.
A brand new year and a brand new decade – what will you do with it? If you’re anything like me then you’ll make a heap of New Year’s Resolutions that are promptly forgotten by February.
For many people this year, their main goal is to kick-start their lives. If you’ve got stuck in a rut where every day seems like a monotonous countdown to something more interesting then perhaps you’ll be using this new decade to re-evaluate what’s important and maybe even making some life-changing decisions.
Many Brits will be saying farewell to these green shores as they head for new lives abroad. Last year saw an unprecedented number of people leaving the UK to live abroad -Â 427,000 in total. A 25% increase on the year before. And for the majority of Brits, their dreams lie in Australia, the number one country of choice for most Brits moving abroad.
But in this tough economic climate, can you really afford to re-locate to Australia? What about finding work? Are you really better off over there?
The first thing you’ll need to do if you are considering emigrating to Australia is to find out if your occupation is on the Australian’s Critical Skills List (CSL). The CSL is a list of occupations drawn up by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) that are in demand in Australia. If your occupation is one of them, you’ll see your visa application given priority over those whose occupations are not on the CSL. Have a look at the DIAC’s critical skills list here.
If you do find your occupation on the skills list then put in a visa application. This is not as costly as you might think. You can now apply online with the DIAC, just ensure that your information is accurate and correct. If you’re not sure what visa to apply for, they have an award-winning Visa Wizard to help you out, just answer the online questions and it’ll take you through a step by step process that should identify the right visa for you. Fees differ hugely depending on the type of visa you are applying for, but generally you’re looking at around £1,500. This will be considerably more if you decide to use a Migration Agent. Have a look at our article on whether you need a migration agent.
The visa application process also varies depending on a number of factors, such as if you have a firm job offer in Australia; if your occupation is on the CSL; if you are wanting a permanent or temporary visa etc. But generally you can expect to be waiting for at least a year, so you’ll need to get your application in soon. Apply now and you might be starting the year 2011 in your new life!
Ok, all that sounds straightforward enough, but what about the rest of it? Moving home is a stressful experience for anyone, when that involves relocating to a different country surely the stress factor is doubled? Well we can’t promise to take the stress out of moving abroad, but we can promise to be here for you every step of the way.
We’ve got advice on moving your stuff from the UK to Australia, relocating your pets, house-buying tips and information on education and healthcare in Australia. In fact everything you need to know about migrating to Australia is covered right here! But in the unlikely event that we’ve missed anything, our friendly Australia community members are here to support, help and advice. So when you join Embrace Australia you really are in good hands!
Next Step Australia are holding a job and relocation event in Leeds on the 24th of January. There you can meet representatives of the Australian government face-to-face, get visa advice and career support. There are plenty of other stalls from Anglo Pacific – a leading international removals company – to Walkabout, the Australian themed bar where you can start imagining your new life abroad with a pint of lager. Places are free, so visit Next Step Australia for more details.
The top New Year’s Resolutions seem to be the same year in and year out, they invariably include a vow to stop smoking, learn something new and enjoy life more. May we make another suggestion – to do something different this year.  Whether that be emigrating for a new life abroad or taking that holiday of a lifetime, we urge you to consider Australia as your top New Year Resolution destination. Millions of others have lived the Aussie experience – will you join them this year?
Love Australia? Let us keep you informed...
- Join the Embrace Australia community today. Have your questions answered by our experts, start your own blog, get vital migration information and gain valuable insight from those who have already made the journey.
- Subscribe to our RSS Feed and have all our daily news and features delivered straight to your news reader.
- Join our mailing list -
