newtaxblog.com

So you want to emigrate to Australia? Leaving your home is never easy, leaving your country even more so. I've done it, and I'm willing to share some of the experience I gained.

 

Before you leave your country, make sure the following is taken care of:

 

Financial and legal issues: Fix all financial and legal matters concerning you and your family. Remember that you need to establish a bank account that can operate from both Australia and your old country.

 

Passports and Visas: Make sure that all passports are valid and issue appropriate visas for all members of the family.

Documents: You'll need a lot of documents once you arrive in Australia. Have them ready: medical records, birth and marriage certificates, kids' school reports, university diplomas and any other paper that proves you exist.

Pets: Special arrangements are required in order to import the family pet. You need to submit an application to import your pet five months in advance, and once there, it will have to be quarantined for a period of time. Flexibility is possible in the case of seeing-eye dog and other disability assisting pets. Remember to add your pet's documents to your documents portfolio discussed above. It is not allowed to bring ferrets and reptiles into Australia. This may sound awfully cold hearted, but it is meant to preserve Australia's unique ecological system. At least your pets don't remember quarantine once it's out. I hope.

Customs: Familiarize yourself with Australia's customs laws. Remember: no food, no animals (except pets as previously mentioned) and no plants from foreign countries are allowed into Australia. Note that this may include such trivial things as Christmas decorations and bamboo furniture. Be familiar with Australian custom's standards regarding electrical appliances and household goods.

Accommodation: You'll be too tired to make accommodation arrangement upon arrival. Arrange for accommodation in advance. You may stay with family or book a hotel room, the important thing is to have someone expecting you. The day before your flight, call your contact to verify your arrival. You should keep your contacts' numbers and addresses at hand.

Transportation: Plan your voyage from the airport to your accommodations. If your contact can come pick you up, that's great. If not, you can use public transportation or rent a car. Public transportation may prove too much for you after a long flight. However, it might prove safer than driving yourself in an unfamiliar country. In Australia, we keep to the left side of the road, so unless you are used to it, stay off the road for a while. If you do rent a car, make sure that there is enough room for everyone's legs and luggage. Ask for a car equipped with GPS, so that you don't have to worry about directions.

And then what? Then you start Living in Australia. Follow the link for some more useful advice.

Welcome! And good luck!

Still not confident enough? Here are some more tips about Move to Australia.

 

 

 

Tags: emigrate to australia, immigrate to Australia, living in australia, moving to australia