Australia is one of the best and the most favorite countries to migrate to as per the majority. In fact, in a recent HSBC Expat Explorer survey, the country emerged as the 6th out of 33; best place to live a healthy life and ensure a safe environment for kids to grow. The survey takes into account three aspects of life in a foreign country. These are
- Living; wellbeing and the society
- Ambition; finance and ambition
- Little Expat; learning, schooling, and making friends
Australia is indeed unique. It is the only one in the world that is both a continent and a country. As a continent, Australia is the smallest of all; as a country, it’s one of the largest in the whole world. Australia is located between the Indian and the Pacific oceans and is also the largest island on earth.
Apart from that, Australia is one of the most beautiful countries and is home to some of the most exotic wildlife species. Precisely, there are more than 10,685 beaches in Australia, and approximately 80% of their animals are unique only to them. And that is not all.
There are so many other reasons why people love Australia; the list is endless. While it seems like a fun place to live, migrating to Australia is not as easy. Certain things that can ruin your experience if not planned well. These are the things you would wish somebody warned you about before migrating.
In this article, you will discover 11 of the most important things to check before planning to migrate to Australia.
1. The Language
If you are one of those who have never watched Australian soap operas such as Neighbors, Home and Away, and so on, you might not know that Australians like to use so much slang to communicate. English is their official language, but the slang changes everything. For example, Aussies reduce most of their words into either y or Ie. They say mozzies instead of mosquitoes, brekky to mean breakfast, barby to mean barbeque, and so on.
2. The Tax System
Like all other nations, Australia has its own tax laws, which are necessary to follow to secure your stay. The first thing you should do when you get to Australia is to apply for TFN (Tax Filing Number). You must supply this number to your new employer; otherwise, they will have to withhold a 45% tax rate from your income. Make sure you are aware of the tax laws before you migrate.
3. The Visa Requirements
To begin with, you can’t enter Australia without a Visa. Check with the Australian Immigration Agency to confirm what type of Visa you need and any other requirements relevant to your migration. Some of the options you have are ETA Visa, Visitor Visa, and eVisitor Visa.
4. The Weather
Most people assume that the weather is always the same everywhere in Australia. When the south is in summer, the north is usually experiencing a wet season. While Brisbane experiences a tropical climate, the weather in Melbourne is so unpredictable. It can hit anything between both extremities (hot and cold) in just one day.
5. Heat in Australia
Australia can really get hot sometimes. In some areas, summer temperature can even go as high as 40. In some others, there have been reports of heatwaves killing hundreds of bats and melting tarmacs.
6. Bushfires in Australia
Before you migrate to Australia, you might want to know that bushfires are a common thing there. The country reports approximately 5000 bushfires or more every year. You will need to prepare yourself for such before you relocate to Australia.
7. The Perfect City to Live in Australia
There are seven states in Australia. Each of these has a capital city, different from one to another based on weather patterns, cost of living, population, traffic, activities, among other things. Take your time to learn what you like about each place, then choose the one with the most likes.
8. The Health System
When moving abroad, looking out for your health should be at the top of your priority list. Fortunately, Australia has one of the best health care systems you can find anywhere else in the world.
9. Cost of Living
When migrating to Australia or any other foreign country for that matter, it’s necessary that you confirm the cost of living there. It’s okay to want to maintain a better lifestyle but at what cost? First, make sure you understand the financial implication of doing so before you sacrifice your income.
10. Transacting in Australia
When you migrate to Australia, you will need money to survive. But carrying huge loads of cash everywhere you go is not exactly a good option. Opening an account with an Australian bank of your choice is the first thing you should do upon arrival.
As a requirement by the Australian government to prevent fraud, banks must use a 100 points system to validate your identity when opening your bank account. Confirm the points in each to identify the documents you will need to produce at the bank.
11. Education in Australia
If you are a parent, you might want to secure your child’s education before you migrate. Lucky for you, the Australian education system is one of the best available. You can take your children to a state-funded school or private school; the choice is yours. Public schools are more affordable, in general, but the government may decide to charge extra fees on new immigrants. Make sure you confirm the details before you relocate.
Most of the public schools in Australia have boundaries. That means your children can only enroll for schools within your local area and not beyond. Understanding the Australian education system will inform some crucial decisions about your migration, including where to settle.
Conclusion
If you are migrating to Australia, these are some of the most important things to check. But there is so much more to learn about this lucky nation; it’s impossible to summarize it all in just one article.
Research the internet, ask around your friends and colleagues, visit the necessary offices; if there is anything you can do to find out more information, you do it. In the end, this is what you need to avoid surprises and any bad experiences migrating to Australia.