Living in Australia
Official
Information informationabout British people moving toto, and living or retiring in Australia need– to know, including residency,visas, working, healthcare and driving.
- From:
- Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
- Published
- 3 January 2014
- Last updated
-
2622AprilOctober20242025 — See all updates
IntroductionGetting help with living in Australia
This
Help guidefrom setsthe outAustralian essentialgovernment
For informationany forquestions Britishon nationalsmoving to or living in Australia, includingyou advicemay onbe health,able benefits,to residenceget requirementshelp andfrom more.the:
- Australian
WeHighareCommissionunableintoLondon - Australian
provideDepartmentanyofguidanceHomeonAffairs
The generalUK lifestylegovernment, enquiriesthe apartBritish fromHigh theCommission informationin andCanberra and linksConsulates listedGeneral below.cannot Seegive ourpersonalised informationadvice on whatmoving consulatesto, living or retiring in Australia.
Professional help in Australia
You can andalso cannotget dohelp from professionals forin BritishAustralia, nationals.including:
- lawyers
- notaries
- funeral directors
Help from the UK government
IfRead the travel advice for Australia to understand the risks you can’tmay findface whatif you needlive below,in or visit Australia. This includes the latest information on:
- visas and
youentryneedrequirements - laws
urgentandhelp,culturalcontactdifferences - safety
yourandnearestsecurity
Read Britishour embassyguidance on moving, living or consulateretiring abroad.
Get help from the UK government abroad, including in an emergency.
BeforeVisas, youresidency goand citizenship
SeeMake oursure travelyou advicemeet the entry requirements for Australia forbefore up-to-dateyou informationtravel.
Visas
Check onthe localvisa lawsyou andneed customs,to safetylive andin emergencies.Australia.
SeeYou movingcan get a visa to:
- work
- study
- live permanently
- join a partner or
retiringfamily
If abroadyou want to extend your visa, read guidance on staying longer in Australia. or contact the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
For informationmore information, read guidance on planningvisas aand visitcitizenship seefrom Tourismthe AustraliaAustralian High Commission in London.
VisasPermanent and residency
BritishYou citizensmay needbe aable visa to enterapply for permanent residency in Australia –if seeyour entryvisa requirementsallows forit.
To Australiafind inout ourif travelyou’re adviceeligible and Visahow Finderto apply, read guidance on permanent residency.
Citizenship
IfAustralia yourecognises alsodual havecitizenship. AustralianThis citizenship,means you shoulddo enternot andhave leaveto thegive countryup on(renounce) your British citizenship to become an Australian passport.citizen.
YouTo canfind holdout bothif Australianyou’re andeligible Britishfor citizenship.Australian Learncitizenship:
- read
aboutguidancebeingon becoming an Australian citizen - contact the Australian Department of Home Affairs
- contact the Australian High Commission in London
Help with visa and seeresidency informationapplications
The onBritish eligibilityHigh Commission in Canberra and howConsulates toGeneral apply.cannot help with Australian visa and residency applications.
For any questions or issues, contact:
- the Australian Department of Home Affairs
- the Australian High Commission in London
- a lawyer in Australia
HealthcarePassports and travel
SeeRead our travelguidance adviceon formoving, Australialiving or retiring abroad. This covers how to:
Australia
- apply
andfortheaUKBritishhavepassportreciprocalfromhealthcareabroad - travel
agreements,urgentlyhoweverwithouttheyouragreementBritishwillpassport
Healthcare notin coverAustralia
Read allour healthcareguidance needs.on Youmoving, shouldliving buyor comprehensiveretiring travelabroad. andThis medicalcovers insurancehow beforeto:
- plan
youyourenterhealthcare - take
themedicinecountry.abroad
UnderAustralia thehas a reciprocal healthcare agreement,agreement Britishwith citizensthe residentUK inthat thewill UKcover andsome travellingbut onnot aall Britishyour passporthealthcare arecosts entitledif toyou’re:
- visiting
limited,Australia,subsidisedincludinghealthifservices,you’reforamedicallystudent - resident
necessaryintreatmentthewhileUK - have
visitingaAustralia.valid visa
If you’re resident in Australia, Australia, Medicare covers covers some healthcare. The government uses tax rebates to encourage everyone to buy buy private health insurance.
To Thefind NHSout hashow informationto forget peoplemedical moving abroad.treatment:
Australian
- contact
residentsyourshouldinsurancealsoprovider - read
makeguidancesureonyougettinghavehealthcare through Medicare - read guidance on health and wellbeing
- read travel
insuranceadvicewhenguidancetravellingontohealththeinUKAustralia
Planning orfor youlater couldlife
The beAustralian chargedgovernment byMy theAged NHSCare forwebsite anyhas careinformation to help you receiveplan infor thelater UK.life.
See
Working bringingin medicine into Australia
Read –our youguidance shouldon alsomoving, checkliving youror prescriptionsretiring are legalabroad. inThis Australia.
Readcovers moreworking aboutabroad, medicalincluding facilities/practitionersdocuments inyou Australia,may orneed findfrom doctorsthe inUK Australia.government.
Working
To work in Australia
YouAustralia, you need a visavisa.
The toAustralian workDepartment inof AustraliaHome –Affairs seeexplains workingthe indifferent Australiawork visas. available to you.
SomeTo jobsapply for a job, you may requireneed a UK criminal records check (known as a DBS check).
For
Recognition informationof onskills your rights and obligationsqualifications
If inyou thewant Australianto workforce,work orin toAustralia, makeyou amay complaintneed aboutto workplaceget practices,your seeskills theassessed Fairand Workforeign Ombudsmanqualifications recognised.
TaxDriving in Australia
SeeRead taxour ifguidance youon leavemoving, theliving UKor toretiring live abroad. andThis taxcovers onhow to:
- drive abroad legally
- take your UK
incomevehicleifabroad - get
youdrivinglivelicenceabroad.letters
WeFor recommendmore youinformation geton professionalroad advicerules, onincluding payinglicensing, taxread the ‘road travel’ section of safety and security in Australia.Australia.
SeeRoad Comingrules toand Australiathe process for informationexchanging a UK licence vary by state. Check rules on workingdriving andwith payingan taxesoverseas inlicence Australia.in:
- Australian
YouCapitalneedTerritory - New
toSouthgetWales - Northern
aTerritory - Queensland
- South
TaxAustralia - Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western
FileAustralia
Disabled Numberdrivers
You frommay thebe able to apply for an Australian TaxationDisability OfficeParking Permit.
SeeIf taxyou ifhave a UK Blue Badge and live in Australia, you must return it to the original UK. issuing authority.
PensionsTax
SeeRead Stateour Pensionguidance ifon youmoving, retireliving or retiring abroad. andThis newcovers Statetax, Pension.including paying UK tax and National Insurance.
IfThe youUK gethas a ‘lifedouble certificate’taxation fromagreement thewith UK Pension ServiceAustralia, so that you needdo tonot respondpay astax soonon asthe possiblesame –income yourin paymentsboth maycountries.
Read beguidance suspendedon paying tax if youyou’re don’t.
Youcoming mayto beAustralia. ableYou will need to payget Nationala Insurancetax whilefile abroadnumber.
Contact inthe orderAustralian toTaxation protectOffice youror StateHM PensionRevenue and entitlementCustoms tofor otherany benefitsquestions andabout allowances.tax.
ToConsider movegetting professional advice from a lawyer in Australia.
Pensions
Claiming your UK pension
Read toour theguidance UK,on contactmoving, theliving Internationalor Pensionretiring Centreabroad. This covers:
If
- how
youtohaveclaimworkedyour UK State Pension - where the UK government pays an annual increase in
Australia,theseeStateagePension
Claiming an Australian pension
Check if you’re eligible for howthe toAge claimPension yourin pension.Australia.
All employers in Australia aremust required to pay apart portion of your wages into a a superannuation fund for your retirement. This payment is made pre-tax and can only be withdrawn in specific circumstances.
Benefits
See
Claiming claimingUK benefits
Read ifour youguidance live,on movemoving, living or travelretiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit.
Claiming Australian benefits
FindIf outyou’re whicha UKpermanent benefitsresident of Australia, you mightmay be ableeligible tofor getsome whilebenefits. you’reContact abroadServices Australia andfor howmore to claim them.information.
Many
Buying income-relatedand benefitsrenting suchproperty asin PensionAustralia
Read Creditour andguidance Housingon Benefitmoving, can’tliving beor paidretiring ifabroad. you’reThis abroadcovers forbuying moreand thanrenting 4property weeks.abroad.
IfRules you’reon buying, aselling permanentor residentrenting ofproperty Australia,in youAustralia vary mayby bestate.
Contact eligiblea forlawyer somein AustralianAustralia stateif benefitsyou’re –considering seebuying Servicesproperty Australia.or land.
LegalVoting advicein Australia
UK elections
SeeRead our Listguidance ofon Lawyersmoving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:
Driving
- vote in
Australia
UK elections
Australian elections
SeeYou drivingcannot abroadvote andin roadAustralian travelelections inunless Australiayou’re an Australian citizen or you enrolled, as a British subject, before 1984.
Studying Roadin rules,Australia
If andyou theplan processto ofstudy exchangingin aAustralia, UKyou licensemust formeet anall Australianvisa onerequirements varyfor fromstudying statebefore toyou state.travel.
For more information:
ACT:readdriversguidancewithonlicensestravelfromgrantsoverseasfor-studentsAccessstudyingCanberraabroad or on placements (England)NewcontactSouthyourWales:higherdrivingeducationwithprovideraninoverseasthe UK orinterstateAustralia- contact
licencetheinAustralianNSW,DepartmentNSWofGovernmentEducation Queensland:
Children
Read drivingour inguidance Queensland on anmoving, interstateliving or overseasretiring licence,abroad. TransportThis andcovers motoring,moving Queenslandabroad government
with children, including:
SouthgettingAustralia:permissiondrivingtowithtakeanyouroverseaschildlicence,abroad- claiming
SA.GOV.AUUK Child Benefit abroad Tasmania:childdrivingmaintenanceinpaymentsTasmaniaifonaanparentinterstatelivesorabroad
Schools overseasand licenseeducation
The -Australian TransportDepartment Servicesof Education
The rules vary slightly between states, but children aged 6 to Victoria:16 VicRoads
For more information, read the Australian government’s guidance on school years
Childcare
SeeServices takingAustralia ahas vehicleinformation outabout ofearly theeducation UKand childcare. This includes support you may be able to get.
VotingBirths, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships
Births
SeeIf votingyour whenchild you’reis abroadborn in Australia, register the birth with the Australian authorities.
BritishRead citizensour guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. canThis votecovers inhow someto:
- register
UKtheelectionsbirth–withyou’lltheneedUK authorities toregistergetasaanUKoverseasbirthvoter.certificate - apply for your child’s first British passport
Births
Deaths
SeeRead registerour aguidance birthon moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers
Deaths
See
.
SeeIf also:someone dies in Australia, read guidance on:
funeralwhatdirectorsto do after a British person dies in Australiabereavementfuneralinformationdirectorsforin Australia
GettingMarriages married
SeeRead gettingour marriedguidance abroad.
Renewingon passports
Seemoving, overseasliving Britishor passportsretiring applicationsabroad. andThis getcovers anhow emergencyto travelget documentmarried (sometimesor calledget ana emergencycivil passport).partnership abroad.
Pets
Australia
Divorce hasand strictseparation
Read customsour rules.guidance Seeon bringingmoving, petsliving toor Australiaretiring abroad. orThis ifcovers youhow areto travellingget witha petsdivorce backor toend thea UK.civil partnership.
SeeRead travellingguidance withon petsdivorcing in Australia.
Accommodation
Consider andgetting buyinglegal property
Seeadvice buyingfrom a propertylawyer abroadin Australia.
Documents for British people in Australia
RulesRead onour buying,guidance sellingon ordocuments rentingfor propertyBritish inpeople Australiaabroad. varyThis fromcovers:
- legalising
stateandtocertifyingstate.UK documents - marriage and civil partnership documents
- affirmations and affidavits
- witnessing signatures
EmergenciesLawyers and notaries
AustraliaTo usesfind thea emergencylawyer numberor 000.notary in Australia, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad.
Pets
If you needwant urgentto help,bring contact your nearestpet Britishwith embassyyou orto consulate.Australia, read guidance on:
To
- bringing
speakpets totheAustralia - taking
policeyourinpetnon-lifedog,threateningcatsituations,orcallferret131to444.a non-EU country
DisclaimerReturning to the UK
PleaseRead notereturning thatto thisthe informationUK ispermanently. providedThis asincludes ainformation guideon only.bringing Definitivefamily informationmembers shouldback beto obtainedthe fromUK, thetax Australianand authorities.access Theto Foreign,services.
Disclaimer
We Commonwealthprovide &this Developmentinformation Officeas willa notguide beonly. For liabledefinitive forinformation, anycontact inaccuraciesthe inAustralian thisauthorities.
Read information.our consular information disclaimer.