Moving to Australia
Australia rewards the long haul. Here is the honest brief on what it costs to ship your home there, how biosecurity actually works, the visa routes that fit real people, and what your first month on the ground looks like.
A high quality of life you pay for, and mostly decide is worth it.
People move to Australia for space, weather, and a standard of living that consistently lands near the top of global rankings. The trade is distance and cost. You are a long flight from almost everywhere, and the two biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, are genuinely expensive to live in. Salaries are high to match, which is part of why the move works for so many.
It suits skilled professionals whose occupation is in demand, families chasing outdoor space and good state schools, and people joining an Australian partner. It suits remote workers less well than you might expect, because the time zone puts you a day ahead of Europe and the Americas. Be honest with yourself about that gap before you commit.
The bureaucracy is orderly and mostly online, but it is strict where it chooses to be, especially at the border. Plan around the rules rather than against them and Australia is one of the smoother long haul moves you can make.
The realistic routes in.
Australia runs a points based, occupation driven system. Most permanent movers arrive on a skilled or employer sponsored visa, while family and working holiday routes cover much of the rest.
For people whose occupation sits on a skilled list. Points are scored on age, English, qualifications, and experience. The 189 is independent, while the 190 and 491 need nomination by a state or territory.
An Australian employer sponsors you for a skilled role. The 482 is temporary and can lead to the permanent 186. This is the most direct path when you already hold a job offer.
For partners and spouses of Australian citizens or permanent residents. A two stage process from temporary to permanent, with a genuine relationship test along the way.
For eligible nationalities aged 18 to 30 or 35. A year of work and travel that some people use as a first step toward a longer stay.
Bringing your household goods in.
Australia is generous on duty and strict on biosecurity, and the second part catches more people out than the first. Used personal and household effects that you have owned and used for at least twelve months are generally admitted free of duty and GST under the unaccompanied personal effects concession. You declare them on the Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement, form B534, which your mover or a customs broker usually lodges for you.
The biosecurity screen is where shipments get held. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry inspects for soil, plant material, seeds, food, animal products, and untreated timber. Garden tools, camping and sporting gear, vacuum cleaners, bicycles, and outdoor footwear are all flagged because they carry soil and seeds, so clean them thoroughly before they are packed. Wooden items with bark or signs of pests can be ordered for treatment on arrival at your expense.
Motor vehicles are a project of their own. You need a vehicle import approval granted before the car ships, and Australia tests imported goods for asbestos, which was used in parts and gaskets in many older cars. Most movers find that importing a vehicle is slower and dearer than selling at home and buying once they land.
What people wish they had known.
The distance is not just a flight time, it is a way of life. Visiting family back home is expensive and infrequent, and the time difference means calls happen at the edges of the day. People who move well treat Australia as a real home rather than a long holiday, and build a local life early.
Housing in Sydney and Melbourne is the other reality. Rents are high and good rentals move fast, so be ready to apply quickly with references and proof of income. Outside the big two, the same salary stretches much further, which is why many movers look hard at Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth before committing to the headline cities.
One practical surprise is how seriously biosecurity is taken. The cleaning you do before packing is not box ticking, it genuinely decides whether your container sails through or sits in inspection. Treat it as part of the move, not an afterthought.
How to pick a mover for this route, without the guesswork.
We do not rank or recommend individual companies. We teach you the criteria that separate a safe international move from an expensive mistake, then put your request in front of vetted movers who run this lane.
Check the trade affiliation. Membership of FIDI or IAM is the clearest signal a mover is financially screened and bound to industry standards for international household goods. For Australia, corridor experience matters more than usual, because biosecurity and the long sea transit reward a mover who has cleared these shipments many times before.
Insist on a binding pre move survey. A real video or in home survey of your volume is the only honest basis for a price. A quote given without one is a guess that tends to grow on moving day.
Compare like for like. Read what each quote includes: packing, materials, customs clearance, destination delivery, stair or long carry charges, and insurance. The cheapest headline number is rarely the cheapest move.
Understand the insurance terms. Ask whether cover is full replacement value or depreciated, what the excess is, and how claims are handled. Read the valuation clause before you sign.
Read recent reviews for this corridor. A mover can be excellent locally and weak on international shipments. Look for verified reviews that mention the actual route and customs experience.
What life costs once you land.
Australia is an expensive country to live in, with housing in Sydney and Melbourne the main driver. Pay is high to match, and the maths softens noticeably outside the two largest cities.
Indicative 2026 figures in US dollars, converted from Australian dollars. Your city and lifestyle will move these numbers.
Where people land
Sydney offers the jobs and the harbour at the highest price. Melbourne trades a little weather for culture, coffee, and slightly softer rents. Brisbane has warmed up as a value option with a growing economy, while Perth suits people heading into resources and engineering. Adelaide and Canberra reward those who prioritise space and schools over nightlife. Pick the city for the life you actually want, not the postcard.
Healthcare and banking
Healthcare runs through Medicare, the public system. Permanent residents and citizens enrol with Services Australia, and some temporary visa holders from countries with a reciprocal agreement get limited cover. Many people carry private health insurance on top, partly for shorter waits and partly because some visas require it.
Two early tasks unlock almost everything else. Apply for a Tax File Number from the Australian Taxation Office as soon as you can, because without one your pay is taxed at the top rate. Then open a local bank account, which the major banks let you start online before you arrive and activate with identification once you land.
Your first month checklist
- 1Apply for a Tax File Number from the Australian Taxation Office so your first pay is taxed correctly.
- 2Enrol with Medicare at a Services Australia centre if your visa makes you eligible.
- 3Open an Australian bank account and set up your salary and rent payments.
- 4Get an Australian mobile number on a local prepaid or postpaid plan.
- 5Sort transport, an Opal card in Sydney, a Myki in Melbourne, or the local equivalent.
- 6If you plan to drive, check whether you can use your overseas licence and for how long.
Get moving quotes for Australia.
Tell us your origin, size, and timing. We pass your request to vetted international movers who run the route to Australia, and you compare them on your own terms.
Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move to Australia?
For a typical two to three bedroom household by sea, plan on roughly 5,800 to 14,500 US dollars door to door from Europe or North America in 2026, depending on volume, your exact origin port, and delivery distance at the Australian end. A studio or one bedroom move costs much less, a four bedroom home or a sole use container more. These are indicative ranges, not a quote.
How long does shipping to Australia take?
Sea freight typically runs about five to ten weeks door to door from Europe and around four to seven weeks from the west coast of North America, plus customs and biosecurity clearance once it lands. Air freight is days rather than weeks but costs several times more by volume.
Do I pay duty on my household goods?
Used personal and household effects you have owned and used for at least twelve months are generally admitted free of duty and GST under the unaccompanied personal effects concession, declared on form B534. Newer items can attract duty and tax. Confirm the current position with the Australian Border Force before you ship.
What is the hardest part of importing to Australia?
Biosecurity, not duty. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry inspects for soil, seeds, food, and untreated timber, and will hold or treat anything that fails. Clean outdoor gear, garden tools, bicycles, and footwear thoroughly before packing to avoid delays and treatment fees.
Can I bring my car to Australia?
You can, but you need a vehicle import approval granted before it ships, and Australia tests imported vehicles for asbestos, which appeared in older parts and gaskets. The process is slow and often costly, so many movers sell at home and buy locally instead.
What should I do first when I arrive in Australia?
Apply for a Tax File Number, open a bank account, and enrol with Medicare if your visa makes you eligible. Those three tasks are the key to your pay, your rent, and your healthcare, and most other admin follows from them.
Moving to Australia from where you are.
Pick your starting country for the costs, customs, and timeline specific to that route. Browse them all on the corridors index.
From the Americas
From Asia and the Middle East
- Singapore to Australia
- India to Australia
- United Arab Emirates to Australia
Nearby and beyond
- New Zealand to Australia
- South Africa to Australia
We refresh corridor guides as rules and prices change.
Last reviewed: 10 April 2026. We refresh this guide as costs, customs, and visa rules change.