Moving To Australia Or New Zealand From The UK

Australia is a massively popular destination for gap year travellers or for those looking to start a new chapter of their life, a new adventure or a new job. Fantastic weather, beautiful beaches and a culture that Brits will find familiar make it no surprise that it remains ranked highly as the place to move to for citizens of the UK.

Data from a number of sources has affirmed Australia as the number one destination for British expats to relocate to. A recent study from the Centre of Future Studies surveyed over 1,800 British expatriates and results showed that around 87 per cent of respondents now live Down Under, to retain the top spot for the second consecutive year.

The desire for improved quality of life and a safer environment for children was the number one reason given for relocation, with 82 per cent citing this as a key factor in the decision to move. Not only that, 75 per cent think the overall health of their families improved noticeably since settling in, and more than 66 per cent claimed they noticed increases in their wealth.

New Zealand also finds a place among British expats as a favoured destination, however, fails to attract as many as its larger neighbour, despite jaw-dropping scenery that has attracted a multitude of Hollywood movies to use the stunning landscapes as backdrops in their movies.

A Few Considerations

Despite having many similarities, the cultures of Australia and New Zealand have several pitfalls for the unsuspecting Brit to jam their foot right in. Looking to rent a property and surprised at how cheap the rents are? You might like to know prices in Australia are advertised per week, which has caught out many a Brit before.

Healthcare might not be free. Australia has a public healthcare system called Medicare, which provides care to domestic residents and also has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK. However, New Zealand’s healthcare system isn’t always free even for residents. Despite this, treatment for accidents is free and other treatment is heavily subsidised by the government and usually low cost.

School systems are different; the school year starts either late January or early February, while the curriculum will likely be quite different to those in the UK.

Sponsorship or Visa

Moving to Australia or New Zealand is not as simple as stepping off the plane, settling in, and greeting your neighbour by saying “g’day mate”. There are a variety of visas that may suit your circumstances best.
One of the easiest processes is to get an employer sponsored visa. For this you require a job offer from an approved employer in Australia and they need to prove your skills can’t be sourced from the local workforce. This visa would allow you to live and work in Australia for up to four years.

Gaining permanent residency allows you to stay in the country indefinitely. The visa is initially for five years and allows you to leave and return to the country freely, after five years are up you can stay in Australia as long as you want. However, if you’d like to leave and return you will need to apply for a resident return visa.

Application schemes are usually offered under Australia’s skilled migrant programme which regulate successful applicants on a points-based system, depending on the country’s economic needs and skills shortages. New Zealand has a similar point’s based system for skilled migrants looking to permanently relocate. To apply you must be under the age of 56 years, meet a number of health, character, and English language requirements, while reaching the threshold of 100 points in the assessment to register an Expression of Interest.

If you’re still confused, it might be wise to contact visa specialists such as Thames Migration, with offices in both Australia and the United Kingdom who offer free online eligibility assessments and also provide services that will help give you the best chance of succeeding with your visa application. Thames Migration also holds great seminars throughout the year, offering a plethora of advice on lifestyle, employment and emigrating Down Under!

Navigating £ For $

Moving abroad with your savings always carries a certain number of complications. The variability and volatility of currency markets is world renowned, however, there are ways you can use the price fluctuation to your advantage to make the most of your cash.

If you’re unfamiliar with foreign exchange markets it could be advisable to seek out a currency specialist to make use of their expert knowledge and helpful range of products. Using a high street bank to make your money transfer will normally involve a spot contract – a one-off transfer based on the current market rate. However, going with specialists like Currencies Direct often saves you up to five per cent of your transaction (that’s up to £5,000 of every £100,000 you transfer) – as they offer more competitive rates than banks, and charge no transfer fees.

Options available to you include forward contracts – where you lock the exchange rate for purchase at a later date; limit orders – that essentially allow you to send foreign currency at a guaranteed rate of your choice; and Rate Watch – where currency experts monitor the market for you and inform you when the rate becomes available.

For example, earlier in September 2014, the value of the New Zealand dollar dropped dramatically to the point where one British pound was worth around 2.09 kiwi dollars. However, come late November the rate had reversed and one pound bought less than two dollars. Using services such as a forward contract could have allowed you to take advantage of the peak in the rate from September in November.

Provided by Thames Migration and Currencies Direct