Moving to Australia – the to-do list from our migration lawyers Brisbane staff

Moving permanently to another country can be a massive undertaking so our migration lawyers Brisbane team can help you.  There are so many things to think of that it helps to be organised and plan out your tasks. Of course, our migration lawyers in Brisbane will play a vital role with all the visa and immigration requirements – but there are still other things to think of to make sure your move goes off without a hitch.

1. Visa and Immigration Notes

As migration lawyers Brisbane professionals, it’s no surprise this is our top priority.  All your other preparation is for nothing if your visa is denied, so make sure it’s organised before you head for Australia.  Migration lawyers in Brisbane can be hugely helpful with this process, to make sure all your ducks are in a row and to give yourself the best possible chance of a successful application.

Make sure you have plenty of time left before your passport expires – it can be more difficult to renew when you’re overseas and it’s better to be safe than sorry.  We recommend taking care of it before you go.

2. Banking and Money

You’ll need an Australian bank account – take care of this before you arrive or as soon as possible afterwards.  Further, keep an eye on exchange rates in the lead up to moving to Australia to find the best time to send money over.

3. Travel and Health Insurance

Travel and health insurance are a must!

Even if you’re eligible to apply for Medicare (Australia’s universal health care program) under your visa, you’ll still need health insurance cover until it’s finalised.  If you don’t have it, you’ll need it.  Don’t tempt fate!

4. Accommodation

This can be fun or stressful, depending on your situation and your personality!  You might be looking for temporary accommodation until you find your feet in Australia, or for something more permanent.  Either way, you need somewhere to stay when you first arrive.

5. Work

Moving is always an expensive endeavour and moving internationally even more so!  Make sure your CV and references are up to date and ready to go before you arrive, so you can hit the ground running when you arrive in Australia.  Remember – this depends on the conditions on your visa.  Different visas have different rules around working, if you are unsure contact  one of our migration lawyers in Brisbane

When you arrive in Australia, you’ll also need to apply for a Tax File Number (TFN).  This connects you in to the Australian tax system and you’ll need to give it to your employers.

Moving is always an expensive endeavour, but moving internationally even more so.  Get your CV up to date and ready to apply for local jobs and hit the ground running.  (Remember, this depends on the conditions of your visa – different visas have different rules around working).

6. Travel for You and Yours

This is when it starts to feel very real!

Organise flights for yourself and anyone else moving to Australia with you.  Make sure any pets are booked in separately and meet the travel requirements for immunisation, health checks and quarantine.

7. Make copies of everything

Make sure you bring all your documentation with you to Australia – there are plenty of things you’ll need it for and it makes everything much easier if you have everything on hand.  Bonus points if you get your copies certified! The migration lawyers Brisbane specialists definitely agree with this.

These documents might include:

• Government documents – passport, birth certificate, driver licence, international licence
• Immigration documents – visa, any other documents required for your Australian visa application
• Health – medical and dental records, vaccination records
• School records
• Tax information

8. Tie up the loose ends

Make sure to get as many little jobs as possible done before you move.

These might include:

• Renewing prescriptions
• Updating vaccinations
• Redirecting mail.

9. Once you’re here

Welcome to Australia!

Depending on your circumstances, there can be a lot to organise – moving internationally can be logistically challenging!  We recommend the Beginning a Life in Australia booklet for a comprehensive list of everything you might need to do when you first move to Australia, as well as helpful resources.