How Hard is Moving to Australia After Retirement?

The most difficult part of moving to Australia, aside from the distance you have to travel to get all of your stuff from one place to the other, is perhaps qualifying for the retirement visa. Of course, trivial matters like the transfer of finances to a bank in your new homeland and making sure that any appliances you bring are compliant with Australian standards are also important. However, the main thing is assuring that you are cleared for residency before arriving. This means meeting the requirements to obtain a visa.



The retirement visa necessary for moving to Australia requires that you (or your spouse) are 55 years of age or older, are a healthy person of good character per a background check, and will not be obtaining employment for more than 20 hours a week. Your spouse is held to the job standard as well, and neither you nor your spouse can have any other dependent children or relatives living with you in Australia.

Tips for Making an Easy Relocation to Australia

Once you meet these requirements, it’s all about making the transition easy for you. Australia is a rich nation and has a lot of room to grow, with low population density

Therefore, if you are looking for your privacy, you are going to the right place. Aside from the smaller population, the socialization and economic standings of the country are very similar to the United States. The economy is based on the Australian dollar, and you’ll find that it’s easy to do business in a land where you don’t have to learn a new language (though there are dialects that are harder to understand and a number of sayings and idioms you’ll want to learn).

When you do make the commitment, moving to Australia is best accomplished in spring or fall. This is because the seasons are opposite those in the United States, with the island country sitting directly opposite the U.S. on the globe. If you move in the summer, your natural body system won’t take well to the swift change to winter (however mild it may be), and if you leave in the winter, your body may not handle the Australian heat of summer well. Spring and fall are more similar in temperature and overall weather patterns, making the transition smoother.

Pet Lovers Beware!

A number of friends have been interested to move to Australia for a while, but the more research they did many of them came across one sticking point that they couldn’t get past – you can’t bring your pets with you! Your pet is part of the family, so if you don’t want to part with your pooch or feline, your time is likely better spent researching one of the other great retirement options on the site.


Note that, if you have a pet at the time you are moving to Australia, you will probably not be allowed to bring it into the country, and Australia also prevents some religious or cultural items from entering the country. It is probably best to find a place or person from home to leave these with for safe keeping. Overall, moving to Australia is not an especially difficult task – just one that takes a little adjustment and a lot of paperwork!


Return to the Retire to Australia Page

Click here to return from Moving to Australia to The Best Places To Retire Overseas



Leave a Reply