Relocating to Australia?

Question

Hi, my partner and I and seriously considering a migration from the UK to Sydney, Aus. My partner is at Nottingham University and can exchange to a Sydney based University quite easily. I however am a Recruitment Consultant, very experienced but with no academic background.

My question is, how hard will I find it to relocate? Typically how much is a house in Australia and what size can you get for your money?

Is there any advice on where to start this process?

Thanks,

Anthony

Answer 1

If your partner is an academic and can easily change to a Sydney university, you probably won't have too much trouble obtaining a visa with a job offer in hand. You will be able to qualify on the same visa as a spouse or interdependent partner (if your relationship can be proven to be a long standing one) even though your own skills don't qualify. Once you get here, your experience will probably get you a job quickly even without academic qualifications. Work is plentiful in Sydney.

Sydney is our most expensive city for housing and you'll get less house for your money than anywhere else in Australia. You can expect to pay at least $600,000 (possibly more) for a house and it won't be in a near city suburb, but Australian houses are generally fairly large and are usually on their own block of land around 600 sq.m.

Check out some of the real estate listings for Sydney suburbs:

http://www.realestate.com.au/cgi-bin/rse...

http://www.domain.com.au/

You first move should be to investigate which university would be best for your partner to exchange to. That will then give you an idea of where you should be looking for property. Australian cities have lower population densities than those in the UK and Sydney covers a huge area - probably much larger than Nottingham and you won't want to be driving miles across town in Sydney's traffic.

You then need to apply for a work visa which may take 12 months or more to be granted.

Check out the Australian immigration website for all info. on work visas, bringing a spouse/interdependent partner, costs, other requirements and how to apply:

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/index.htm

Answer 2

Property prices will vary depending on location.

In my area, Near Brisbane, just a few minutes from the water, a good new house on 600 sq metres is about $500,000.  In a similar location near Sydney it would be well over $1M.

In the western suburbs of Sydney, near to Penrith, houses are about $300,000 for a 3 bed on 700sq metres.  But then you have travel time to the CBD, although many people choose to live there due to the prices, and the ease of getting away to places such as the Blue Mountains etc.

It normally only needs one of you to qualify for the the Visa, so it is well worth trying, even if just for a few years experience.

Answer 3

you must pass a points test to qualify, a skilled worker visa is about the only way to move to Australia these days or a student visa but that will not give you residency just allow you to study in Australia

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-s...

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-s...

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1121...

Answer 4

For houses try :

www.realestate.com.au/

www.domain.com.au

Houses in the Sydney city are almost a Million dollars or more. But houses in suburbs (10 to 25 Kms from the city) are much cheaper - but you may have to spend half an hour or more travelling one way by train or bus to the city (depending on where u stay).

I would say that accommodation will take up most of your expenses. Food and even travel is very reasonable.

Look at  www.mycareers.com.au and www.careerone.com.au to get an idea of job availability.