Moving to Australia from India

Aside from both being a cricket-loving countries, there are a number of reasons why Australia is the choice for so many Indian nationals looking to relocate, whether it’s to study (Indian students make up the third biggest group of international students in Australia¹), for work and career advancement or even to start a business. Here are some key things to keep in mind if you’re from India and thinking about making the move down under.

 

Getting the right visa

The type of visa you need varies depending on your reason for moving to Australia, such as moving for work, to study or to start a business. Working out the right visa for your needs can be confusing, so a good place to start is the Department of Home Affairs Visa Finder.

The visa process can take some time; so typically the sooner you can get started the better.

 

Working in Australia

Australia has a well-earned reputation as a land of opportunity for skilled migrants. Aside from making sure you’ve got the right visa to be able to work in Australia, it’s also vital you make sure any of your qualifications and accreditations are recognised here as well.   

Good places to get an idea about the state of the Australian job market and to look at current roles are on websites such as seek.com.au and careerone.com.au.

 

Find out more about working in Australia

 

Superannuation

In most cases when you work in Australia your employer will be required to pay a percentage of the total amount of your salary into your superannuation account into a superannuation fund for you (and you can top it up with your own money). Superannuation is a long-term investment that is designed to fund your retirement. You can either nominate your own superannuation fund or let your employer pay it into a fund of their choice.

Generally money paid into your super fund can only be accessed once you reach retirement or when you leave the country permanently. You can find out more about superannuation here.

 

Studying in Australia

If you decide to study in Australia, you’ll be in good company – nearly 1 in 8 international students are from India¹. A good place to find out about studying in Australia is by visiting the Australian Government’s Study in Australia website. It has heaps of handy information on educational providers, living costs and visa requirements.

Most student visas allow you to work up to 40 hours every fortnight during course time and for unrestricted hours when your course is on a break. However, it’s important to check your visa conditions to ensure you’re entitled to work while you study. You can find more details at the Department of Home Affairs website.

 

Reaching out to Indian communities in Australia

If you’d like to stay connected to Indian communities, head to the Indian High Commission website. It has a handy reference of organisations in each state. Alternatively if you’re coming to Australia to study, it’s worthwhile reaching out to the international office at your educational provider – they’ll likely be able to let you know about local Indian-Australian organisations.

 

Sorting out your banking in Australia

One of the things you’ll need to do is sort out your banking in Australia. The good news is this is likely to be a lot easier than you’d think. Once you arrive in Australia, you can open up an everyday bank account online with Westpac and transfer money straight away into your new account.

You’ll then need to verify your ID in one of our local branches before you start using your new account.

 

Find out more about opening an account with Westpac