Our top tips for travelling to Australia
Travelling to Australia, for business or personal reasons, has very exciting prospects, however, the thought of moving to the other side of the world can be a little daunting. To make your travels as stress-free as possible, we are here to help. As well as the obvious, venomous snakes and humongous, deadly spiders, when travelling Down Under, there are some things that we feel like you ought to keep in mind.
You will need a visa
One of the first things you need to do when travelling to Australia is get a visa! Unless you are an Aussie yourself, you must apply for a visa before leaving the country you are migrating from. There are a range of visas you can apply for, depending on the length of time you will be staying in Australia and the purpose of your travels. To check out your visa options, visit the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website.
Research jobs before you leave
If working in Australia is going to be your way of funding your travels, then make sure you research your job options before you leave the UK. Depending on the visa you have, this may limit you to how long you can be in employment for. For example, if you are travelling to Australia on a working holiday visa then you will be restricted to 6 months with each employer. You will need to also make sure that your employer is registered as a working holidaymaker employer so that you get taxed the correct rate. As you can probably tell, finding a job in Oz might not be as easy as you think, so it is better to start your research sooner rather than later!
Get a TFN (Tax File Number)
If you are planning to work whilst you are travelling in Australia, you will need a tax file number. This is a personal reference number for the Australian tax system, and you will be required to pay higher tax without one. You will need a work visa in order to apply for a TFN, but the process is completely free. To apply for your TFN, visit the Australian Government Australian Taxation Office website.
Organise shipping your goods
When travelling in Australia, it is important that you have your belongings with you in toe. Whether this is just a suitcase of your clothes, shoes and other necessities or the full contents of your property, you will need to choose a reliable shipping company to help you out. Anglo Pacific are a cost-effective, unmatched shipping provider in the UK, with over 40 years’ experience in shipping belongings to Australia. To find out more about what we offer, check out our Australian shipping services today.
Decide whether you want to take your vehicle with you
Travelling around Australia by car sounds like a dream! You will have so much more freedom, and even better if you can take your own… right? Cars are allowed to be imported into Australia, as long as you have made an Application for Vehicle Approval. If approval is not granted, then you will be unable to bring your car into Australia with you. Please ensure that check and familarise yourself with the FIDI guidelines before importing your vehicle into the country. You will need to find a reliable shipping company to ensure your car gets to it’s destination safe and sound. So, why not take a look at our Australian Car Shipping Services?
Inform your bank
It is important to inform your bank of your Australian travels before you leave. In some cases, banks will cut you off or cancel your credit cards whilst you are away from the UK. As well as this, whilst you are letting your bank know about your travel plans, you may as well enquire about transferring your money into your new Australian bank account. Bank fees can be expensive, and there are cheaper money transfer alternatives out there, however, this is a nasty job that needs to be done!
Make sure you have somewhere to stay
If you don’t have a rental or owned property in your pocket, you need to make sure that arrangements are made so that you have somewhere to stay when you arrive in Australia. A hostel or Airbnb are some of the cheaper options, or alternatively you can sofa-surf with friends and family in the meantime. It is a good idea to have this planned out before you leave the UK, to avoid any unnecessary stress on your travels.
Make sure you have enough money
When travelling in Australia, you need to make sure you have enough money with you to pay for your accommodation. If you are renting a property, you will need to have enough cash to cover 6 to 8 weeks’ worth of rent. This is because, Aussie rentals require a 4-week deposit, as well as a monthly payment in advance. It is also important to bear in mind, that your landlord will also ask for references. These can be from a previous landlord you have rented from or even your place of work.
Declare any medication
If you are travelling to Australia, but need to take your medication with you, it is important that you declare any medications when you land in Australia. You will also be required to provide prescriptions as proof that they are yours. If you are worried about queues at customs, don’t worry! The ‘Nothing to Declare’ queues at the airport are often a lot longer than the declare queue, and it will take customs less than 5 minutes to check over your bags.
Get health insurance
Some countries have reciprocal agreements with Australia to provide urgent healthcare for free. You will need to do your research to see if the country you are leaving has this policy. The UK currently has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia, so you will be entitled to limited, subsidised services from Medicare for medical treatment whilst you are travelling in Australia. If you are currently a UK resident, use the Government’s foreign travel advise for all the information you need.
If you are considering travelling to Oz and need a reliable shipper to help move your belongings, then get a quote for your Australian shipping service online today or give us a call on 020 8965 1234.
