Moving to the United Kingdom from Australia

The UK is one of the most popular destinations that Aussies, and other foreign nationals alike flock to see Buckingham palace, the Scottish highlands or the rolling mounds of Wales. In 2022, it was reported that just over 415,000 Australians visited the UK, while a few took the big leap and moved temporarily to experience life in the big smoke.¹

If you are thinking of moving to the UK, before you grab your passport and jump on a flight, it’s crucial you get to know what to expect and what you need to prepare to make your move as seamless as possible.

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United Kingdom key facts

Language	English
Currency used	Great British Pound (GBP)
Population	67,926,832 (2024)²
Number of expats	Total: 9.5 million approx. (2021)³
Biggest cities	London Birmingham Manchester Liverpool Leeds Sheffield
Capital	London
Weather	Maritime, moist and temperate
Average yearly salary	Around 34,963 GBP (or approx $66, 421 AUD) across all industries UK wide⁴

*As seen on 5 May 2024

Life in the UK

Life in the UK varies considerably depending on where you move to. The majority of those looking to move to the UK will choose to live in London due to the plethora of opportunities available. The lifestyle also comes with living in a large and culturally diverse city. Another benefit is that you’ll be a stone's throw away from Europe, and able to travel easily within and out of the UK.

Moving to the UK – pros and cons

Pros

Cons

London is one the most popular destinations in the world to visit and live Beautiful landscapes across Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland Cheap and easy travel to and from Europe and other major international destinations Lots of job opportunities Plenty of Australian expats Culturally and socially diverse Buzzing hospitality scene and nightlife Minimal dangerous animals and creepy crawlies Excellent public transport to get around

Can be expensive to live in some cities Average yearly salary is lower than in Australia Colder and dark in the winter months Densely populated Some safety issues in the big cities

UK entry requirements for Australian citizens

For those Australians that are lucky enough to hold dual nationality as a UK citizen and have a UK passport, there’s no need to apply for a visa before you leave Australia. For those without the luxury of dual citizenship, you’ll have to apply for a visa to move to the UK.

UK visa types and requirements

The type of visa you’ll need will depend on whether you plan to visit the UK as a tourist, as a student, or to work.

To visit as a tourist

Australians looking to visit the UK for tourism do not require a visa to enter the UK and can stay up to 6 months. This is a good option if you just want to travel around the UK, scope things out, visit family and friends or transit through the UK to another country.⁵

To live and work

For Australians planning to move over and get a job, you’ll need to apply for one of the work visa types. There are 12 types of work visas that Australians may be eligible for.⁶

Work Visa Type*	Description	Initial visa length	Job offer?
Skilled Worker Visa	Work in an eligible skilled job	Up to 5 years	Yes
Senior or Specialist Worker visa	Transferring to a UK branch in a high-skilled job	Up to 5 years	Yes
Graduate Trainee visa	Transferring to an existing employers UK Branch	Up to 1 year	Yes
Scale-up Worker visa	Work for a fast growing UK employer	2 years	Yes
UK Ancestry visa	A grandparent is a UK citizen	5 years (initially)	No
Youth Mobility Scheme visa	Aged 18 to 30	Up to 2 years	No
Charity Worker visa	Temporarily volunteer for a charity	Up to 1 year	Yes
Government Authorised Exchange visa	Coming temporarily on an approved government programme	Up to 2 years	Yes
Service Supplier visa	Temporarily supplying an eligible service in the UK	6 to 12 months	Yes
International Agreement visa	To work for a foreign government or organisation temporarily	Up to 2 years	Yes
Secondment Worker visa	High value contract between Australian employer and UK employer temporarily	1 year	Yes
High Potential Individual (HPI) visa	Recent graduate from a top global university	2-3 years	No

*As seen on 5 May 2024

Some of the above visas can be extended after the initial granted period or serve as a prerequisite to settle in the UK later on.

To study

Another reason to come to the UK is to study at one of the top global universities or eligible training institutions. To do this, you’ll need to apply for a Tier 4 Student Visa with proof you’ve been offered a place on an eligible course and proof of sufficient funds to support you and pay for your course.⁷

UK residency and permits

Some Visas allow you to apply to live in the UK on a more permanent status, otherwise known as indefinite leave to remain status.⁸

Is the UK safe for Australians

In general, the UK is pretty safe to live and visit. However, there can be some pockets of the larger cities that can be considered unsafe. Due to its sheer size and population, London does experience varying rates of crime and safety issues.

Level of English spoken and learning the local language

The native language in the UK is English. It is expected that you have a good level of English proficiency when applying for most UK visas. You will find though that across the UK, the accents vary widely.

Healthcare in the UK

The UK has a universal healthcare system known as the National Health Service or the NHS.⁹ Australians can access the NHS as a tourist if visiting the UK under 6 months as part of an existing reciprocal Healthcare agreement. For longer stays, this access is covered by a mandatory additional fee to be paid as part of the visa application known as the Health Surcharge. It is calculated on how long your visa lasts.¹⁰

Cost of living in the UK

Here’s a breakdown of the cost of living variance in London, popular regions in England and the averages in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

City*	Average Rent 1 bedroom apartment city centre (per month)	Average living costs (Single person monthly, without rent)	Utilities (Monthly)
London¹¹	$4,121.64	$2,103.60	$568.81
Liverpool¹²	$1,591.06	$1,623.50	$606.03
Edinburgh¹³	$2,422.38	$1,710.60	$519.59
Birmingham¹⁴	$1,848.63	$1,430.20	$454.66
Belfast¹⁵	$1,733.54	$1,421.50	$240.06
Cardiff¹⁶	$1,959.14	$1,494.60	$1,494.60

​​*As seen on 5 May 2024

Finding a job in the UK

As mentioned, if you have a specialist skill or relevant qualifications, you’ll need to get a job before you can apply for some visa types. Fortunately, FInding a job in the UK is similar to searching for one in Australia. You could¹⁷:

1. Search for jobs online
2. Use a recruitment agency
3. Go to Job fairs and events
4. Word of mouth referral and the hidden Market

Let’s dig a little deeper into each option.

Search for jobs online

You can easily start your job search from Australia at any time and get a feel for the job market across the UK. This can be through using some online job marketplaces. Some popular sites include:

• Indeed
• Glassdoor
• Totaljobs
• Monster
• CV-Library

Alternatively, you can check out employer career pages directly if you know some of the major players in an industry. LinkedIn is also a popular resource to research, engage and apply for a range of jobs in the UK.

Recruitment agencies

For a more tailored approach to your job search, you can start reaching out to recruitment agencies to help connect and find you job opportunities. Some popular UK recruitment agencies include:

• Hays Companies
• Michael Page
• Reed
• Tiger Recruitment Agency
• The Adecco Group

There are also companies dedicated to pre-arranging work, accommodation, bank accounts and visa assistance prior to arriving in the UK. This is a good option for those on a Tier 5 Working Holiday Visa who don’t necessarily know what they want to do or are yet to start a career.

Virtual job fairs and networking events

Virtual job fairs can be a great way to explore various career options and network with employers in real time from your home in Australia. You can also check out large local in person job fairs or events in Australia that sometimes invite international employers in certain industries.

Word of mouth or the hidden market

If you are already a mid-level or seasoned professional, you may have met some connections along your career that may know of some opportunities not yet advertised online. Networking is key to tap into these unseen opportunities and getting ahead of other applicants.

Banks and accounts in the UK

Once you arrive in the UK and get yourself settled, you are going to need an account to get paid local GBP into. Here are some banks to look into:

• HSBC UK
• Santander
• Lloyds Bank
• Barclays
• NatWest

If a traditional bank is not what you are looking for, you could look into online account alternatives such as:

• Monzo
• Starling Bank
• Revolut
• Monese

To open an account as an Australian, the requirements vary between institutions but will need to meet similar basic eligibility criteria. Individuals will generally need to be over the age of 18 and have ready a combination of¹⁸:

• Proof of identity documents
• Proof of address document
• Residence permit or visa
• Letter from employer or university

Another option is to open a Wise account, a non-bank account alternative, in Australia before you leave as you’ll be getting your own GBP local account details. This means you’ll be able to pay bills and make transfers as soon as you arrive in the UK.

What to keep in mind about moving to the UK

The best way to prepare for a move overseas is to take the time to research your new destination as much as possible. On that, here are a few extra things to keep in mind.

UK Climate

The climate in the UK is considerably different to Australia, especially in the winter months. This change can feel significant if you are from the northern states that experience more tropical weather year round. It can also be quite dark and dreary for a large part of the year. The more north you go, the colder and darker it gets in the colder months.

Rental Scams

Rental scams are a real issue in the UK real estate market due to the lack of housing available in some of the major cities, especially London.¹⁹

UK embassy addresses and contacts in Australia

To apply for a visa, you’ll need to visit a UK embassy or consulate as part of the visa application process. Here’s where they are located.

Embassy/Consulate	State/City	Contact Address
Consulate-General	NSW/Sydney	Level 16, The Gateway 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney, NSW 2000
Consulate	QLD/Brisbane	Level 9 100 Eagle Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000
Consulate-General	WA/Perth	Level 12/251 Adelaide Terrace, Perth WA 6000
Consulate	VIC/Melbourne	Level 17, 90 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

You can also email or phone each of the above with any general enquiries.

In conclusion – Keep in mind

When you have the opportunity to do so, moving abroad can be one of the best ways to experience life from another perspective. The process is not always easy, but with a bit of time and research, your touchdown in your new home will be just that bit easier.

The Wise Account and Debit Card

Opening a bank account overseas can be a bit of a process that’s made more difficult if you aren’t considered a resident yet.

The Wise Account from Wise — while not a bank account — enables you to store 40 international currencies and get local account details for a number of different countries, including AUD, CAD, GBP, NZD, EUR and USD. You can use these to easily transfer your money to Wise or get paid by others.

However, do note that features that are offered by traditional bank accounts such as interest, loans and in some countries, deposit protection, will not be available with the Wise Account.

You’ll also avoid high international transaction fees and get access to the mid-market rate on all conversions. The best part - you can open and manage your Wise account completely online.

To make everyday spending easier you can order a Wise Debit card for your Wise Account and generate virtual cards as needed. If you have the local currency in your Wise Account the Wise card will use it. If you don’t have local currency converted, it uses smart technology to auto-convert your money at the mid-market rate, for a transparent conversion fee.

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Sources:

1. DFAT UK brief
2. Worldometer UK Population
3. UK expats
4. Statista UK average salary
5. UK immigration tourist
6. UK immigration work visas
7. UK immigration student visa
8. UK immigration settlement
9. UK Health Surcharge
10. Services Australia UK healthcare
11. Numbeo London costs
12. Numbeo Liverpool costs
13. Numbeo Edinburgh costs
14. Numbeo birmingham costs
15. Numbeo Belfast costs
16. Numbeo Cardiff costs
17. UK job search
18. HSBC UK requirements
19. UK Rental scam news

Sources checked on: 05 May 2024