How long does it take to move to Australia?

There's no fixed number of days - it depends on appointment availability and how much paperwork you're bringing. The guide breaks the move into 5 stages (Before you leave, First few weeks after you arrive, First three months, Steps for the children, If you are buying property) covering 15 individual steps, so you know what's next instead of guessing.

What catches people out when moving to Australia?

Driving licences, land tax and stamp duty are all set at state or territory level, not nationally.

How much of the Australia guide can I see for free?

The first three steps of your route are free to preview, no account needed. The full route - every step, what to bring, the cost and the official source - unlocks with one payment once you've picked where you're moving from.

Settle Steps / Moving to Australia

Moving to Australia, step by step

15 steps for your move to Australia - which office, what to bring, what it costs and how long it takes - checked against official sources where an official answer exists, and marked clearly where it depends on your situation instead.

See the free preview for Australia

How the move breaks down

1
Before you leave
Which of Australia's many permanent and temporary visa streams you qualify under decides your timeline, your cost, and whether you land with permanent status or not.
6 steps
2
First few weeks after you arrive
Medicare and your Tax File Number both depend on the visa status you actually arrived with.
3 steps
3
First three months
The number that unlocks tax and super, then the everyday things - a bank account and a driving licence, both state-run.
2 steps
4
Steps for the children
School enrolment is run by the state, and most federal family payments carry their own residency waiting period.
2 steps
5
If you are buying property
Optional - skip if you are renting. Most foreign buyers are currently banned from buying an established home outright, not just taxed more for it.
2 steps

10 of the 15 steps are checked against an official source, with the date it was checked. The rest depend on your own circumstances, or are practical guidance no authority publishes - each step says which.

If you get stuck in Australia

000 Emergency services
131 881 Department of Home Affairs - general enquiries

Things people don't expect about moving to Australia

State and territory rules vary more than people expect
Driving licences, land tax and stamp duty are all set at state or territory level, not nationally.
Visa processing times can shift without much warning
Timelines you read online can be out of date within months - check current processing times directly before planning around them.
Superannuation starts from your first payslip
Australia's retirement savings system kicks in automatically once you're employed - worth understanding early rather than being surprised by it.

Questions people ask about moving to Australia

How long does it take to move to Australia?
There's no fixed number of days - it depends on appointment availability and how much paperwork you're bringing. The guide breaks the move into 5 stages (Before you leave, First few weeks after you arrive, First three months, Steps for the children, If you are buying property) covering 15 individual steps, so you know what's next instead of guessing.
What catches people out when moving to Australia?
Driving licences, land tax and stamp duty are all set at state or territory level, not nationally.
How much of the Australia guide can I see for free?
The first three steps of your route are free to preview, no account needed. The full route - every step, what to bring, the cost and the official source - unlocks with one payment once you've picked where you're moving from.

Moving to Australia from an EU country, or from outside the EU

The steps differ depending on where you're moving from. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens generally register locally with no visa required; moving from outside the EU usually means a visa or residence permit arranged before you travel. Pick your own country on the guide and you'll only see the steps that actually apply to you - not a generic list for everyone.

Get the full guide

Pick where you're leaving from on the main guide, and the first three steps are free. The full route for Australia - every step, what to bring, the cost, the timing and the source - unlocks with one payment, on the page itself.

Choose your route to Australia

Moving to Australia, step by step

How the move breaks down

Before you leave

First few weeks after you arrive

First three months

Steps for the children

If you are buying property

If you get stuck in Australia

Things people don't expect about moving to Australia

State and territory rules vary more than people expect

Visa processing times can shift without much warning

Superannuation starts from your first payslip