Expat Australia

One of the most popular destinations for American expats continues to be Australia. Australia has it all, modern cities, a strong economy, high quality of life, beautiful beaches, warm and friendly people and a marine lover’s paradise. If you are looking for the outdoor lifestyle or find it interesting to live on the other side of the world, Australia should definitely be your location of choice.

Climate

The climate in Australia is classified as tropical and temperate. Since this island continent is very close to the equator, the northern part of Australia falls into the tropical zone and the southern end is considered to be temperate.

The tropical states have warm temperatures year round. During the winter time (June to September), the temperatures drop to about 68 degrees, with most temperatures in the 70’s. In the summer time, the northern part of the state can have hot and wet temperatures that can hover in the 90’s or higher.

The winter time in the southern states is cooler than the north with temperatures as cold as the upper 50’s, but temperatures are still warm and can get as high as the middle 70’s even during the dead of winter. During the summer time in the southern states, temperatures are very warm, but the climate is relatively dry. Snow can occur in the southern states and there are even ski fields present, however snow only falls about once every ten years or so and mostly in the Great Dividing Range.

The water surrounding Australia is warm and perfect for surfing. For those that love marine life, Australia is home to the Great Barrier Reef which offers perhaps the best natural coral reef complex in the world.

Government

Australia is a modern, thriving democracy. For those visiting or living in Australia, you will find services and infrastructure very similar to the US and Europe. As an American, you can stay in Australia for up to 3 months without a visa, only a passport is required. If you are interested in becoming a resident of Australia the process is generally straightforward and for most expats from America, it is generally a good chance you will be accepted, especially if you have a decent education or are a skilled professional. You can find out more information about visas and residency requirements at the Australian Electronic Travel Authority. You can also contact the Embassy of Australia to the United States of America.

Tax System

Australia is considered to have high tax rates. For instance, the individual income tax in Australia can be as high as 47 percent. There is a corporate income tax and it is fairly moderate with tax rates as high as 30 percent. Besides these taxes, there is also a Value Added Tax (VAT), a fuel tax and a tax on insurance contracts.

Medical Care

Australia boasts excellent medical care and medical facilities which are on par with the United States and Western Europe. For those looking to live or work in Australia, health insurance is usually easy to attain, especially if working for a company. If you are an entrepreneur, you can also easily acquire medical insurance and for the most part the costs are much less than in the United States. For those expats that are classified as tourists, your best bet is to purchase travelers insurance with a medical component.

Real Estate

Buying and investing in real estate in Australia is fairly straightforward and low risk, however it is advisable that you retain a real estate attorney. Prices vary just as in the United States and can be low to astronomical depending on location and type of property.

For those looking to purchase a single family home, prices range from about $100K in US dollars and up, however bargains can be found, condos and apartments can be less. For desirable real estate expect to pay prices that are similar in Europe and America.

For those that are looking to rent or lease property, prices are similar as those in the US with rents ranging between $600 US and $1,500 US dollars. Renting or leasing property is usually straightforward requiring in most cases a security deposit or a few months rent in advance.

Shopping

There are plenty of shopping choices in Australia and in the major cities you can find almost anything your heart desires. While American brands might not be totally represented, you can find the basics with ease and many name brands as well. Luxury goods are represented as well with most luxury boutiques located in the larger cities. It should be noted that Australia is a huge country, so in less populated areas services and goods can be severely limited.

As far as entertainment goes, you can find world class entertainment in many of the major cities in Australia. For those that enjoy nature and marine life, Australia is perhaps the best place in the world to live.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Australia is similar to the United States. While some things can be very affordable, other such as taxes can drain ones income. Australia’s currency is the Australian Dollar which is not as strong as the US dollar giving a boost to American expats that receive their income from the states. Just like in America, you can find places to live and items to buy that are more affordable. If you have a small budget, it is not that difficult to get by. For those that have a good job or large savings, Australia is a wonderful place to live and offers so much in terms of entertainment and nature.

Web Sites for Expats in Australia

Australia Country Guide

Country guide to Australia from ExpatForum.com.

Expats Australia

Expats Australia is dedicated to providing an easy to use overseas jobs service for Australian professionals, Expats Australia links you to jobs, CV and contract advice, country information, medical matters, travel and much more…

Travel to Australia

Australia is far away from almost everywhere. My first visit to Australia involved a series of flights from Eindhoven to Sydney which lasted over 40 hours and propelled me eight timezones forward. I left on Saturday morning and arrived on Monday morning at about the same time.

My recommendation is to check with Flights to Sydney to see if you can arrange a direct flight — or maybe a flight with only one stop.

Extradition from Australia

The laws governing extradition between Australia and the United States of America are defined in the Treaty of Extradition between the United States of America and Australia and the Protocol Amending the 1974 Extradition Treaty with Australia.

Map of Australia